David advises on all aspects of planning, compulsory purchase and highways law. His clients include property development and investment companies, sporting and educational institutions, high-net-worth individuals, charities, and local authorities.
He provides strategic advice on major and complex development projects and negotiates Section 106 agreements, including in respect of viability and affordable housing provisions, and related highways agreements.
David also represents clients on planning appeals, including public inquiries, as well as judicial review and statutory challenge proceedings in the High Court.
David frequently advises on heritage issues, the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations, planning enforcement matters, permitted development rights, Bio-Diversity Net Gain, and Environmental Impact Assessment matters.
His expertise extends to the compulsory purchase process and related compensation disputes, and he also advises landowners affected by Development Consent Orders and other infrastructure projects.
In addition, David provides planning due diligence to support property and corporate transactions. He works closely with the planning bar, planning consultants, architects, surveyors and other property professionals as part of multi-disciplinary client teams.
Expertise
- Strategic Planning
- Planning Agreements
- Section 106
- Highways
- Planning Appeals
- Public Inquiries
- Heritage
- Compulsory Purchase
- Infrastructure
- Development Consent Orders
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Permitted Development Rights
- Enforcement
- Planning Due Diligence
- Viability
- Affordable Housing
- Biodiversity Net Gain
- Land Assembly
- Judicial Review
Experience
Strategic Planning Advice
- Provided strategic planning advice to a Premier League football club in respect of proposals for redevelopment of a £1bn new stadium.
- Advised an international hospitality group on proposals for a mixed-use hotel and residential development in the London Borough of Camden.
- Advised a national retailer on proposals for redevelopment of a vacant site for a major residential development adjoining the River Thames.
Planning Legal Agreements
- Negotiated a Section 106 Agreement for a listed UK-based property developer for the first phase of a major London regeneration project (approximately 900 units).
- Acted for a national housebuilder client on several Section 106 Agreements across London including the negotiation of complex affordable housing obligations.
- Negotiated and drafted a Section 106 Agreement for a regeneration project in north London on behalf of a Premier League football club, including a supermarket, stadium, hotel, and major residential development (comprising several tall buildings).
- Negotiated a Section 106 Agreement for a 300-unit purpose-built student accommodation scheme in London, including viability review mechanisms.
- Advised the UK development arm of a multinational bank on a Section 106 Agreement associated with a landmark residential scheme in Covent Garden.
- Drafted and negotiated a Section 106 Agreement for a mixed-use cinema and residential scheme on behalf of an international hospitality group in East London.
Planning Appeals including Public Inquiries
- Represented a UK-based real estate company at a public inquiry into a landmark office scheme in the City of Westminster.
- Represented an appellant at a planning inquiry for a 900-unit residential development including three tall buildings in North London.
- Represented a client at a planning inquiry for a 400-unit residential-led mixed-use scheme on a vacant site in North London.
- Represented a client as a Rule 6 Party at a public inquiry associated with an application for a retrospective development in connection with one of the largest breaches of planning control in the UK.
- Represented a private client on an appeal for a replacement of an existing house and redevelopment of a new architecturally significant home in the London Borough of Camden.
Judicial Review and Statutory Challenge
- Represented a Premier League football club defending a claim for judicial review against the grant of planning permission for a Women’s Training Centre on a Green Belt site.
- Acted for a Parish Council in successfully quashing planning permission for a major residential development on a local sports and community site.
- Acted for a Surrey-based housebuilder client on a statutory challenge successfully quashing the Inspector’s decision to refuse planning permission for a housing scheme on a greenfield site.
- Acted for a regional housebuilder in a statutory challenge to appeal a decision granting planning permission for a residential scheme on a greenfield site in connection with habitats issues.
- Represented a landowner successfully resisting a statutory challenge to the grant of planning permission for a retail superstore on a greenfield site in Newport (including at the Court of Appeal).
- Represented a private client in statutory challenge proceedings associated with proposals for a ‘Paragraph 84’ exceptional new dwelling in the Ribble Valley Green Belt.
