David is an experienced planning lawyer with particular expertise in residential, mixed-use, office and leisure projects in London and the South East. He advises on a strategic and detailed basis on all types of planning applications and appeals; the negotiation of planning and highways agreements; managing court challenges; and advising on blight and compulsory purchase issues.
David has a proven track record in obtaining valuable planning permissions, securing costs awards, advising on environmental statements, and resisting village green applications.
- Site assessment and strategic advice on development opportunities
- The preparation and submission of planning, listed building consent and certificates of lawfulness applications and appeals
- Planning and highway undertakings
- Enforcement
- Environmental impact assessments
- Judicial review and statutory challenges
- Development plan representations
- Village green applications
- Freedom of information requests
- Compulsory purchase orders and blight notices
- Permitted development rights
- The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations (CIL)
- Acted on several high-profile, tall-building schemes in the Vauxhall Nine Elms Opportunity Area and the Southbank. The projects engaged complex issues arising in respect of Environmental Impact Assessment, including CIL, s.106 and judicial review
- Secured on appeal permission to erect 37 high-value residential units next to a Royal Park without any affordable housing contribution. The decision is a text-book example of the role of viability in planning
- Negotiated and settled planning agreements relating to the provision of a total of 80 affordable housing units in sites in Hammersmith & Fulham and Hackney. The innovative schemes provide affordable housing in perpetuity without recourse to any public subsidy
- Advised on the planning law issues arising in respect of the conversion and extension of a landmark listed building in central London into a 99-bedroom hotel and museum
- Negotiated the planning agreements relating to the £40 million re-development of a listed building into London’s largest casino
- Led a project seeking the conversion, renovation and extension of a workshop complex in Primrose Hill into a mixed-use scheme, comprising a single large-scale dwelling house and offices. Advising on all planning aspects of the project, including the drafting and negotiation of the planning agreement
- Successfully challenged the Secretary of State’s decision on an enforcement notice appeal in the High Court
Noted as a key figure in Planning law by the Legal 500 2016
David is recommended by the Legal 500 UK 2015
| 2014 | Keystone Law | Consultant Solicitor |
| 2011-2014 | Geoffrey Searle Planning Solicitors | Partner |
| 2006-2011 | Geoffrey Searle Planning Solicitors | Associate Solicitor |
| 2006 | Qualified as a Solicitor |