The residential mix in Braintree runs heavily toward detached and semi-detached homes, with bungalows scattered through Great Notley, Black Notley, and Bocking, and older terraces closer to the town centre on streets like Coggeshall Road and London Road. The most common airspace project type here is a single-storey home or bungalow raised to two storeys, followed by side-and-up extensions on semis. A small number of rooftop schemes come forward on older residential blocks closer to the High Street. Our team covers Braintree alongside Witham, Halstead, and the wider Braintree District.
The practice is RICS regulated and our surveyors carry over 30 years of combined experience on residential extension and rooftop work. Airspace schemes typically need party wall services where the new structure ties into a shared wall with adjoining homes.
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.
Scope follows project type. For a homeowner adding a storey to a bungalow or semi, the focus is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 procedure, neighbour relations, rights of light risk on adjoining properties, and protection of the existing structure while the new floor is built. Notices need to be served on every adjoining owner where a party wall is involved.
Where a developer is adding flats above an existing residential block, the role widens to full occupant liaison. We make initial contact with each leaseholder, hold attended meetings, prepare Schedules of Condition for the flats directly below the new units, and act as the named point of contact through construction. Practical issues like scaffolding, deliveries, parking, and access get resolved as they arise, with daylight and sunlight reports typically forming part of the planning submission.
Airspace work in Braintree sits alongside daylight and sunlight, rights of light, and party wall workstreams on the same scheme. The same surveyor stays on the project from instruction to completion.
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
The main protection comes from the Schedule of Condition. Each flat below the development has a documented record of its state before any work begins, so if damage is later alleged it can be checked against the schedule rather than argued from memory or photos taken after the fact, which keeps disputes short.
Leaseholders retain their statutory rights to quiet enjoyment and protection from damage, and the occupant liaison surveyor gives them one named person to raise concerns with throughout the build. Planning sits with Braintree District Council, which reviews airspace proposals on amenity, design, character, and neighbour impact grounds. A free initial assessment covers the likely route on a given site and the supporting surveying workstreams that run alongside it.
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
