With an ageing population and many in our community struggling to find the specialist care accommodation they need, DHA has been working for the last 18 months on a project that could be seen as a perfect response to the situation.
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Permission has just been secured for a new integrated Community Care Hub on land at Greensand Place, Heath Road, on the edge of Coxheath village.
Following a lengthy debate, members of Maidstone Borough Council recognised the scheme’s merits, which will see a brand new, 12-bedroom state-of-the-art specialist palliative and end-of-life care and family support facility for Heart of Kent Hospice alongside:
• A 73-bed care home to contribute to the borough’s under provision of older people’s care bed spaces;
• 14 supported living units for adults with learning disabilities or autism;
and
• Up to 52 affordable retirement bungalows for the over 60s.
To support the hospice’s adult patients and their families, its complex will include an activity space, a garden room, consulting/counselling rooms and a café. In addition, a large private sensory garden is proposed near to the in-patient rooms.
The development brings together the combined health, care and property expertise of the Heart of Kent Hospice, Aspire Living, Coral Living and Stonebond Properties.
The project will also deliver significant landscape works on the 8.9 hectare site including the addition of a 3.4 hectare woodland strip, and the planting of approximately 3600 trees across the site as a whole. Overall, there will be a Biodiversity Net Gain in excess of 64%.
Natural open spaces will be provided across the site, along with a central amenity open space with public art.
There’s also provision for semi-private and private garden areas.
David Hicken, Chairman of DHA Planning, said: “This is one of those great legacy projects that are the reason planners come into the profession. It will enhance the lives of people for decades and is a perfect response to a community’s need for great healthcare provision. Every site is different but by bringing these healthcare uses together it could be a model for similar provision across the county and beyond.
“A big thank you must go to everyone involved in the project for their shared vision, and in particular to the landowners for their extreme generosity and to the planning team at Maidstone Borough Council for recognising what it will deliver.”
People who worked on this project
Chris is a Director at DHA running one of our residential teams, he is particularly passionate about creating new communities and ensuring developments meet the needs of the local demographic.
Before establishing David Hicken Associates in 1986, David had ten years' experience in Local Government, including posts with a District Council, a Metropolitan Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council and finally as Chief Planning Officer with Harlow District Council in Essex.
Laura joined DHA in 2004 as part of our original Graduate intake. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geography and Sports Science from Loughborough University, and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Westminster. She is also a member of the RTPI.
Sectors we work in
We are particularly proud of our track record of securing planning consent for valuable community facilities on behalf of both public and private sector clients – from village halls to libraries and pre-schools.
DHA's experience in health development extends to medical centres, hospitals and related accommodation and training, GP Practices and medical campuses. Fully understanding the specific needs of prospective operators is key and DHA ensure this remains at the core of any project and directly informs the planning process.
With an ever-increasing need for specialist accommodation for older people, DHA have expertise across the field to assist in the delivery of retirement and care-related schemes.
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