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.
With a range of experience across the sector including working on care homes, extra care, sheltered housing and retirement housing, DHA are well positioned to advise in this area and help unlock the often complex issue of specialist housing need.
Applying an understanding of the varying design needs of different housing typologies and products, DHA are able to ensure high quality schemes are delivered in a way which contributes positively to meeting the need.
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Case studies in this sector
Demolition of existing bowls pavilion and erection of a 4-storey building to provide a 62-unit retirement living complex.
Permission secured for a new integrated Community Care Hub on land at Greensand Place, Coxheath.
DHA helps meet the need for greater local elderly care provision.
Major environmental investment secured for retirement village.
New care accommodation allowed on appeal.
Permission has been granted to redevelop the longstanding vacant ABC Cinema site in Tunbridge Wells.
People who work in this area
Alice joined DHA as a Graduate Transport Planner in September 2025.
Cameron joined DHA in January 2024 as a graduate planner whilst completing his Masters in Town and Country Planning at London South Bank University.
Carleigh, Associate Director, leads the DHA Design team.
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 gained ten years of experience in Local Government, holding roles with a District Council, a Metropolitan Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, and ultimately serving as Chief Planning Officer at Harlow District Council in Essex.
Emily undertook a yearlong Placement at DHA from September 2023 to September 2024 as part of her BSc in Urban Planning. Having now completed her undergraduate at Loughborough University, she has now returned to DHA full time as of September 2025.
Gemma is a Senior Transport Planner within our Gatwick Team.
Holly is a Senior Transport Planner in our London team.
Jonathan is a Director heading up our Crawley/Gatwick office. He joined DHA in 2005 and has 25 years experience in planning consultancy, having previously worked on major regeneration projects, including the Emirates Stadium, with Hepher Dixon (now Savills) in Milton Keynes and London.
Katie joined DHA as a Graduate Planner in September 2025 upon completion of her Masters in Urban Design and Planning at London South Bank University.
Lauren joined DHA as a graduate planner in August 2022, bringing experience from her previous role as a land consultant at Mott MacDonald. She holds a degree in Town and Country Planning from London South Bank University.
Martha joined DHA in September 2025 for her placement year, as part of her undergraduate Geography Degree (BSc) at Loughborough University.
Mathew joined DHA as one of our original graduate intake in 2004. He has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Westminster, having previously studied Geography at the University of Birmingham.
Nasim joined DHA in September 2025 as a Graduate Transport Planner, based in our Gatwick office.
Olivia joined DHA in July 2025 as a Transport Planner, bringing with her three years' of transport planning experience across a diverse range of projects. She earned a First Class BSc in Geography from UCL in 2021.
Olivia joined DHA in August 2025 as a Planner, bringing a year of experience in the planning industry.
Purdey joined DHA in October 2022 as a Graduate Planner after graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Geography. A year after joining, she began her Masters in Town and Country Planning (Part-Time) at London South Bank University.
Sascha joined DHA in 2025 and has nearly 20 years of planning consultancy experience in a range of sectors including housing, tourist and leisure accommodation, student and specialist older persons accommodation.
Zohaib is an Architectural Designer with a strong academic and professional background in architecture. He studied at the University of Kent, where he completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture, developing a solid foundation in design, technical detailing, and project delivery.
Sectors you may be interested 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.
DHA's experience in mixed use schemes is wide and varied in both scheme types and location.
DHA have market leading experience in creating new communities. This is evident in the scale and success of the projects worked on across the country.
Services we work in
Site promotion is vital to identify land for future developments and to meet the needs of future generations.
DHA’s viability team provides specialist advice to public and private sector clients on development viability. This includes advising on the initial feasibility stages, through the application and late-stage review mechanisms, Section 106 agreements and CIL contributions on a range of schemes.
10.04.2025
Blueprint Spring 2025Our Spring newsletter highlighting some of our key planning successes.
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