Chelmsford projects most often raise party wall questions on rear and side extensions to the Victorian and Edwardian housing stock in Moulsham, around New London Road, and through the city centre wards. Larger detached refurbishments in Writtle, Great Baddow and Springfield often involve basement excavations close to neighbouring foundations, bringing the excavation provisions of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 into play.
CHP Surveyors has worked on Essex schemes since 2004 and operates from offices in Wickford, London and Hampshire. The team is RICS regulated and reaches Chelmsford from the Wickford base within 25 minutes. Local coverage extends to Writtle, Galleywood, Great Baddow, Springfield, Broomfield and Boreham. Many extension instructions in Chelmsford also need rights of light assessments where the works affect lower windows on adjoining houses.
James Crowley is the past London and National Chair of The Pyramus and Thisbe Society, an organisation with a great interest in party wall and neighbourly matters.
Having been involved in projects across the UK for both domestic properties and larger, city centre developments, we have experience and knowledge of the more complicated methods of construction, including temporary restraint works, piling to form a triple basement and jet grouting. We have also negotiated licences for the use of scaffolding and tower cranes.
The process opens with a free initial assessment. A qualified surveyor reviews the works, the sections of the Act that apply, and the notice strategy. For Chelmsford this typically covers party structure notices for extensions cutting into shared walls, line of junction notices for new boundary walls on infill plots, and excavation notices for basement works or deep foundations close to adjoining buildings.
After the assessment the surveyor drafts and serves the statutory notices, gathers adjoining owner responses, and prepares the schedule of condition with photographs and detailed written notes covering external and internal areas of the adjoining property. Where the matter is undisputed the paperwork stays proportionate. Where dispute arises, the party wall award is drafted properly, signed, and served. The same surveyor handles the file from first call to final award. Building owners and adjoining owners across Chelmsford City Council's area get continuity throughout.
Over the past four years, CHP have worked very successfully with us in their capacity as party wall surveyors. Through his calm, sensible approach and excellent communication skills James Crowley, in particular, gained the trust and confidence of the entire team and stakeholders. Looking forward to working with CHP again.”
- Clare Goggin, Jackson Coles
Timing is the most common cause of party wall trouble on Chelmsford projects. The Act sets two statutory notice periods that cannot be shortened: two months for party structure works, and one month for excavations within the relevant proximity thresholds. In practice we recommend serving notice three months ahead of the planned start on site.
Chelmsford projects often run on tight programmes, particularly extensions and refurbishments aiming to complete before summer or ahead of a property sale. Getting notice timing right protects the schedule, avoids invalid awards, and reduces the risk of injunction proceedings or interim awards. The building owner generally covers reasonable surveyor fees on both sides under the Act. To discuss timing on a Chelmsford project, book a free initial assessment.
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
020 3714 4090
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2nd Floor, 10 High Street
Wickford, Essex
SS12 9AZ
020 3714 4090
enquiries@chpsurveyors.com
