Here are some of the highlights of our journey...

2011

Define's story begins in March

Define Planning and Design Limited began with Mark and Andy working from a small serviced office in Cornwall Buildings, Birmingham. The first project (DEF001) was Pinewood Inquiry, with Andy acting as an expert witness…….

October

Mark and Andy make their first appointment and Emma joins Define as an Urban Designer.

2012

March

NPPF is introduced.

May

We introduce Lumion Version One into our 3D workflow, the first video we make airs at a presentation by Sir Albert Bore, then leader of Birmingham City Council for the conceptual re-design of Colmore Square and Colmore Row.

2013

April

Mark successfully passes his Post Graduate Diploma in Urban Design with a distinction, GLVIA3 is introduced and Gravesend Heritage Quarter gains planning permission after our urban design audit and scheme revisions including revised massing and public realm strategy.

May

Andy, Joe and Jocelyn start work on the vision for Broadnook - a new Garden Suburb north of Leicester, not knowing they would still be involved over 7 years later with a hybrid permission in place!

2014

August

Having grown to 14 staff we move into our new (and current) office in Newhall Street, with computers, plans and documents moved we fly to Amsterdam for our first overseas study trip – having studied in Amsterdam Alex takes the lead and we tour exemplar developments (Eastern Docklands, Funenpark, Overhoek), public realm and parks.

September

Try, try and try again. After the Council refused to grant permission in January, it was later persuaded to grant permission for a residential development at Bushby, Leicester.

2015

February

After Mark and Andy give evidence at a public inquiry, planning permission is granted for the residential development of Cottage Farm, Oadby.

March

The Development Brief for Land at Rudham Stile Lane, a strategic urban extension to Fakenham in North Norfolk, is approved by the District Council, triggering the preparation of an outline planning application.

April

Golden Square launch event - a key new public square is opened in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. Define staff led the competition winning entry and planning application whilst at Lovejoy.

September

Our overseas study trip takes us to Madrid, where our itinerary included Manzanares Park, El Retiro Park and Caixa Forum to name a few.

December

A resolution to grant planning permission for a revised and extended scheme at Stanton Cross is secured to facilitate its delivery.

2016

March

We celebrate 5 years of Define with a trip to London and lunch in the Sky Gardens where Emma tells us she’s having a baby. Planning permission is granted for the construction of the Milner Centre for evolutionary research at the University of Bath.

April & September

Wes’s little girl Betsy is born in April and Emma gives birth to baby Amber in September.

October

Our study trip takes us to Barcelona, where we take in Parc de Diagonal-Mar, Placa de les Glories, Rambla del Raval and no trip to Barcelona would be complete without spending some time on the beach - so we visit Passeig Maritim.

2017

September

We head to Aarhus for our 2017 Overseas Study Trip and follow the recently completed river transformation project through the City, taking in Bispetorvet temporary public green square and the highly acclaimed Urban Habitats exhibition as we go.

October

The Culham Science Village team fly to Malmo and Copenhagen for a study tour as inspiration for the emerging designs for a new 3500 dwelling community.

November

Ana wins the Victoria Henshaw Prize for Contribution to City Liveability.

December

Joe Shearer submits his logbook and becomes MRTPI.

2018

January

Ana graduates from her Masters in Urban Design & Planning.

March

Our revised masterplan for Ebbsfleet Garden City (the largest of the NHS healthy new town initiative) receives full planning consent.

May

Planning permission is secured for an urban extension to the west of Hinckley.

June

Alex passes his LI exam and becomes CMLI, having been mentored by Joe Gerrard.

July

We introduce TrueViewVisuals augmented reality tool, and Yarnton is our first project to benefit from it - a sensitive extension to the existing village for Merton College with a focus on legacy and community.

November

5 years after the planning application was submitted, permission is secured for residential development in the Green Belt at Radcliffe on Trent.

December

Jocelyn passes her LI exam and becomes CMLI, having been mentored by Joe Gerrard.

2019

January

Helena, Joe, Kirstie and Wes are promoted to Associate Director and the Senior Management Team is formed.

June

We return trip to Amsterdam for our 2019 study trip, with guides from architecturetours.nl sharing their passion and knowledge of schemes including Borneo Sporenburg, iJburg and Vathorst.

October

Define act on behalf of St Modwen and Merton College in developing designs for a compact neighbourhood within the wider Worcestershire Parkways Garden Town. Following the site’s allocation in the draft Neighbourhood Plan, planning permission is granted for a residential development at Desford.

November

Having worked for Bournville Village Trust and St Modwen for a number of years on the project, the vision for Groveley Garden Village is launched.

December

Alex debuts as a lecturer at Birmingham City University, despite his nerves he loved sharing his software and construction detailing knowledge.

2020

March

The CV19 pandemic sweeps the nation and the Government advises us to work from home, we close our office, and with Microsoft teams loaded on to our computers we head home to adapt to the new way of working. Jocelyn tells us she’s having a baby.

April

Charlie successfully passes his Post Graduate Diploma in Urban Design with distinction.

September

Jocelyn gives birth to baby Rosey – mum and baby are well.

December

North Norfolk District Council Planning Committee resolve to grant outline planning permission for a strategic urban extension to Fakenham. The year ends with the last of four Design Briefs for key areas of Stanton Cross being approved by the Council.

2021

January

National Model Design Code is introduced.

March

Our 10 year celebration is postponed until we can gather as a team of 22 and toast our milestone.

April

Define are instructed to progress with their vision for a new Garden Town in Cambridgeshire on behalf of L&Q and Hill.

May

Emma's baby girl Fearne arrives a little early and a little tiny - but happy, healthy and beautiful.

June

Define are instructed to prepare designs for a new Garden Community north of Cheltenham within the Golden Valley SPD area. The Station Road, Market Bosworth Development Brief is adopted as a SPD by the Borough Council.

July

NPPF Revised.

August

The Masterplan for the development of the University of Bath’s Claverton Campus is incorporated into a new policy in the Council’s draft Local Plan.

September

It’s back to business in the office as we introduce our hybrid working strategy, Holly and Megan complete their Building with Nature assessor training, Land at Walmley is removed from the Green Belt and allocated for residential development and Jocelyn tells us she’s having a baby.

December

Megan passes her LI exam and becomes CMLI, having been mentored by Joe Gerrard and Rachel tells us she's having a baby.