M20 Truck Stop
Major changes to how the Motis Business Centre at Cheriton Parc, near junction 12 of the M20, operates have been secured.
Thanks to DHA, the site's owner Motis Ireland can change the focus of the centre, while retaining it for employment. It can now bring forward six commercial units for office, research and development and industrial uses, plus B-8 commercial uses. The existing Motis office building can now be extended to include Class-E uses, including a children's nursery, café and gym.
Also included in the new plans for the site, which is earmarked for employment by Folkestone & Hythe District Council, is the provision of 115 parking spaces for HGVs. Operated 24/7, the new facility will have a pre-booking system, alongside a transhipment building and a two-storey welfare and office building.
DHA was able to demonstrate there was weak demand for office space within the district and the evolving world of work.
With a major employer having recently vacated 2,260m2 of office space at Cheriton Parc, the site was still able to maintain its allocation for office-based employment, which persuaded Councillors to approve the plans.
Project Team
Danielle is a Director and leads our Viability team as well as running a large caseload of planning projects.
Danielle Lawrence MRICS
Director
Danielle joined DHA in 2014 with a BSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading, having gained relevant planning & development experience through a series of placements in both the public and private sector. She qualified as a Chartered Surveyor of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2016 and has since focused on developing her career in planning and development.
During Danielle’s time at DHA, she has been involved on a number of developments including the construction of a performing arts centre and boarding house at an independent school, the restoration and extension of the Grade II* listed Leas Lift in Folkestone, care homes and student accommodation schemes.
Danielle also works closely with a number of housebuilders to deliver large scale residential-led developments across the South East.
Alongside planning, Danielle leads our viability team who specialise in providing advice on affordable housing and planning obligations. This includes advising clients on the viability of development schemes, preparing application stage Financial Viability Assessments at the and leading negotiations with local planning authorities on a range of residential and mixed-use schemes.
Jonathan is a Director leading our Gatwick office. He joined DHA in 2005 and brings more than 30 years of planning consultancy experience.
Jonathan Buckwell MRTPI PISEP
Director
Prior to joining DHA, he worked with Hepher Dixon (now Savills) in Milton Keynes and London, contributing to major regeneration projects, including the Emirates Stadium.
Jonathan works across a broad range of residential and commercial projects and has also advised local authorities on major developments, including the Manston Airport Development Consent Order.
His notable successes include securing planning permission for a major industrial complex in Nottinghamshire, an urban extension in Cornwall, a 1 million sqft medical campus in Maidstone, and a 600-space HGV park in Ashford.
In addition to his consultancy work, Jonathan also chairs Developers East Sussex, an organisation that brings together public and private sector development interests across the county. Through this role, he has engaged directly with Secretaries of State and Ministers within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on matters affecting development and economic growth.
Outside of work, Jonathan coaches a girls’ football team and enjoys the enduring highs and lows of supporting Leicester City.
Matthew specialises in rural planning and has extensive experience in barn conversions, agricultural development, rural business growth and farm diversification projects. He is also DHA’s lead specialist on permitted development rights and point of contact on MOD projects.
Matthew Garvey MRTPI
Director
Matthew joined DHA in 2012 as a Graduate Planner, having previously worked at Kent County Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geography and completed an MSc in Town Planning at the University of Brighton in 2014.
Over the course of his career at DHA, Matthew has progressed through the business, culminating in his promotion to Director in June 2026.
With more than a decade of experience in planning consultancy, Matthew advises a diverse client base ranging from major developers, contractors and landed estates to farmers, businesses and private landowners. He has successfully managed a broad spectrum of planning projects and is recognised for providing clear, commercially focused advice that helps clients navigate complex planning issues.
While his work spans multiple sectors, Matthew specialises in rural planning and has extensive experience in barn conversions, agricultural development, rural business growth and farm diversification projects. He is also DHA’s lead specialist on permitted development rights and point of contact on MOD projects. He ensures clients benefit from the latest legislative changes and opportunities.
His practical approach, detailed knowledge of planning policy and commitment to delivering results make him a trusted adviser to clients across the South East and beyond.