Airspace Surveyor in Ealing
Adding a Storey to Ealing Buildings
Ealing's residential stock runs across most of the main London building types. The post-war and 1960s estates across Acton, Southall, Northolt, and Greenford carry significant mid-rise residential blocks suited to rooftop schemes. The mansion blocks through Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, and parts of Acton add another concentration of buildings where airspace work comes forward. Edwardian and Victorian terraces across Pitshanger, parts of Hanwell, and the central Ealing streets see upward extensions, while the 1930s semis in the outer parts of the borough through Perivale and Greenford carry rights for prior approval extensions on detached and semi-detached homes.
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. Rights of light assessments are common given the impact of new height on neighbouring properties.
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 do we approach airspace work in Ealing?
Project type drives the scope. On rooftop additions to Ealing'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.
On homeowner-led upward extensions across the borough's terraced areas and outer suburbs, the focus shifts to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, neighbour relations, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Airspace development advice covers feasibility and the planning route, including whether permitted development with prior approval applies on a specific property.
Airspace work in Ealing 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
What protections do existing occupants have in an Ealing airspace scheme?
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 Ealing, and a free initial assessment covers feasibility and the supporting workstreams on a specific site.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments in Ealing?
What is an airspace development?
What is permitted development for upward extensions?
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