Airspace Surveyor in Basildon

Airspace developments add new homes by building on top of existing structures. Across Basildon, the work splits between rooftop schemes on the town’s post-war residential blocks and upward extensions on the surrounding suburban housing stock. Our role centres on the existing residents below the development. We handle initial contact, record the condition of their properties, and stay involved through to completion.

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Building Above Existing Structures in Basildon

Basildon's residential stock is unusually well suited to airspace work. The town's post-war development left behind a large stock of low-rise flats from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, particularly across Vange, Pitsea, and the new town core. Many of these blocks have flat roofs and structural reserves that can support an additional storey. The wider area also has plenty of single-storey homes and bungalows where homeowners are raising the roof or adding a side-and-up extension. Our Essex team covers Basildon work directly alongside neighbouring Wickford, Billericay, and Brentwood.

The practice is RICS regulated and has operated since 2004 on residential and mixed-use schemes. Most airspace schemes need rights of light assessments for the neighbouring buildings affected by the new height.

Airspace Developments

As well as providing daylight, sunlight and rights of light advice, our role would be to make contact with the occupants of the existing building to establish any concerns regarding the development. We will work closely with the professional team to identify the initial questions and look at how these can be addressed.

It is our experience that maintaining the same point of contact for the duration of the project offers the existing occupants’ reassurance and continuity.

Services Provided

Make initial contact with existing occupants.
Attend meetings to discuss any concerns of the existing occupants.
Recording Schedules of Condition of the flats below the proposed units.
Act as a liaison between the developer and occupants throughout the project.
Assist in resolving any issues that may arise such as car parking, site setup etc.

What does our airspace service in Basildon cover?

The scope adapts to the project. For a developer adding rooftop units to a block of flats in Pitsea or Vange, the work is mostly liaison with the existing leaseholders below. We make initial contact, attend meetings to talk through the proposals, prepare Schedules of Condition for each flat that sits under the new units, and field the day-to-day concerns that come up once contractors are on site.

Issues that typically need handling include scaffolding placement, deliveries to upper levels, temporary loss of parking, noise restrictions, and access to the roof. The role is continuous, with the same surveyor staying on the project from start to finish. Calls are answered by a qualified surveyor, not a call centre.

Airspace work in Basildon almost always sits alongside daylight and sunlight reports for the planning application, party wall awards for the works themselves, and rights of light review for surrounding buildings. The free initial assessment covers the likely route through all of these workstreams.

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

How do airspace developments affect existing residents in Basildon?

Residents below an airspace development have legitimate concerns: noise, damage to their property, disruption to parking and access, and uncertainty about who to speak to when something goes wrong. Strong occupant liaison and a thorough Schedule of Condition deal with most of this before it becomes a dispute.

The Schedule records the state of each flat before construction begins, so any damage claim later can be checked against documented evidence. The point of contact arrangement means residents have one named surveyor to speak to rather than a developer's site office. For planning, Basildon Borough Council reviews schemes on design and neighbour amenity grounds, and party wall services usually run in parallel. A free initial assessment covers how these strands fit together on a specific site.

Case Studies

Vincent Place, Southampton

Services Provided

Initial Site Appraisal
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Party Wall Negotiations
Pre-Acquisition strategic advice

28 Cardozo Road, London, N7

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Analysis
Overshadowing Analysis
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Assessment of proposed accommodation’s access to daylight and sunlight

Lord Street Car Park, Gravesend

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Analysis
Overshadowing Analysis
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Assessment of proposed accommodation’s access to daylight and sunlight

Empire Wharf, London, E9

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Report
A point of contact with the existing leaseholders
Acting as the Building Owner’s Surveyor under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996

Vincent Place, Southampton

Services Provided

Initial Site Appraisal
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Party Wall Negotiations
Pre-Acquisition strategic advice

28 Cardozo Road, London, N7

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Analysis
Overshadowing Analysis
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Assessment of proposed accommodation’s access to daylight and sunlight

Lord Street Car Park, Gravesend

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Analysis
Overshadowing Analysis
Daylight + Sunlight Report
Assessment of proposed accommodation’s access to daylight and sunlight

Empire Wharf, London, E9

Services Provided

Daylight + Sunlight Report
A point of contact with the existing leaseholders
Acting as the Building Owner’s Surveyor under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996

FAQ

What types of airspace projects suit buildings in Basildon?

Basildon’s post-war flats and 1960s low-rise blocks suit rooftop residential extensions where the existing structure can support the added load. In suburban parts of the borough, single-storey homes and bungalows are commonly raised to two storeys instead.

Can a storey be added to a residential block?

It depends on structural capacity, fire strategy, planning constraints, and lease terms. A feasibility check looks at all four together. Many post-war blocks were built with reserve capacity in their roof structures, which is why airspace schemes have grown in volume.

What is permitted development for upward extensions?

Permitted development rights allow some houses to add up to two additional storeys without a full planning application, subject to height limits and prior approval from the local authority. Conditions on neighbour consultation and material match apply.

What rights do existing leaseholders have during an airspace development?

Leaseholders retain quiet enjoyment of their flats and protection from damage. The Schedule of Condition records the property’s state before work begins, and the occupant liaison surveyor provides a single point of contact for concerns raised during construction.

How do you liaise with existing occupants in Basildon?

We make initial contact in writing, follow up with attended meetings, complete a Schedule of Condition for each affected flat, and remain available throughout construction. The same surveyor handles the relationship from the first meeting to project handover.

Contact Us

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