David Podesta

David joined Vail Williams as an Associate in 2024, bringing with him over 25 years’ experience in the property sector.

He has extensive experience in residential development, having worked for a residential developer/contractor for eight years. Prior to that he worked as Estate Manager for a Russell Group University for seven years.

David is experienced in both residential and commercial asset classes, and his property background includes expertise in estate/asset management, lease advisory, disposals and acquisitions, facilities management and, most recently, residential development (PBSA & BTR).

He has been directly involved in all stages of the development process from site identification and acquisition, design, planning, funding, delivery, operation and disposal.

David has particular expertise in the PBSA sector, having worked on projects that have delivered in excess of 2,500 beds of student accommodation – including both direct let and those with university lease/nomination agreements.  His PBSA experience includes setting up and managing the operational phases of PBSA schemes prior to disposal.

He also has a specific interest in regeneration and working with clients to master plan their landholdings in order to optimise the value from urban brownfield sites.

Examples of experience:

• Disposal of an operational PBSA development in Colchester to a major UK pension fund for £15.9m.
• Lease negotiations and client representative role on 1,100 bed PBSA development.
• Securing planning for prime brownfield development site in central Norwich followed by disposal for £6.75m
• Operational oversight of 495 direct let PBSA beds in Winchester, including negotiating nomination agreement.
• Sale of office building in London for £2.7m.
• Concluding a 5-year lease of 72 student rooms to a University of Cambridge College

Outside of work, David regularly runs and volunteers for his local Park Run group.  He lives in the New Forest and so makes the most of the cycling opportunities available there as well as kayaking on the Solent or on one of the regions rivers.  He is also a keen long-distance walker, having most recently completed a 250km walk through central Italy.