Audio recording of Wei Yang (b. 1974), Andrew Wintersgill (b. 1971), Darren Bell (b.1970), Phil Copsey (b. 1968) and Roger Carman (b. 1970)

Talk by interviewees about how they came to work at David Lock Associates – what attracted them to apply and their first impressions of the firm from their interviews and about the process of settling in. Later arrivals talk about the ‘buddy’ system for supporting new arrivals, although an earlier arrival talks about the sense of sinking or swimming. They talk about their reaction to coming to work in Milton Keynes, and initial family reactions (for example MK was seen as a step down from living in Cheltenham) and how those negative first impressions have been changed by subsequent visits. MK seen as not attractive to those in their twenties and early thirties who want more of a city life, but it is more attractive to those with families. To those from other countries in the firm they cannot understand what the fuss is all about since MK is like so many other planned cities around the world. They also discuss the relevance of the history of the building of MK to their work today – for example reserve sites and the work of arrivals and community workers. The style of work by David Lock Associates is discussed, with its emphasis on the strategic and putting in the proper infrastructure to allow communities to grow, and how that has been heavily influenced by the MK experience. They also speak about how when you draw things it is useful to understand the scale and in MK some things are on a grand scale and it’s useful to see this first hand. They talk about the changes in emphasis over the years, with the emphasis now being on sustainability, community consultation and community engagement, global warming and carbon emissions; and talk about changes in the way they now have to report and record things. They discuss ‘place making’ and the difference between the roles of urban designers and planners at David Lock Associates and how the rigid division between them has become more blurred. They discuss the newest discipline that has been brought to David Lock Associates – Geographic Information Systems, and give practical examples of how its located related information can be of benefit to urban designers and planners. Asked what are the core values that set David Lock Associates aside from others they mention creativity, flair, looking for fresh ways of doing things, working collaboratively rather than aggressively pursuing its own agenda, having a social conscience. It’s not run by accountants where the bottom line is the most important thing. You are also allowed to follow your own interests, to improvise and innovate. They talk about how David Lock and other directors have worked in places where they have seen things they didn’t like and made sure they didn’t replicate them in David Lock Associates – no shouting or bullying, minimal company procedures, an unspoken agreement that it’s your personal responsibility to do things. Each talks about the job they’re proudest of and jobs mentioned include Priors Hall in Corby, Brooklands Milton Keynes, the development of bespoke GIS software to assist urban designers, the Active Design project for Sport England, Northfleet Cement Works in North Kent, Drakelow Park in Burton on Trent, Bethlem Hospital in London. They also mention the most enjoyable moments on the social side, including the trip to Tuscany. They are asked where they see the company going in the future and topics mentioned include working on transport infrastructure projects and a new generation of new towns.