Westminster contains some of London's most heavily protected building stock, with conservation areas across Mayfair, Belgravia, St James's, Marylebone, Pimlico, and the wider central core. Most airspace work in the borough therefore concentrates on the post-war and 1960s residential blocks across Pimlico, Paddington, and parts of north Westminster, plus the older mansion blocks where the structure can take an additional storey and the planning context allows. Rooftop schemes are by far the most common project type, with upward extensions on the smaller volume of detached and semi-detached homes near the borough boundaries adding the rest. We work across Westminster from our London office.
Specialist chartered surveying on dense urban sites is where most of our airspace work sits, and the practice is RICS regulated with over 30 years of combined residential extension and rooftop experience. Rights of light assessments are particularly relevant in Westminster given the tight plot density and the value of surrounding properties.
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.
Rooftop additions on mansion blocks and post-war residential developments are the centre of our Westminster work. The existing occupants liaison role is the most demanding part of the brief. We make initial contact with each leaseholder below the proposed units, 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 construction. Day-to-day issues, scaffolding placement on tight streets, deliveries, parking restrictions, access, and noise, get handled as they arise.
Where airspace work involves a homeowner adding a storey to a smaller property, the focus shifts to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, neighbour relations, and protection of the existing structure. Party wall services are nearly always triggered given Westminster's dense building pattern.
Airspace work in Westminster 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 handover, and calls reach a qualified surveyor rather than a call centre.
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
Westminster City Council operates one of the most restrictive planning regimes in the country. The borough is heavily protected by conservation areas, listed buildings, strategic views, height limits, and the dense townscape character that runs through Mayfair, Marylebone, Belgravia, and the central core. Many sites are ruled out for airspace work entirely on heritage grounds before any other consideration.
Where airspace work is feasible, the council reviews proposals against design, height, daylight and sunlight impact on neighbours, parking, transport, and area character, with conservation officers involved on most sites. Rooftop additions almost always need a full planning application. Right of light claims sit outside the planning process. A free initial assessment covers feasibility and the most likely planning route on a specific site.
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
