About

Our Story

DHA was founded in 1995 with an ambition to create a practice focused on delivering high-quality residential design and planning solutions for the housebuilding industry.

From its early years, the practice established a reputation for combining creative design with a strong commercial understanding of development. This approach enabled DHA to grow steadily, building long-standing relationships with housebuilders, developers and land promoters across the UK.

As the company evolved, its focus remained firmly on helping clients maximise the potential of their sites through thoughtful design, planning expertise and a practical understanding of the residential development process. This commitment to quality and service has seen DHA become a trusted partner to many of the nation's leading housebuilders.

Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Steve Mitchell and as part of the STAT Group, DHA is building on this strong heritage while continuing to evolve for the future. The principles that have shaped the practice for more than 30 years remain at its heart: delivering exceptional design, providing trusted advice and achieving the best possible outcomes for every client.

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Our Approach

At DHA, we believe successful residential development is achieved through the careful balance of design quality, development viability and planning expertise. Every project presents its own opportunities and challenges, and our role is to help clients unlock the full potential of their sites through practical, well-considered design solutions.

Collaboration sits at the heart of our approach. By working closely with clients, consultants, local authorities and stakeholders, we develop schemes that are both commercially successful and thoughtfully designed, creating places where people want to live and communities can thrive.

From initial site appraisal and early sketch concepts through to refined planning layouts and planning approval, our design process is collaborative, iterative and informed at every stage. Through careful analysis, creative thinking and technical expertise, we refine each proposal to deliver successful planning outcomes and high-quality places for people to live.

Our Integrated Consultancy

As part of the STAT Group, DHA is connected to a wider network of specialist consultancies across the built environment.

This gives our clients access to complementary expertise in areas such as landscape architecture, ecology, arboriculture, planning, ground investigation and engineering, helping to identify and address potential challenges from the earliest stages of a project.

By bringing together the right expertise when required, we can provide a more coordinated approach and help clients progress sites with greater confidence.

Meet the Team

Steve Mitchell

Managing Director

Steve Tapper

Director

Edwin England

Communities Engagement & Urban Design Senior Associate

Stewart Beresford

Layout Design Senior Associate

Jason Hobbs

CAD Design Senior Associate

Judith Chapman

Business Administration Associate

Mark Ireland

Senior Layout Designer

Kier Adams

CAD Design Manager

Martyn Helsby

Chief Visualiser

Tom Pawson

Photoshop Manager

Sarah Potts

Senior Architectural CAD Technician

Ethan Foy

Architectural CAD Technician

Donna James

Visualiser

Sam Mitchell

Illustration Technician

Pauline Whiston

Office & Planning Support Coordinator

Matthew Hobbs

Planning and Urban Design Assistant

Vaishali Muthyala

Junior Visualiser

James Shaw

Junior CAD Planning Technician