David Coleman, Managing Director
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David founded DAC Planning in 2016 and has been a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2008 and a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management since 2015. David is a graduate of the University of Liverpool holding an upper second class honours degree (2001) in Geography, and subsequently obtained an MA in Planning Policy and Practice from London South Bank University (2005).
With extensive experience of working in both the public and private sectors in a range of senior roles and a wide variety of capacities, David is a strong and dynamic manager and leader, with the ability to establish, foster and inspire positive working relationships. He has an acute awareness and appreciation of the challenges and opportunities posed to local authorities in delivering high quality coordinated large scale strategic growth and infrastructure. His experience and track record clearly demonstrate the ability to deliver challenging and complex projects effectively working in partnership with elected Members and other stakeholders.
David prides himself on his success within a wide range of work environments and cultures, and has always developed productive, effective, internal and external working relationships as part of small and large teams. Being highly motivated, organised and conscientious, high standards of work are provided, and expected in others.
Additionally David has presented to a number of RTPI conferences on a range of subjects, including the challenges of producing Local Plans and planning for large scale growth and infrastructure.
Tim Parton, Associate director
Tim is a graduate of the University of the West of England holding a first class honours degree in Town and Country Planning (2006), and has been a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2011. Tim has extensive experience of working in both planning policy and development management roles for local planning authorities and county councils in the UK and abroad.
Following the completion of his studies, Tim worked in the Planning Policy Team at Essex County Council between 2009 and 2012 where he assisted in providing strategic advice to support local plan making and managed the production of the Greater Essex Integrated County Strategy.
Tim worked for Maldon District Council between 2012 and 2016, starting in the Planning Policy Team, moving to the Major Applications Team in 2014, and later being promoted to Spatial Planning Team Leader in 2015. In these roles he managed the Spatial Planning Team and the production of a number of key evidence base documents, supported the production and progression of the Maldon District Council Local Development Plan, Community Infrastructure Levy, strategic masterplan frameworks, and community led plans (including Neighbourhood Plans), and supported the determination of major applications associated with strategic development sites across the District.
Tim has also worked in both planning policy and development management related roles for South Staffordshire District Council and the City of Port Phillip Council in Melbourne, Australia.
Nicki faulkner, associate
Nicki has been a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2013. She is a graduate of Southampton University where she earnt an upper second class honours degree in Geography (2006), and was subsequently successful in achieving an MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Westminster (2009).
With extensive experience of planning at both County and District level; Nicki has managed a wide range of projects relating to the production of Local Plans, infrastructure planning, the Community Infrastructure Levy and Development Management processes. She is an excellent project manager with strong attention to detail and is motivated by the positive impact that communication and collaborative working can have on creating high quality outcomes in the built environment. These skills are reflected in Nicki’s proactive approach to Local Plan production and implementation.
Charlotte Steele, planner
Charlotte is a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Charlotte is working on a range of projects on the development and production of local plans, evidence base documents and neighbourhood plans. She applies her strong work ethic, attention to detail and organisational skills to each project she works on.
Originally from Canada, Charlotte holds a BA with Distinction in History (2019) from Simon Fraser University in Canada. She then went on to complete a Master’s with Distinction in Urban Planning (Conservation) at Newcastle University in 2020. She has more than two years of work experience in heritage organisations based in the UK and Canada.
Toby Bonny, Graduate Planner
Toby graduated from the University of Reading with a 2:1 in Real Estate at the University of Reading, with a specialism in Planning and Development in 2020. He then completed a Planning and Development (MSc) with Distinction at Queen’s University Belfast in 2023.
Toby has developed a wide range of transferable skills during his studies and time as an intern which include data analysis, desk-based research, policy analysis, reporting and presentation skills.
Toby’s role at DAC Planning involves researching and monitoring a range of national policy and regulatory matters, preparing topic papers and assisting the team on a range of tasks using his analytical and research skills as well as his expertise in Word and Excel.