After completing his national service, Walker went on to study architecture at Leeds Art School; whilst there he met his first wife Jill Messenger.
He then studied planning at the University of Pennsylvania before returning to the UK in 1960 to set up an architectural practice in Leeds.
[3][4] At the time of its opening in 1979 it was a unique concept for 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m2) of retail space with a plan generated around covered landscaped streets.
[7] Walker was born on 15 June 1929 in Blackburn, Lancashire,[10] however he and his family moved to Leeds in West Yorkshire when he was very young.
[12] Walker was a lifelong sports fanatic with a passion for cricket, and was a supporter of Leeds United FC.