Bexley is one of London's most suburban boroughs, with 1930s semis and Edwardian terraces dominating the residential mix across Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Welling, Crayford, and Falconwood. Upward extensions on individual homes are the most common airspace work in these areas, and many semi-detached and detached properties qualify for prior approval extensions under permitted development. Post-war and 1960s estates concentrate around Erith, Belvedere, and Slade Green, where mid-rise residential blocks suit rooftop schemes. The borough's location on the south-east edge of London means the building stock is closer to suburban Kent in character than to central London.
We specialise in chartered surveying on dense urban sites where rooftop and upward extension schemes are most common, and the practice is RICS regulated with over 30 years of combined experience. Daylight and sunlight reports typically accompany the planning submission given the impact of new height on neighbouring 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.
Project type drives the scope. On homeowner-led upward extensions across Bexley's 1930s semis and Edwardian terraces, the focus is on the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, neighbour relations, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Many semi-detached and detached properties qualify for prior approval extensions under permitted development, which changes the planning route but not the party wall obligations.
On rooftop additions to the post-war estates around Erith, Belvedere, and Slade Green, the existing occupants liaison role becomes central. We make initial contact with each leaseholder below the proposed units, prepare Schedules of Condition for the flats directly below, and act as the named point of contact through construction. Rights of light assessments are common where new height affects neighbouring residential windows.
Airspace work in Bexley 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
Leaseholders below an airspace development retain quiet enjoyment of their flats and protection from damage to their property. Those protections only translate into useful outcomes when supported by structured processes during the build. The Schedule of Condition records the property's state before any work begins, which gives both the developer and the occupant documented evidence to refer back to.
The named occupant liaison surveyor sits alongside that. Each leaseholder gets one named person who answers queries during construction, attends meetings on site or remotely, and escalates issues directly with the contractor. Planning sits with the London Borough of Bexley, and specialist airspace development advice covers feasibility and the planning route on a given site before any application is prepared.
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
