Audio recording of Steve Haines (b. 1970), Charlie Sweeney (b. 1958), Arwel Owen (b. 1976) and Duncan Chadwick (b. 1960)

The interviewees begin by talking about their work experience before David Lock Associates, their reasons for wanting to work there and their initial interviews and first impressions. There is discussion about David Lock Associates’s style of work and its long-term relationship with clients, its integrity, quality of ideas and innovation and the supportive and complementary relationship with colleagues: a firm where money is not the driver, but rather the ethos is ‘to do the best you can’. Each is asked what drives them and answers include making a difference and constantly looking for improvement, seeing things developed and built rather than just being plans on paper, being able to meet the challenge that sites and working with communities pose. There is also a discussion of what is meant by ‘place-making’ and the point is made that it is not about a quick win but taking a long term view. Feedback on one’s work is discussed, where you might never hear from someone who lives in a new house in a development you planned, compared with working in a hospital environment where that feedback came quickly. There’s also discussion of the ‘would I live here?’ principle about planning and designing places and about what they are now trying to build into communities that were not there in the past. In relation to the latter point the Slow Food movement, public transport are mentioned, but underlying everything is that the place should function in terms of the things you need to do on a regular basis. The influence of David Lock Associates in the past in shaping future approaches to planning is discussed as is the relatively low profile the firm has deliberately maintained. There is extensive discussion about the David Lock Associates supportive working environment and its family ethos and how that is maintained through training events etc. Specifically mentioned is the ‘churn’ where people are moved around the office about every 6 months and the benefits of that are discussed. Interviewees’ most satisfying projects are mentioned and include Marston Vale eco town plans, a proposal for a job in Tajikistan, the Multi Modal study and a neighbourhood renewal project in Corby. Finally the group discuss the future of David Lock Associates, particularly on what would be its optimum size without losing its current family feel, the sense that when you join if you need help you will be helped out and that feeling of a sense of responsibility to give something back and have integrity in what is produced.