Westwood Village One, Thanet
Building the first phase of a new 1,400 home community in Thanet can now get underway after DHA obtained the final approvals needed.
A successful Reserved Matters Application (RMA) saw approval given by Thanet District Council for the details of an initial 449 homes at Westwood Village One. The new homes will be developed on land west of Ramsgate, close to the Westwood Cross shopping complex.
The work was carried out on behalf of Riverside Housing Association and – unusually for a project of this size – all the properties will be classed as affordable homes, divided between 157 socially rented and 292 shared ownership.
Twenty-four will be one bedroom, 134 homes will be two bedrooms, 218 will comprise three bedrooms with the remaining 73 being four bedrooms.
The properties will incorporate renewable power generation, be energy-efficient and low cost to run. They will be provided with storage space for bicycles as well as EV charging points.
The RMA dealt with matters such as access, landscaping, appearance and scale and was developed in consultation with local planning officers, as well as Kent County Council Highway Officers. It was handled by DHA’s planning and transport teams.
DHA Director Mark Bewsey said: "This is a high quality, landscape-led development that will deliver much needed housing for the community. The fact that it is all affordable was very much welcomed by Thanet District Council."
Phase two of the new village has outline permission for a further 451 homes, while an adjoining site is earmarked for 500 more.
Project Team
Greg is an Associate at DHA Planning and operates from our Kent Office. He joined DHA as a Graduate Planner in the summer of 2022 after graduating from Newcastle University with a BA (Hons) in Urban Planning (First Class). He was elected as an Associate Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (AssocRTPI) in August 2025 and is working towards achieving full Chartered membership (MRTPI).
Greg Filmer AssocRTPI
Associate
Since joining DHA, Greg has worked on a wide variety of major and minor projects across the residential, educational, industrial, and commercial sectors. He specialises in the delivery of residential-led schemes and strategic land promotion for regional and national housebuilders.
Greg is a member of the housing team and works closely with Danielle Lawrence.
Mark is a Planning Director within the DHA's Gatwick office and regularly leads the promotion of major schemes through the planning system.
Mark Bewsey MRTPI
Director
Stemming from a background working in-house at housebuilders Countryside and Crest Nicholson, Mark has developed particular expertise in residential schemes across the South East. This has involved giving evidence at Public Inquiry and Examinations in Public, the formulation of major planning applications and the submission of Local Plan representations. Mark regularly leads large multi-disciplinary schemes and works with leading Counsel.
Recent projects have included:
- An appeal for 700 houses, a primary school, medical centre, community facilities and 8,600sq.m of employment floorspace in Polegate (Wealden District) for which Mark was the Planning Expert Witness including giving evidence at the Public Inquiry
- Achieving consent for 140 houses in Hastings on behalf of the modular housebuilder ilke Homes
- Achieving Reserved Matters approval and assisting with the implementation of a major strategic site on the edge of Maidstone
- The promotion of a major residential site through a Neighbourhood Plan, achieving an allocation for 360 dwellings
Key clients include Bellway Homes, Countryside, ilke Homes, Mactaggart & Mickel, Obsidian Strategic, Stonebond, Vistry and Workman. Mark is currently promoting major residential and mixed use schemes across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Aside from residential work, Mark has a wide degree of experience in Commercial and Educational projects, including sport and leisure related projects. Recently this has included advising on large commercial schemes across the UK and an office tower in Croydon.
Mark has been a full member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2010.