Audio recording of Will Cousins (b. 1950)

Will Cousins joined David Lock Associates in 1990 when it was still based at the Locks’ house. He was joining a team, many of whom he’d had contact with before, at University, at MKDC and London Docklands; he felt that what David Lock Associates was doing was a synthesis of all of his previous professional experience. At that time there were very few practices doing ‘master planning’ and David Lock Associates was one of the leaders in the market, indeed he quotes a Kent County Council planner as saying, ‘Oh yes, well David – you invented master planning’. David Lock Associates provided a bigger strategic understanding about how communities and places work. They also invented, in north Kent, ‘the green grid’ – or green infrastructure – very much influenced by the MK parks system. His first job for David Lock Associates was developing the Monkston grid square. Their most significant early commission was the North Kent Thameside project, working for Blue Circle to redevelop an area of bespoilment from the cement industry. WCl describes this project in some detail. WC talks about his time with MKDC where, under one roof, there was a collaborative process between all disciplines where they were both designing and implementing in real time. He also talks about his involvement with the development of the Energy Park in Milton Keynes- the forerunner of the notion of sustainable urban extensions – and the ill-fated proposal for the development of Green Town. He also specifically mentions his admiration for Neil Higson, chief Landscape Designer at MKDC, and his continued collaboration with him on David Lock Associates projects, particularly the Rhoose Point development in Wales for Blue Circle. He also talks about his work at London Docklands, including the regeneration of the Roche estate in Limehouse. He talks about the concept of place-making and of the relationship with clients, the majority of whom are not house builders, but rather ‘town builders’. He discusses several jobs, including Northstowe in Cambridgeshire, Rugby Radio Station, Magheramorne in Northern Ireland and the Renaissance Town programme with Yorkshire Forward. WC discusses the David Lock Associates ‘family’ atmosphere and his role within the organisation. He also talks about his contribution, as a local citizen, to the cultural life of Milton Keynes as Chairman of the Theatre and Gallery Board.