Fred Roche

Frederick Lloyd Roche, CBE (11 March 1931 – 9 November 1992), better known as Fred Roche, was an architect, most known for his work in Milton Keynes during the 1970s and for his company Conran Roche in the 1980s.

He trained at Regent Street Polytehnic (now University of Westminster) and qualified in 1955. He remained in London for three years working as a housing architect but in 1958 moved to Coventry where he became an architect specialising in schools. In 1963 he returned to housing when he became principal development architect for the Midlands Housing Consortium.

In 1965 he became Chief Architect and Planning Officer for Runcorn new town, developing the master plan and where he hired James Stirling to develop designs for new housing.

In 1970 he moved to Milton Keynes in north Buckinghamshire, at that stage little more than a line on a map, to be General Manager of Milton Keynes Development Corporation at the young age of 39. He oversaw the major growth of the 'new city' through to 1981. Thereafter, he joined up with Terence Conran (of Habitat fame) to establish the new architecture and planning consultancy Conran Roche. The company developed a number of successful projects during the 1980s including Butler's Wharf and Michelin House in London. Ill health forced him to retire as managing director in 1988.

Awards and recognition

In 1985 Roche was appointed a CBE. He was a vice-president of the Royal Institute of British Architects from 1983–85 and honorary treasurer from 1985-86.

He is commemorated in Milton Keynes by having a linear civic garden named for him.