The idea for the Building Opinions column came about during a chance meeting with Latest Homes’ Angi Mariani at a Deep Purple concert at the Brighton Centre early in 2005. We quickly made a deal. The exciting and hip Brighton-based magazine has proved to be a perfect outlet for my thoughts on past approaches to local building conservation and development around our City. A different building is studied each week so that the mistakes and triumphs of local history, many of which we are going to be stuck with for many years, will not be forgotten.

I was born in 1980 and moved to Brighton in 1998 to study at Sussex University. Like many Londoners before me, the charm of Brighton was irresistible so I stayed on and began exploring. The first area of interest was the various tunnels around town – from the efficient Victorian sewers to the secret tunnels of the Royal Pavilion. The stunning Regency squares and crescents came next. This led on to an interest in the City’s railways and so on.

Before completing my Engineering degree, I started a property investment firm with the intention of eventually buying and saving buildings of historical interest for the good of the City. The company has expanded rapidly and I soon hope to be able to employ locally. I believe that the unique architectural character of Brighton & Hove should be preserved and that new projects should only be of the highest quality. This seems obvious yet mistakes are still being made. Originating from Croydon, I have seen enough inappropriate buildings already to last a whole life-time!

Following several years working for a surveying firm in the heart of Brighton, I was invited to run Nicholas Boles’ Parliamentary campaign in Hove for the year leading up to the 2005 election. It was too good an opportunity to miss and I was tremendously disappointed that we lost by just 400 or so votes. Since the campaign, I have been based in the House of Commons as Researcher to Michael Gove MP (formerly Shadow Minister for Housing & Planning and today Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families).

I have been a board member of the Regency Society of Brighton & Hove for several years. Much of the advice that I receive on local history comes from the members of the society (though any mistakes in my column are, of course, my own). I stood for Council in Regency Ward in the 2007 local elections because I wanted the opportunity to enjoy and take pride in working for the City. I didn't win but certainly hope to stand again in the future. My hobbies outside politics and local history include decorating, motorcycle riding, reading and travelling.

I very much hope that you enjoy my columns – please do let me know if there are any topics that you would like to see featured!