Many Winchester projects engage the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 from the planning stage. Refurbishments to listed Georgian and medieval property in the cathedral area, extensions to Victorian terraces through St Cross and Hyde, basement digs on the larger detached stock around the Romsey Road corridor, and infill development consented by Winchester City Council all routinely fall within the Act's scope.
CHP Surveyors has been established since 2004 with offices in Wickford, London and Hampshire. The team is RICS regulated with an established Hampshire presence delivering party wall work across the city. Coverage extends to Twyford, Otterbourne, Kings Worthy, Hursley and New Alresford. Conservation projects in the cathedral close area often need careful coordination, and many instructions also pair with rights of light assessments where extensions affect windows on adjoining listed property.
James Crowley is the past London and National Chair of The Pyramus and Thisbe Society, an organisation with a great interest in party wall and neighbourly matters.
Having been involved in projects across the UK for both domestic properties and larger, city centre developments, we have experience and knowledge of the more complicated methods of construction, including temporary restraint works, piling to form a triple basement and jet grouting. We have also negotiated licences for the use of scaffolding and tower cranes.
On a Winchester party wall instruction, the first step is a free initial assessment by a qualified surveyor on our Hampshire team. The conversation covers the proposed works, the relevant sections of the Act, and the notice strategy. For Winchester this typically involves party structure notices for extensions and refurbishments to listed or conservation property, line of junction notices for new boundary walls, and excavation notices for any deep foundation or basement work close to adjoining listed buildings.
After the assessment the surveyor drafts and serves the statutory notices, manages adjoining owner responses, and produces a detailed schedule of condition with photographs and full written notes. For listed and conservation property the schedule includes additional detail on existing condition, materials, decorative features, and any visible defects. Where the matter is agreed paperwork stays proportionate. Where dispute arises the party wall award is drafted properly and served. Building owners and adjoining owners across Winchester get continuity throughout.
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
Three habits keep a Winchester party wall job on track: early notice well ahead of works, a schedule of condition that captures the property's existing state in proper detail, and a single point of contact from instruction through to award. Notices served three months ahead, adjoining owners responding within statutory periods, and a valid award where dispute arises all combine to keep the build moving.
Notice periods under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are non-negotiable: two months for party structure works and one month for excavations within the relevant proximity thresholds. The building owner generally covers reasonable surveyor fees on both sides. For Winchester projects in conservation areas, where planning conditions add their own timing constraints, an early free initial assessment reduces risk on both sides.
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
