Derek James Latham (born 12 July 1946) is a British architect, urban designer, master planner, landscape architect, and founder of Lathams, a Derby-based architectural and urban design practice.

Early career

Latham studied at the Leicester School of Architecture (now absorbed into

De Montfort University De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a public university in the city of Leicester, England. It was established in accordance with the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, Further and Higher Education Act in 1992 as a degree awarding body ...

) and began his career with Clifford Wearden Associates. His early work included housing developments and advisory work for the homelessness charity

Shelter A shelter is an architectural structure or natural formation (or a combination of the two) providing protection from the local environment. A shelter can serve as a home or be provided by a residential institution. It can be understood as both ...

. In 1970 he moved to Derby Borough Council where he served as an architect and planner, before becoming the Design and Conservation Office for Derbyshire County Council from 1974–78. In this time he was involved in a number of projects in the Derby area such as the renovation of the historic Midland Railway Cottages at Derby Train Station.

Lathams

After a spell in private practice as a partner with Wood Latham Newton Partnership, Latham set up his own practice in 1980, Derek Latham & Associates – later rebranded as simply 'Lathams'. Founded as a conservation practice, Lathams expanded into conservation, education, and the creative renewal and regeneration of buildings, land and communities. In 2010 Latham left the role of managing director to become chairman. Notable projects undertaken in his time at Lathams include The

Victoria Quarter Victoria Leeds is a shopping district and leisure area in central Leeds, comprising the 1990 Victoria Quarter, an arcaded complex of restored 19th-century and contemporary shopping arcades, and the 2016 Victoria Gate development. Notable for ...

in Leeds for Prudential PM and the Jewellery Business Centre in Birmingham

Jewellery Quarter The Jewellery Quarter is an area of central Birmingham, England, in the north-western area of Birmingham City Centre, with a population of 19,000 in a area. The Jewellery Quarter is Europe's largest concentration of businesses involved in the ...

for HRH Prince of Wales. Latham has served as Regional Representative for the

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) was an executive non-departmental public body of the UK government, established in 1999. It was funded by both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for ...

(CABE) in the East Midlands, a founder member of Opun - (East Midlands Architecture and Built Environment Centre) and Chairman of Regeneration East Midlands (Centre for Excellence). He was also involved in establishing the Regional Project Design Review Panel, was a Yorkshire Forward Urban Renaissance Panel Member, and his work in conservation included spells with organisations including the

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) (also known as Anti-Scrape) is an amenity society founded by William Morris, Philip Webb, and others in 1877 to oppose the Victorian restoration, destructive 'restoration' of ancient bu ...

(SPAB) and the

Heritage Lottery Fund The National Lottery Heritage Fund, formerly the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), distributes a share of National Lottery funding, supporting a wide range of heritage projects across the United Kingdom. History The fund's predecessor bodies were ...

. In 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Professional Practice by the

University of Derby The University of Derby, formerly known as Derby College, is a public university in the city of Derby, England. It traces its history back to the establishment of the Derby Diocesan Institution for the training of schoolmistresses in 1851. It ...

. Throughout his career he has been involved in a number of projects linked to the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust, and he currently serves as its Chairman. He is also currently serves as the Chair of the Derwent Valley Cycleway Trust, promoting the development of a continuous cycleway along the Derwent Valley UNESCO

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

Personal Life

Latham is married to

Pauline Latham Pauline Elizabeth Latham, (born 4 February 1948) is a British Conservative Party politician, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Derbyshire, serving until she stood down at the 2024 general ...

, the Member of Parliament for

Mid Derbyshire Mid Derbyshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. The Member of Parliament has been Jonathan Davies of the Labour Party since the 2024 United Kingdom general election. As with all constituencies, the co ...

from 2010 until 2024. https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/property/take-look-around-derbyshire-mp-2188543

Bibliography

References

External links

Lathams
official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Latham, Derek Living people 1946 births Alumni of De Montfort University Architects from Derby Urban designers