Bournemouth has a stronger case for airspace work than most south coast towns. The seafront from Boscombe through to Westbourne carries Edwardian and Victorian mansion blocks of flats with substantial structural reserves, and the post-war and 1960s mid-rise residential blocks across Charminster, Winton, and Moordown add a particular concentration of buildings suited to rooftop schemes. Further out through Southbourne and Pokesdown, the work shifts to upward extensions on detached and semi-detached homes and bungalow conversions. Our Hampshire team covers Bournemouth alongside Christchurch, Poole, and the wider BCP area.
The practice has an established Hampshire presence and is RICS regulated, with surveyors carrying over 30 years of combined residential extension and rooftop experience. Daylight and sunlight reports typically accompany the planning submission for schemes that add height in dense parts of the town and along the seafront.
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.
On a homeowner project in Southbourne or Pokesdown raising a bungalow or adding a storey to a semi, the focus is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 procedure, rights of light risk on adjoining homes, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Notices are served on every adjoining owner where a shared wall is involved.
On rooftop additions to seafront mansion blocks and the mid-rise residential blocks across Charminster and Winton, the existing occupants liaison role becomes the central piece. 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 construction. Day-to-day matters, scaffolding, deliveries, parking, access, get handled as they arise, with rights of light assessments covering the impact on surrounding buildings.
Airspace schemes in Bournemouth typically sit alongside daylight and sunlight, rights of light, and party wall workstreams on the same site. 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
Airspace schemes carry more risk than a standard extension because the building below is occupied and the work happens at height. A dedicated surveyor takes the relationship with the existing residents off the developer's plate, reduces the chance of disputes becoming claims, and gives the project a single point of contact for the residents to raise concerns with.
Outcomes from a well-run scheme include programme certainty, fewer damage claims, and planning sign-off without late objections from neighbours. Planning routes in Bournemouth run through Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, with seafront conservation areas and listed buildings adding constraints in certain locations. Specialist airspace development advice sets out the most likely path early in the project.
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
