David specialises in property and planning law with special reference to development projects. David heads the Commercial Property team.
The team includes the Commercial Property, Property Development, Residential Property, Property Dispute Resolution and Construction & Planning Law teams and operates out of our London and Watford offices making it the largest department of its type in north London and the Home Counties.
David's particular speciality is property development where he acts for many well known national, regional and local developers. This includes dealing with sites both large and small, site assembly and disposal, s.106 Agreements, Highways Act Agreements, options, conditional contracts, tenders and more.
Chambers UK describes David as “personable yet direct” and “very on the ball”.
His clients include Visao Ltd, Beechwood Homes, D B Rees Ltd, KBE Homes Ltd, Nationcrest, Bugler Homes and Oakford Homes.
Developers of both commercial and residential property should be aware of the latest consultation paper to be published by the Law Commission, which looks at whether conservation covenants should be introduced into the law of England and Wales. A conservation covenant is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a conservation organisation or public body… Learn more
The Government has issued a new consultation paper which puts forward further changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a tax on property development. The CIL, which was introduced in April 2010, allows local ‘charging authorities’ in England and Wales to raise funds from developers who are undertaking new building projects in their area. This… Learn more
The Government is to consult on plans to allow developers to convert retail units into residential homes. In the recent Budget Report, the Government said that it would continue to reform the planning system to ensure the regime is “simple to access, supports growth and is responsive to housing need” and will “consult on allowing… Learn more
The Law Commission has recently published a consultation paper on rights to light in England and Wales. A ‘right to light’ is an easement that gives landowners the legal right to receive light through defined apertures in the buildings on their land. The owners of land that is burdened by the right cannot substantially interfere… Learn more
The Court of Appeal has held that a tidal beach can be registered as a town or village green under the Commons Act 2006, overturning a decision of the High Court. In R (Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd) v East Sussex County Council and another, the High Court held last year that whilst a tidal… Learn more
On 24 January 2013, the Government announced that it will introduce new regulations to amend the permitted development rule, to allow a change of use from office (B1(a)) to residential (C3) use without the need for planning permission. The change is expected to be made in April 2013. The Government believes that the loss of… Learn more
The Government has recently launched two consultation papers on (1) streamlining the planning application process, and (2) reviewing planning practice guidance. The first consultation paper is asking for feedback on the following: 1. Streamlining the requirements for design and access statements, to focus on the developments where they offer most benefit. The Government hopes to… Learn more
Last summer, the Government closed its consultation on proposals to simplify the process of applying for the stopping up and diversion of a highway under sections 247 and 248 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (click here for full details.) The Government has now published its response to the consultation. In it, the… Learn more
Forthcoming amendment regulations will enable developers to submit applications to modify or remove planning obligations that were entered into before 6 April 2010. Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 enables anyone with a legal estate or interest in land to enter into a planning obligation with a local planning authority. Under… Learn more
In January 2012, the Government’s Red Tape Challenge focused on housing and construction legislation and invited the public to suggest which regulations they thought should be scrapped, merged with other regulations, simplified or improved. The review looked at how red tape affecting house builders and landlords could be reduced to streamline the process of building… Learn more