- Represented a high-net-worth private client in judicial review proceedings associated with highly controversial proposals for a new home basement development in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Heritage Matters
- Advised a global educational trust on proposals for redevelopment of Grade II* headquarters in Oxford.
- Advised a proprietor of a Grade I landed estate in mid-Wales on proposals for forestry business and associated development.
- Advised an ultra-high-net-worth individual and family office on enforcement issues and strategy associated with development of a Grade II estate in London.
Compulsory Purchase and Infrastructure
- Advised a Premier League football club in respect of CPO strategy to facilitate land assembly for a new stadium.
- Acted for a consortium of agricultural landowners affected by the Transport and Works Act Order for a new heritage railway in Sussex.
- Advised a major landowner in connection with Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order, advising on objection strategy and negotiating a Land and Works Agreement.
- Advised a historic Grade I landed estate on the impacts of an Environment Agency scheme for an enhanced flood defence scheme on the River Medway.
- Advised auditors for a Local Planning Authority on the scope of a CPO town centre regeneration to facilitate an alternative development scheme.
- Advised a private client on compensation matters associated with the compulsory acquisition of an office building as part of the Crossrail scheme.
Community Infrastructure Levy
- Acted for a consortium of Oxford University colleges in judicial review proceedings associated with the city-wide approach to charitable relief pursuant to the CIL Regulations.
- Acted for a high-profile client in connection with CIL strategy to determine the chargeable amount associated with redevelopment of their home in the London Borough of Camden.
- Advised a developer client on strategy to mitigate CIL liability associated with the redevelopment of a vacant commercial building in North London.
Environmental Impact Assessment
- Advised a landed estate client on EIA issues associated with proposals for a new milking and dairy parlour in Somerset.
- Advised a Premier League football club on EIA issues associated with a new stadium development.
- Advised a national listed developer on EIA issues associated with a new tall building residential development in South London.
- Advised a landed estate client on EIA issues associated with proposals for a new camping and associated tourist development in Hampshire.
Permitted Development Rights
- Advised a UK-based developer on proposals for conversion of an office building to residential in Mayfair.
- Advised a property investor client in respect of a large-scale office-to-residential permitted development scheme and associated strategy in Southend.
- Advised a UK-based developer on permitted development rights strategy to facilitate residential development of a vacant commercial building in North London.
Highways Matters
- Advised a Premier League football club on highways stopping up issues associated with redevelopment of a new stadium.
- Advised an aviation charity client on highways issues associated with proposals for a new museum and visitor attraction in Surrey, negotiating S278 Agreement.
- Advised on highways issues associated with a purpose-built student accommodation scheme in North London, advising on stopping up and adoption strategy.
- Drafted and negotiated a S278 Agreement associated with development of office building in the City of London.
- Drafted and negotiated a S278 Agreement with Transport for London for a new residential development in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Enforcement Matters
- Advised a client successfully resisting enforcement proceedings in connection with the high-profile ‘stripy house’ case in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
- Advised a high-net-worth private client in respect of proceedings associated with an enforcement notice relating to unlawful development to a listed building on the River Thames.
- Advised an international hotel chain on enforcement issues associated with use of the premises by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
- Advised a diversified rural client on enforcement issues associated with use of a historic barn for weddings and related functions.
Planning Due Diligence
- Provided planning support in connection with proposed leases on various buildings within London for a high-profile international office group.
- Assisted a charity client on planning issues associated with the sale of landmark headquarters in Mayfair.
- Advised a luxury car manufacturer in connection with planning issues relating to the lease of showroom premises in Knightsbridge.
- Advised an overseas high-net-worth client on planning issues associated with the acquisition of a Grade II* country house, wedding venue and accompanying estate in Oxfordshire.
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
- Advised an historic landed estate in Kent on Environment Agency proposals for increased Flood Defence Scheme on the River Medway.
- Advised a commercial agricultural estate on proposals for development of a major new milking parlour and dairy in Somerset.
- Advised a consortium of farming clients on a Transport and Works Act application for proposals for a new heritage steam railway in Sussex.
