Airspace Surveyor in Croydon
Adding Storeys Above Croydon Buildings
Croydon covers one of London's largest and most varied residential markets. The central area around Croydon town carries high-rise residential development and significant post-war and 1960s mid-rise blocks suited to rooftop schemes. The regeneration corridor running through central Croydon adds newer mixed-use and residential development. Post-war estates concentrate around Thornton Heath, South Norwood, Selhurst, and New Addington. The outer parts of the borough through Purley, Coulsdon, Sanderstead, and Addiscombe carry Edwardian and 1930s suburban housing where upward extensions on individual homes come forward.
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. Airspace development advice covers feasibility on the more complex schemes.
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.
How does an airspace surveyor work in Croydon?
On rooftop additions to Croydon's post-war estates and mansion blocks, 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, deliveries, parking restrictions, access, and noise, get handled as they arise.
On homeowner-led upward extensions across the borough's suburban areas, the focus shifts to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, neighbour relations, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Party wall services are nearly always involved, and notices are served on every adjoining owner where a party wall is affected.
Airspace work in Croydon 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
Why does occupant liaison matter on a Croydon airspace project?
Residents below an airspace development carry the most direct impact of the work: noise during working hours, disruption to access and parking, scaffolding obscuring windows, and concern about damage to their flats. In Croydon's denser areas, where mid-rise and high-rise blocks sit close to one another, those effects compound. Without a named surveyor handling that relationship through construction, concerns escalate into complaints and claims.
Strong liaison and a thorough Schedule of Condition deal with most of this before it starts. Residents get one named contact, the developer gets a structured process for concerns raised, and the Schedule provides documented evidence if a damage claim arises later. Planning sits with the London Borough of Croydon, and a free initial assessment covers feasibility and the supporting workstreams on a specific site.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments in Croydon?
What is an airspace development?
Can a storey be added to a residential block?
Do airspace developments need planning permission?
How are concerns from existing occupants addressed?
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