Airspace Surveyor in Portsmouth
Building Above Existing Structures in Portsmouth
Portsmouth's island geography forces dense building, which is why airspace work has a particularly strong case here. The city centre carries Victorian and Edwardian terraces packed tightly through Southsea, Fratton, and Old Portsmouth, with significant post-war and 1960s residential blocks across North End, Buckland, and Cosham. Plot constraints across the city mean upward extensions and rooftop additions often present the only viable route to adding floor area. Bungalow conversions, side-and-up extensions on terraces, and rooftop schemes on the mid-rise residential blocks all come forward in volume. Our Hampshire team covers Portsmouth alongside Southsea, Havant, and the wider area.
We have an established Hampshire presence with experience on dense south coast urban residential schemes. The practice is RICS regulated, and daylight and sunlight reports almost always accompany the planning submission given the city's tight plot density and consequent impact on neighbouring windows.
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 Portsmouth cover?
The scope shifts with the building. On a homeowner upward extension or bungalow conversion in Drayton or Cosham, the focus is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, rights of light risk on adjoining properties, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Party wall notices are served on every adjoining owner where a shared wall is involved.
On rooftop additions to mid-rise residential blocks across North End or Buckland, the occupant liaison role becomes the central piece of work. We make initial contact with each leaseholder, attend 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 the build. Day-to-day issues, scaffolding, deliveries, parking, access, get handled as they arise, with party wall services running on the building itself.
Airspace work in Portsmouth 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 protections do existing occupants have in a Portsmouth airspace scheme?
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 event.
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 construction. Planning sits with Portsmouth City Council, which reviews airspace proposals on amenity, design, character, and the impact on neighbouring residential windows given the city's tight plot density. Airspace development advice covers feasibility and the most likely planning route before submission.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments in Portsmouth?
What rights do existing leaseholders have during an airspace development?
What types of airspace projects suit buildings in Portsmouth?
Do airspace developments affect existing rights of light?
How are concerns from existing occupants addressed?
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London, SE1 8HP
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Wickford, Essex
SS12 9AZ
020 3714 4090
enquiries@chpsurveyors.com