What DHA can do for you…
We can advise. We can guide. We can create. We can design. We can analyse. We can organise. We will listen. We will assist and facilitate you in achieving valuable, viable planning permissions.
from the appropriate, to the exceptional…
Concept Urban Design
Urban design is sometimes perceived as vague or overly conceptual, but our approach is practical, clear, and grounded in real outcomes. We present urban design ideas without jargon, using straightforward explanations and simple illustrations that are accessible to all stakeholders.
Our aim is to develop proposals that respond to local context and satisfy planners, committee members, and residents, delivering new homes that are appropriate for their community.
Urban design is fundamentally a structured process, involving neighbourhood appraisal, policy review, establishment of a design framework, development of a clear vision, coordination of the design team, and transparent communication through words and drawings to demonstrate integrity throughout the design journey.
Masterplanning
Our masterplans provide certainty and deliverable layouts, combining clear, engaging visuals with a rigorous understanding of practical requirements such as appropriate separation distances, efficient development parcels, and sufficient parking provision.
We bring an innovative yet grounded approach to development structure and public realm design, informed by established best practice and a thorough evaluation of local character and urban morphology. This ensures proposals respond to context and meet the expectations of local planning authorities and design review panels.
Crucially, our vision is underpinned by extensive experience in commercially viable residential design, helping developers avoid masterplans that prove unbuildable, unviable, or misaligned with local standards and aspirations.
Feasibility
Site appraisal is one of the most critical services we provide, forming the foundation for land acquisition and project viability. Without a viable appraisal, there is no basis for a concept, planning application, or successful development.
For this reason, all appraisal layouts are prepared exclusively by our Senior Associates, ensuring clients benefit from the highest level of expertise and insight.
Our initial layouts are designed to maximise development potential while remaining realistic and achievable at the planning stage, informed by detailed local knowledge and extensive experience negotiating with planning authorities and community stakeholders.
The deliverability of our appraisals, and our strong understanding of developers’ requirements, is reflected in our exceptional success rate.
Pre-Application Discussions
The pre-application process is an essential ingredient in the recipe for a locally approved planning application. It can be naïve to see pre-application submissions and negotiations as some kind of administrative hurdle – but to us, every early discussion is an incredibly valuable opportunity to build relationships with council members, officers and more importantly the local people who will be most impacted by the proposals. To collaborate, to understand and to work with the local objectives and strategies, and – hopefully – to persuade.
As with all of our work, presentation quality is essential to illustrating the proposals in their best light – but we also recognise that in part, we will be conversing professional-to-professional, and the accuracy of the technical, planning and procedural elements of the pre-app will be as important as the appearance.
Consultation
Public consultation has evolved to become more sophisticated, diverse, and targeted. While we continue to run traditional drop-in events, these now form just one part of a broader strategy that can include websites, direct mail, online meetings, roundtables, social media, and virtual town halls.
For smaller consultations, we can produce boards and flyers in-house. More often, we contribute high-quality presentation and explanatory materials, guiding discussions and helping stakeholders engage meaningfully with the design proposals.
Planning
Once feedback has been considered, our final designs are presented to ensure planners, councillors, and the local community fully understand and support the proposals. Our guiding principle is simple: all submitted visuals must be clear, precise, and visually compelling.
We recognise that the quality of the Planning Application is crucial. Drawings are enhanced with realistic colour and supported by a comprehensive Design and Access Statement, Planning Statement, and Landscape Masterplan. A well-presented application helps persuade decision-makers and the community of the proposal’s suitability.
We go the extra mile to ensure every submission reflects confidence and professionalism, reinforcing that the proposals are appropriate and deliverable for the site.
Presentation & Visualisation
We believe our in-house visualisation team is among the best in the industry.
High-quality presentation materials are invaluable. Perspectives, axonometrics, computer-generated images, animated fly-throughs, and scale models help councillors and stakeholders fully understand and engage with a proposal. Post-approval, these assets also provide a head start on marketing.
By making proposals tangible and easy to visualise, these tools give decision-makers and consultees the clearest possible understanding, maximising the likelihood of support.