ABOUT US
Dave Macdonald Dip TP MRTPI
A native Highlander, based in Orkney since 2018, Dave graduated in Town and Country Planning from the Glasgow School of Art in 1977.
He spent 12 years in local authority planning within Highland and Aberdeen City, followed by a mix of private planning consultancy and business ventures. He also served as a member of the Royal Burgh of Tain Community Council for 14 years, seven as Chairman. This extensive experience has given him a unique insight into the development challenges faced by individuals, families, and businesses, particularly within an increasingly complex and, at times, dysfunctional planning system.
On 20 March 2024, the Royal Town Planning Institute celebrated Dave’s 50th year as a member, marking a long-standing commitment to the profession.
Highland Planning was initially established to serve the Scottish mainland. Following Dave’s move to Orkney, the practice now welcomes commissions across these Isles, combining local insight with professional expertise.
Dave takes an actve interest in his local community and is a Director of Sanday Renewables Community Interest Company and Chair of Sanday Mens Shed.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Highland Planning has been involved with developments across Scotland from single houses in the countryside to multi-million £ anaerobic digester plants, with an excellent success rate. Projects have been taken from concept to build through the planning application or appeal processes. Formal contributions have been made to Government Planning Reviews, including oral evidence to the 2016 Scottish Planning Review Panel chaired by Crawford Beveridge CBE.
PLANNING SERVICES
Focused Practice from January 2026
As part of a move towards retirement, Highland Planning has scaled back the breadth of its services in order to concentrate on what it does best, challenging unjustified refusals of planning permission. The intention is to continue a proud record of achievement in this vital area.
We will continue to advise and assist established clients on other matters.
This focused approach allows for careful, strategic engagement with the most contentious planning decisions, offering clients experienced, independent advice where proposals have been rejected despite the presence of policy support or material considerations in their favour.
Highland Planning’s long-standing experience within both local authority and consultancy environments provides a strong foundation for robustly contesting decisions and navigating the increasingly adversarial nature of the modern planning system.
Planning application refusals can arrive out of the blue and sometimes defy logic. Whilst reasons for refusal may appear serious and robust, many boil down to policy interpretation and are very much open to re-evaulation on Appeal or Review.
HIghland Planning has an excellent success rate in overturning planning refusals or removing unwanted planning conditions.
Applications for Review to local authority Planning Review Bodies
Appeals against refusal to DPEA (Planning Committee decisions)
PROFESSIONAL FEES
HIghland Planning offers a variety of solutions to suit the individual and the project. All fees are tailored to the specific task as few cases are the same.
