Millwall FC Training Ground
Millwall FC's long-term ambitions to reach the Premier League have taken an important step forward after its plans to build a new training ground in the Green Belt, near Brands Hatch, received the support of Sevenoaks District Council.
The Championship club can now create its new training academy and facilities on the 50-acre site off Fawkham Road close to the M20 motorway. DHA joined Millwall's team and provided transport planning and highway design advice.
The new facilities will include indoor and outdoor football pitches, artificial turf and training areas, plus buildings for groundsmen and security, as well as car and cycle parking, and will benefit from hard and soft landscaping. When complete it will be home to the Lions' first team and academy training operations as well as the club's office and support staff, which will move from its current home in Bermondsey. New access will be created to the site near the London Golf Club and the M20.
Millwall's chief executive, Steve Kavanagh, said: "We are very thankful to all those who have contributed to helping the club get to this point in what is a long and complex process, and we're excited about progressing further in the months ahead."
The project will see Millwall Community Trust work closely with the local community to promote grass roots football. A community benefit plan will seek to maximise opportunities for residents for employment, skills, training, and volunteering, and fund improvements to walking routes between the site and West Kingsdown.
Project Team
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.
James started his career at DHA in 2017 as an Apprentice straight from secondary school, working within the Transport team. Now he's an Associate, having gained his qualifications and a wealth of hands-on experience from working in the office whilst studying for his Diploma.
James Marsh HND
Associate
James primarily works on site access designs, detailed layout reviews for planning applications and flood risk assessments.
Over the years he's worked on many schemes, including:
- Lyewood Farm in Boughton Monchelsea
- Updown Farmhouse in Updown, Deal
- Eureka Park, Ashford
- Stocks Road, Wittersham
- London Road SEN School
On the weekends, James enjoys spending time exploring restaurants and playing darts.
Paul joined DHA in 2014 having previously worked for Kent County Council and the Department for Transport in the fields of development planning, transport policy, capital projects and public transport. Paul leads our Maidstone-based Transport Team and our public sector transport planning work.
Paul Lulham FCILT
Director
He provides advice to a range of clients throughout the UK to support the preparation of planning applications, Local Plans, transport strategies and the negotiation of developer contributions for transport infrastructure and services. He is also an experienced expert witness, having appeared at numerous Public Inquiries, Appeal Hearings and Local Plan Examinations.
Some of Paul's projects include:
- Millwall Football Club Training Ground and Academy, West Kingsdown;
- South East Maidstone Urban Expansion;
- Kent Medical Campus, Maidstone;
- Mole Valley Local Plan Transport Assessment;
- Hartopp and Lannoy Point estate regeneration, Hammersmith and Fulham;
- Chatham Waterfront and Mountbatten House, Chatham;
- Ledian Gardens Integrated Retirement Community, Maidstone;
- School of Science and Technology, Maidstone;
- Abbey Farm Primary School, Swindon.