Conservation areas and period housing make up a large part of Billericay's residential stock, with substantial detached homes on generous plots and Victorian terraces lining the older streets near the High Street and the railway. Many of these windows comfortably exceed the 20-year easement threshold, which means garden plot subdivisions, two-storey rear extensions, and infill new builds can all run into rights of light issues with the immediate neighbours. The fact that consent has been granted by Basildon Borough Council does not change that legal position.
We act on Billericay schemes from the Wickford office, with reach across Mountnessing, Stock, and Ingatestone, supported by colleagues in London and Hampshire. CHP is RICS regulated and the local Essex team handles rights of light work faster than London-led practices, which matters when planning timelines are already tight. Where a rooftop or upper-floor extension is in play, we can also bring in airspace development advice.
The first step is a free initial assessment. We review the proposed drawings against the surrounding context to identify which windows could be affected and which look likely to carry the 20-year easement. A full rights of light analysis follows where the appraisal suggests a real risk, using specialist software to model existing and proposed light levels and to test the Equivalent First Zone and 50/50 rule for each affected room.
If the modelling shows infringement, the cutback analysis is the next stage. We test a range of design responses including reduced ridge heights, set-back upper floors, and altered fenestration to find a scheme that works for both the planning case and the rights of light position. Most Billericay projects also involve daylight and sunlight reports for the planning submission, and we run both pieces of work from one team to keep them aligned. Calls go through to a qualified surveyor rather than a call centre.
A good outcome means the scheme is viable, the risk to neighbouring owners has been understood and addressed, and any infringement has been resolved on agreed terms before construction starts. For most Billericay developments, that means design adjustments at the planning stage, with a negotiated release of rights where any residual impact remains. Court action is rare when matters are handled this way.
Adjoining owners on Billericay streets affected by a nearby development can also instruct us to assess the impact, advise on the strength of their legal position, and consider Light Obstruction Notices where formal protection of acquired light is the right step. A free initial assessment under the rights of light assessments approach covers both sides of that work and is offered without charge.
