Whitstable Care Home
After determining that a later living project would help address the critical need for registered care accommodation, as well as the overall housing shortfall in the Canterbury district, a Planning Inspector allowed an appeal on behalf of DHA’s client, Aspire LPP.
The Reigate-based company, which sources, designs and develops bespoke care and residential properties nationwide, can now progress its plans for a new care home on land at Millstrood Road, Whitstable.
Originally refused planning permission by Canterbury City Council in May 2024, DHA put together a compelling appeal case. The Inspector concluded that the substantial public benefits of the scheme outweighed the harm identified in terms of the loss of protected open space and impact on character and appearance of the area.
With an ageing population and a growing demand for high-quality care facilities, this Aspire development will provide 76 much-needed en-suite bedrooms, equivalent to 42 dwellings towards the Council’s housing shortfall.
Project Team
Dan is a Senior Planner at DHA having joined DHA in January 2021 as a part-time Graduate Planner whilst completing an MSc in Spatial Planning at University College London.
Dan Blake MRTPI
Senior Planner
Since completing the Royal Town Planning Institute and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors accredited MSc in September 2021, having being awarded a Merit, Dan gained his MRTPI and now works alongside Louise on a range of our London projects.
Dan has worked on an array of projects, at all stages of the planning process, with recent highlights including:
- Development of an underutilised car park to enable the erection of temporary homelessness accommodation on behalf of Ashford Borough Council;
- An application for a replacement dwelling in the countryside;
- A Certificate of Lawfulness for Existing Use of a dwelling following non-compliance with a holiday let condition for 10 years;
- A written representations appeal relating to a refused retrospective planning application for the erection of a holiday let in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
- A hearing relating to 3no. previously refused applications for the erection of 7no. dwellings in the urban area of Gillingham;
- An Inquiry relating to the erection of 7no. self-build dwellings in the countryside; and
- An Inquiry relating to the erection of up to 70no. dwellings adjacent to an urban area.
Dan continues to develop his knowledge of the UK planning system, particularly specialising in the intricacies of the London planning system and the appeal process.
Matthew leads some of the practice's biggest projects, predominantly involving large scale residential development.
Matthew Woodhead MRTPI
Director
Matthew is one of DHA’s most experienced planners, with over 28 years’ experience across both the public and private sectors. He is dual-qualified in Planning and Urban Design, bringing a broad perspective to complex development projects.
Matthew leads some of the practice's biggest projects, predominantly involving large-scale residential development. This ranges from the promotion of land for landowners through to working with housebuilders and developers on major housing, mixed-use and regeneration projects.
He has secured permissions for clients for developments comprising many thousands of homes, while also bringing extensive experience in more bespoke projects, including one-off houses in the countryside.