Airspace Surveyor in Tower Hamlets
Airspace Projects in Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets is one of London's most concentrated boroughs for airspace work. The post-war and 1960s residential estates across Bow, Poplar, Stepney, Mile End, and Bethnal Green carry vast numbers of mid-rise residential blocks with flat roofs and structural reserves, and many of these are now coming forward for rooftop schemes. The borough also includes the Canary Wharf area and the Isle of Dogs, where mixed-use development and high-rise residential blocks have grown rapidly over the past two decades. The historic core through Spitalfields and Wapping carries conservation constraints that limit airspace work, but the rest of the borough has substantial scope.
We specialise in chartered surveying on dense urban sites and are RICS regulated with over 30 years of combined residential extension and rooftop experience. Daylight and sunlight reports almost always accompany airspace applications in Tower Hamlets given the density of surrounding residential development.
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.
Where do we focus on airspace work in Tower Hamlets?
Rooftop additions on the borough's post-war and 1960s residential estates account for the majority of our Tower Hamlets work. The existing occupants liaison role is central. 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 narrow streets between blocks, deliveries through estate access roads, parking restrictions, and access through communal areas, get handled as they arise. The borough's transport density and estate layouts often mean construction logistics need particularly careful planning. Party wall services are usually involved given the shared structures across the estates.
Airspace work in Tower Hamlets 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.
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 you reduce risk on a Tower Hamlets airspace scheme?
Risk on a Tower Hamlets airspace scheme sits in two main places: damage to the building or flats below during construction, and disputes with existing residents on the estate. A thorough Schedule of Condition removes the first by documenting the building's state before work begins. Structured occupant liaison and a named point of contact removes most of the second.
Planning sits with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which reviews airspace proposals on design, height, neighbour amenity, daylight and sunlight impact, and area character, with strategic policy on housing delivery giving certain schemes some support. Airspace development advice covers feasibility and the most likely planning route on a given site before any application is prepared.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments in Tower Hamlets?
What types of airspace projects suit buildings in Tower Hamlets?
Do airspace developments need planning permission?
What rights do existing leaseholders have during an airspace development?
What practical issues come up during airspace construction?
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