Interview with David Lock - Part 2

This interview focuses on David Lock’s views about Milton Keynes’ design & build, and the future of MK from his position in his own company David Lock Associates (DLA), which he set up in 1989 in MK. He discusses whether expectations in the MK Masterplan have all been delivered, for example, the idea of replacing grid roads with ‘city streets’ in the western and eastern expansion areas was a failure; he notes that: ‘it is now official Council policy never to do any more city streets but to go back to the 80-metre corridor for movement in the Masterplan’. They discuss whether the original housing density in the Masterplan was appropriate; and he comments on the regeneration plans for seven original social housing estates. He recalls the City Structures Report produced by Stroud Watson which highlighted the lack of interconnections between grids and the wrong siting of local centres, after 10 years of building. Fred Roche refused to publish the report because it admitted errors by MK designers, but David believes that lessons have been learnt; designers have since improved their methods. He contrasts the shopping building with the Masterplan idea; David points out it was always intended as a regional centre, but ‘It was designed as a mixed-use building with entertainment, and now it is primarily a conventional town retail centre.

David gives an overview of CMK problems today. Nothing is happening about The Point and Food Centre sites; he believes the biggest harm to CMK has come from the development of the Stadium area with IMAX cinema, food outlets, retail and free parking. The MK Futures Commission came up with a report saying ‘Central Milton Keynes is in trouble’; David believes it needs a renaissance, ‘but at this time it is really difficult’. He comments on the plan for Milton Keynes University on ‘Block B4’ near the station and discusses the production of the 2015 CMK Business/Neighbourhood Plan, with which he was involved. MK residents voted 89,900 in favour and 17,000 against the Plan. But the Council have only made it available online; in his opinion, some of its findings have been misrepresented.