David Birkbeck helped set up Design for Homes as a social enterprise. He wrote Building for Life in 2002 and co-wrote Building for Life 12, endorsed by the NPPF and by Homes England which uses it as its core design test to vet bids for land and grant. A 2020 edition, Building for a Healthy Life, was commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement to promote active travel and designing the public realm for exercise and leisure. It was used instantly to shape the design of the joint winner of the Government’s recent Home of 2030 competition and has become the basis of many LPAs local plan design requirements. David contributed to the HAPPI report principles for senior housing to make it at least as appealing as ‘general needs’ homes. A judge for the Housing Design Awards since 2003, he was appointed their ‘rapporteur’ by government in 2005. He is an honorary fellow of the RIBA.