Buckmore Park, Chatham
Planning permission was obtained from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for a new multi-purpose building and visitor facility at Buckmore Park Circuit "The Paddock".
Planning permission was obtained from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for a new multi-purpose building and visitor facility at Buckmore Park Circuit "The Paddock".
Led by DHA’s Planning, Transport, and Drainage teams, the application was developed with the talented design team at MortonScarr Architects on behalf of Buckmore Park Karting to bring this transformative project to life.
The approved proposals include the erection of a new Driver Development and visitor facility, reconfiguration of the car park and installation of EV charging points, together with landscaping and ecological enhancements to the site.
The new milti-purpose visitor facility will sit adjacent to the existing kart track and provide spectators with panoramic views of the race from the large roof terrace. The building will feature a state-of-the-art 18 seat simulator room, 120 seat restaurant and sports bar, 100 seat conference room and a gallery space where heritage cars will be displayed.
The approval marks the next chapter for Buckmore Park, securing its status as a national and international motorsport destination, while strengthening its role as a valued community asset. It promises to expand access to motorsport, create local employment opportunities, and ensure the circuit’s long-term sustainability.
As the UK’s most visited and top-rated karting circuit, BuckmorePark is widely regarded as one of the foremost grassroots motorsport venues in the country.
Project Team
Adam is an Associate in our Transport Planning team leading our small to medium sized projects as well as taking an active role in helping to deliver our larger Transport projects.
Adam Huckstepp BSc CIHT
Associate
Adam graduated from the University of Surrey in 2016 and had a short stint in sales before joining DHA in September 2017 as a Graduate Transport Planner. Working his way up through the DHA programme, Adam is now an Associate and helps support the training and development of our more junior transport team members.
Adam has worked on a wide range of development projects for both education and commercial developments. He has advised on the transport implications for developments via a number of documents including Transport Assessments and Transport Statements.
Born and bred in Kent, Adam is passionate about creating sustainable travel options in and around Kent whilst also looking how existing routes can be expanded upon, made more efficient and serve more people, rather then bringing in new routes which require significant subsidy and ultimately cost the Government and individuals (through tax) more money.
Some of Adam's recent clients include Fernham Homes, Pellings, Kier Construction and Redrow Homes.
Adam has a keen interest in classic cars, and restored a Mk1 Fiesta for his first car.
Chris is an Associate Director at DHA and leads our infrastructure team and holds an honours degree in Civil Engineering.
Chris Smoker BEng (Hons)
Associate Director
Chris is an Associate Director at DHA and leads our infrastructure team and holds an honours degree in Civil Engineering.
He has 30 years' experience in various highways, drainage and infrastructure projects. During this period, Chris has been involved in the planning, design and construction of highway and sewerage schemes for residential education and commercial infrastructure projects in the public and private sector.
Before joining DHA, Chris worked for WSP Development, Hyder and CTP.
Some of Chris's latest projects include:
- Kent Medical Campus, Maidstone
- Berry Gardens, Linton
- Scania, Gatwick
- Romney Marsh Potato Company
- Marks and Spencer, Maidstone
Chris is integral to a number of our projects and you will always find him assisting his colleagues with their various queries on drainage and flood risk.
When not at work Chris enjoys spending time with this family and his much loved dog, Rubix.
Jack originally joined DHA in 2021 after graduating from UCL with an MSc in Spatial Planning. He started his DHA career working with in the Gatwick office and is now based with our London team running projects across the South East.
Jack Karagoz MRTPI
Associate
When Jack started with us originally he worked alongside Jonathan Buckwell and Mark Bewsey in the Gatwick Office assisting on applications and providing advice to a range of clients with land and development interests in Sussex and Surrey.
Following a year and a half working at a London-based property consultancy, Jack re-joined DHA as a Senior Planner in early 2024. He is now based at our London office working on a variety of schemes across Greater London and further afield.
So far in his career Jack has worked on a number of major residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use projects with recent highlights including:
- Planning permission for the conversion of an underutilised industrial building to a state-of-the-art virtual film studio in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
- A planning inquiry related to a major mixed-use development including two and a half thousand apartments in Barnet.
- Consents and permissions for extensive works to listed buildings in numerous central London boroughs including Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.
- Change of use of commercial properties to residential uses in numerous central London boroughs including Islington and Camden.
- An application for the redevelopment of Redhill Station and 300 flats in several tall buildings.
- Planning permission for 18,000 sqm employment floorspace on a site in the Green Belt and high risk flood zone in Tunbridge Wells.
Outside of work Jack is a keen runner and cyclist, enthusiast of French and Italian cuisine, frustrated Arsenal fan, and avid traveller of European cities.