Biography
David is a Partner and head of the Planning team, specialising in planning, public law and compulsory purchase.
David has particular expertise in planning obligations and the community infrastructure levy, planning appeals and judicial review, and compulsory purchase and compensation.
He acts for land promoters, residential and commercial developers, and public bodies advising on the full range of planning matters that may arise in development and local authority decision making.
David trained at Dentons in London and on qualification spent a further 8 years there as an associate and then senior associate in the planning and public law practice, and has spent time on secondment to a development corporation. David joined Ashfords in 2016 as a Partner and now heads the planning team.
David is recognised as a leading individual in Legal 500, and is ranked in the Chambers and Partners legal directory. David is also a non executive director at the Exeter Science Park.
Relevant experience
- London Borough: Advising on section 106 planning obligations for the redevelopment of a substantial hospital site to provide circa 2,000 homes, significant amounts of student accommodation, sports and teaching facilities and retail and commercial space.
- Land promoter: Advising on section 106 obligations, deeds of indemnity, and the acquisition of nutrient credits for residential development sites, participating in planning appeal hearings and public inquiries and advising on judicial review challenges.
- Local authority: Advising on the establishment of a credit trading scheme for nutrient offsetting and biodiversity net gain including all aspects of the market to be set up and run by the private sector but with local authority engagement and endorsement.
- Private sector developer: Advising in relation to a planning appeal against a refusal of planning permission for a high value commercial scheme, including planning obligations and conditions, submitting and running the appeal and overseeing the preparation of evidence for the public inquiry.
- Local authority: Advising on the promotion of a compulsory purchase order for the provision of a new waste management centre to replace existing facilities and provide new waste management capacity.
- Various national housebuilders: Advising national and regional housebuilders on the planning aspects of their developments, including section 106 agreements, amendments to planning permissions, assets of community value and village greens, and the community infrastructure levy.
- Private individual: Advising on the bringing of a judicial review claim against a decision made by the local planning authority leading to a quashing order by consent of the decision and a costs award for our client.