- Advised a private equity client on planning issues associated with a proposed investment in a mega poultry farm in Norfolk.
- Advised a poultry farmer on diversification issues associated with development of proposed wedding venue facilities.
- Advised a diversified farming business on planning and noise issues associated with use of a redundant barn as a function venue.
Charities & Not-for-Profit
- Advised a high-profile educational trust on proposals for redevelopment of listed headquarters in Oxford.
- Acted for a Church client on proposals for development of an educational campus in Preston.
- Acted for one of the UK’s oldest children’s charities on proposals for a 100-unit residential development in Medway.
- Advised a trade union client on planning issues associated with disposal of a conference centre in Surrey.
- Advised a national professional charity on disposal of a headquarters building in Belgravia.
Education
- Advised a London school trust on controversial proposals for a new state boarding school in the South Downs National Park.
- Advised a University of Cambridge College on the impact of a DCO application for a Lower Thames Crossing on strategic landholdings.
- Advised a University of Oxford College on development of a new student accommodation, dealing with listed building and public access issues.
- Advised a landowner on proposals for a 300-unit purpose-built student accommodation scheme in North London.
- Acted for a consortium of University of Oxford Colleges in a claim for judicial review in respect of an application of Charitable Relief under the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations.
Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure
- Advised an aviation charity client on proposals for development of a new aviation museum in Surrey.
- Advised an international investor on proposals for development of a mixed-use cinema and residential scheme in East London.
- Acted for a modern diversified estate on issues associated with expansion of hotel, gardens and visitor attractions in Somerset.
- Advised a Premier League football club on proposals for a new hotel adjoining its new stadium.
- Advised an international hospitality client on proposals for a hotel and mixed-use development in the London Borough of Camden.
- Advised an international investor in connection with proposed development of private members’ club in Mayfair.
- Acted for a globally renowned nightclub client on the impact of a large-scale residential development adjoining its premises.
High Net Worth Family Office
- Advised a private client on proposals for redevelopment of a vacant office building into a new home including a large-scale basement development in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and advising in respect of enforcement issues associated with the ‘stripy house’ case.
- Advised a private client in High Court proceedings associated with the proposed development of a Paragraph 84 new home in Ribble Valley Green Belt.
- Advised a private client in respect of one of the largest breaches of planning control in the country (comprising the unlawful importation of more than 600,000 tonnes of waste material) adjoining his home.
- Advised the family office of an UHNW client on planning enforcement issues affecting a Grade II house in the London Borough of Camden.
- Advised a high-net-worth client on the proposed development of new home in the London Borough of Camden.
- Advised numerous private clients on objection strategies relating to proposed developments in the vicinity of their homes.
Property Development
- Acted for a national housebuilder on numerous Section 106 Agreements throughout London.
- Advised a football client on the proposed development of landholdings adjoining its stadium for a major residential development (circa 900 units), drafting and negotiating S106 Agreements and representation at public inquiry into associated planning appeal.
- Advised a South East regional housebuilder in High Court proceedings challenging the grant of planning permission for a 150-unit scheme in Sussex.
- Advised a Surrey-based housebuilder client on statutory challenge to the Inspector’s decision to refuse planning permission for a residential development on a greenfield site.
- Acted for a consortium of property investors on proposals for the redevelopment of a vacant sports ground into a mixed-use retail scheme in Truro.
- Advised the development arm of an international finance company on the development of a landmark residential scheme in Covent Garden.
Football
- Advised a Premier League football club on the redevelopment of a £1bn Stadium in North London.
- Advised a Premier League football club on proposals for redevelopment of a Women’s Training Centre on a Green Belt site within the London Borough of Enfield.
- Advised a Premier League football club on proposals to increase the number of non-football events permitted to be held at the stadium.
- Advised a Premier League football club on the development of adjoining historic buildings as a complementary arts and entertainment quarter.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers UK for Planning 2026
Member of the Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA)
Career
David qualified as a solicitor in 2002. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms:
- Clarke Willmott
- London Borough of Southwark
- Richard Max & Co