Airspace Surveyor in Lewisham
Adding Storeys Above Lewisham Buildings
Lewisham's residential mix runs heavily to post-war and 1960s estates across Catford, Deptford, New Cross, Bellingham, and parts of Sydenham. The borough also carries Victorian and Edwardian terraces across Brockley, Forest Hill, Hither Green, and Ladywell, where conservation area protection limits airspace work on many sites. Most of our Lewisham work is rooftop addition on the post-war estates and mid-rise blocks, with a smaller volume of upward extensions on the borough's terraced streets in the less protected areas.
We specialise in chartered surveying on dense urban sites where rooftop and upward extension schemes are most common. The practice is RICS regulated with over 30 years of combined experience. Schemes typically need rights of light assessments given the impact of new height on neighbouring residential windows in the borough's denser areas.
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 Lewisham?
On rooftop additions to Lewisham's post-war estates, 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, get handled as they arise.
On smaller homeowner-led upward extensions across the borough's terraced areas, the focus shifts to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, neighbour relations, and protection of the existing structure during construction. Daylight and sunlight reports typically form part of the planning submission given the borough's tight plot density.
Airspace work in Lewisham 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 airspace developments affect existing residents in Lewisham?
Residents below an airspace development carry the most direct impact: noise during working hours, disruption to access and parking, scaffolding obscuring windows, and concern about damage to their flats. Without a named surveyor handling that relationship through construction, those concerns escalate into complaints and claims that slip the programme and add cost.
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 during the build, and the Schedule provides documented evidence if a damage claim arises later. Planning sits with the London Borough of Lewisham, and specialist airspace development advice covers feasibility on a given site.
Case Studies
FAQ
Do you handle airspace developments in Lewisham?
What types of airspace projects suit buildings in Lewisham?
Do airspace developments need planning permission?
What is permitted development for upward extensions?
How do schedules of condition work for airspace projects?
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