Contemporary Homes, Sevenoaks
Three contemporary homes set within ancient woodland have been given the thumbs up by Sevenoaks District Council after DHA helped steer the project through planning.
Designed by MortonScarr Architects, each of the bespoke new homes will feature heavily glazed corridors that connect different parts of the buildings. These will provide the residents with the feeling of walking through the surrounding forest while providing high levels of natural light. Terraces located on the upper floors of the properties will provide views to the canopy of the surrounding trees.
The plans are for a proposed future use of the site of the Eureka Sun Club, near Redlibbets Golf Course, and the houses will feature local Kentish ragstone, timber cladding and sedum roofs.
Ordinarily no new development would be allowed within 15m of an ancient woodland, however the team at DHA successfully persuaded council planners that the new houses would be an appropriate, sensitive use of a previously developed site, which lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt.
Project Team
Alex has worked at DHA for more than 15 years and became Managing Director in 2016. Alongside overseeing the day-to-day running of the business, he remains passionate about planning and development.
Alex Hicken MRICS
Managing Director
Alex has worked at DHA for more than 15 years and became Managing Director in 2016. Alongside overseeing the day-to-day running of the business, he remains passionate about planning and development. He enjoys meeting clients, exploring opportunities, and advising on how DHA can help maximise the value of their land.
Alex began his career training as a Chartered Surveyor at BNP Paribas within their Development Consulting team, working on a variety of major housing, commercial and public-sector schemes. He joined DHA in 2010 and was promoted to Managing Director six years later.
He works across a broad range of residential and commercial projects, with key expertise in development viability, enabling development, asset optimisation, and strategic land.
Outside of work, Alex coaches a local junior rugby team.
David is a Director at DHA and leads a planning team working on a range of projects. He has a particular interest in residential projects, local plans and using his extensive knowledge and experience on all matters relating to the Green Belt and AONB.
David Bedford MRTPI
Director
David has worked in the planning industry for 20 years in a mix of local authority and private consultancy roles. He has an Undergraduate degree in Urban and Environmental Planning and a Post Graduate Diploma and Master's degree in Town Planning. David's areas of expertise include Green Belt/AONB development and Local Plan promotion.
Some of his recent projects include:
- Securing consents for 45 homes at Copper's Lane, Matfield (AONB)
- Securing residential consent at Salts Farm Fawkham at appeal (Green Belt very special circumstances)
- Securing consent for the major commercial redevelopment of Preston Farm, Shoreham (Green Belt and AONB)
In addition David, with the support of Emma Hawkes, leads DHA's in house Graduate Training Programme to ensure our graduates are trained to the highest standards.