Airspace Surveyor in Essex
Airspace Schemes on Essex Properties
Essex covers a wide spread of building types relevant to airspace work. The larger town centres in Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, and Basildon carry the 1960s and 1970s residential blocks and mixed-use buildings most suited to rooftop schemes. The post-war new towns at Harlow and Basildon add a particular concentration of mid-rise flats with flat roofs and structural reserves. The wider suburban and rural stock through Brentwood, Braintree, Maldon, and Saffron Walden runs to detached and semi-detached homes and bungalows, where the work shifts to upward extensions and bungalow conversions.
Our Essex team works across the county and the practice carries over 30 years of combined surveying experience, RICS regulated throughout. Most airspace schemes need airspace development advice on feasibility and the planning route through the relevant district or borough council before an application is prepared.
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.
How do we handle airspace developments across Essex?
Our airspace work across Essex splits by project type rather than location. For a homeowner-led upward extension or bungalow conversion, the focus is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, rights of light risk on adjoining homes, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Party wall notices are served on every adjoining owner where a shared 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 to discuss concerns, prepare Schedules of Condition for the flats directly below the new units, and act as the named point of contact through construction. Day-to-day issues, scaffolding, deliveries, parking, access, get resolved as they arise, with daylight and sunlight reports typically forming part of the planning submission.
Airspace work across Essex typically 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
What planning considerations apply to airspace schemes across Essex?
Planning sits with the relevant district or borough council rather than the county. Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring, Thurrock, Uttlesford, and Braintree each operate their own local plan and apply slightly different design and amenity standards to airspace schemes. The general principles are consistent: design, height, daylight and sunlight impact on neighbours, parking, and area character.
Some upward extensions across Essex fall within permitted development rights with prior approval, while larger rooftop schemes on blocks of flats almost always need a full planning application. Conservation areas, listed buildings, and protected views rule out some sites entirely. Rights of light claims sit outside the planning process but often run in parallel where height affects surrounding properties.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments across Essex?
Where in Essex is your office based?
What is an airspace development?
Do airspace developments need planning permission?
How are concerns from existing occupants addressed?
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