Loughton's Victorian and Edwardian villas, mature detached stock around York Hill and Forest Road, and conservation areas through the town generate regular party wall work. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies whenever extensions cut into a shared wall, new walls are built on a boundary, or excavations approach a neighbour's foundations within the three or six metre thresholds.
CHP Surveyors has been established since 2004 with offices in Wickford, London and Hampshire. The team is RICS regulated and reaches Loughton within 40 minutes via the M11. Local coverage extends to Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Theydon Bois, Debden and Woodford Green in the same drive. Basement digs are particularly common on the larger Loughton plots, often pairing with rights of light assessments where works affect neighbouring window levels.
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.
Loughton party wall work starts with a free initial assessment, handled by a qualified surveyor. The first conversation covers the proposed works, the relevant sections of the Act, and the notice strategy. For Loughton this typically involves party structure notices for extensions and refurbishments, line of junction notices for new boundary walls, and excavation notices for basement works which often dig well below adjoining foundation level.
After the assessment we draft and serve the notices, manage adjoining owner responses, and produce the schedule of condition with photographs and detailed written notes covering internal and external areas. Where matters are agreed, the paperwork stays proportionate. Where dispute arises, the party wall award is drafted properly and served. Calls stay with the same named surveyor handling the file from instruction to award. Building owners and adjoining owners across Loughton get continuity through to final documents, with no handover between team members at any stage.
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
When an adjoining owner dissents, or is deemed to have dissented through no response within 14 days, the matter moves into the formal award process. Each side appoints a surveyor, or both agree on a single agreed surveyor. The appointed surveyors then produce the party wall award covering the works, conditions, schedule of condition, and any agreed protections for the adjoining property.
For Loughton properties, where basement digs and significant rear extensions are common on the larger detached stock, the award stage often involves detailed structural review and monitoring proposals. Notice periods under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are fixed: two months for party structure works, one month for excavations. The building owner generally covers reasonable fees on both sides. To discuss a Loughton scheme, 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
