Our highly experienced team aims for innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions for anything from boundary issues relating to congested sites, party wall alterations, new wall constructions, basement excavations, loft conversions and building up to the boundary line. They work on behalf of the building owner and the adjoining owner to agree the ‘time and manner’ of works whilst protecting each party’s legal rights.
Party wall matters have been a speciality of Silver since its establishment in 1945. Originally acting under the London Building Act 1939 and, subsequently, the Party Wall etc Act 1996 which extended its provisions to England and Wales, our team has continued to thrive and expand. Today, we provide advice on projects ranging from mega basements to large regeneration developments, new build and refurbishment, including luxury residential, for public and private clients. The team’s understanding of the complexities involved provides clients with a straightforward service, aimed at ensuring that the required awards are completed on time and unnecessary delays and additional costs are avoided.
Project: Royal Eden Docks, London E16
Contractor: Mount Anvil
Services: Building Owner - Party Wall Matters
Perfectly positioned in a prime generation hotspot, with the ExCel Centre, DLR and Emirates Airline on its doorstep and close to the London City Airport, this 800 unit development constructed in three phases forms part of the Mayor of London’s masterplan to regenerate this stretch of the Docklands.
Our Team were appointed as the surveyors for the first phase of this scheme, which is a 19-storey building known as Royal Docks West.
Our Team were also appointed as the Building Owner’s Surveyor for the following phase being The Royal Eden Docks, which is adjacent to the Royal Docks West Building. The Team served 24 party wall notices on relevant adjoining owners, recorded all schedules of condition of the adjacent buildings and subsequently concluded all Awards to allow works on site to commence on time and in line with the programme.
Our service has been extended to manage the Building Owners Party Wall Awards for the third and final phase adjacent to The Crowne Plaza Hotel.
CGI image supplied courtesy of Mount Anvil Limited.
"Liam and his team acted as Party Wall Surveyor on our first Phase for 105 apartments and most recently on our second / third Phases delivering a further 796 apartments in the Royal Docks. There were many awards, both freeholder and leaseholders which were swiftly concluded with Silvers being on hand and easily contactable to resolve questions as and when they arose at every step of the way. At Mount Anvil Limited we have used Silvers as Party Wall Surveyor in the past at Dollar Bay and would have no hesitation using again on future projects."
Client: Dollar Bay Developments Ltd
Service: Party Wall
Dollar Bay is a residential development overlooking Canary Wharf. Situated on the waterside of South Dock, the scheme incorporates a three-storey building and a 31-storey tower.
With 22 adjoining owners surrounding the site, Silver was appointed as the Building Owners Surveyor to agree the required Party Wall Awards.
Careful planning by the Silver team ensured that the development proceeded without delay and on programme, with the requirements of the Party Wall Act met. This has involved a coordinated and timely approach to the preparation of schedules of condition and agreement for each Award with the adjoining owners’ surveyors. Over and beyond the scope of the Act, the team also successfully agreed access onto neighbouring land in order to facilitate works.
Client: English Rose Estates
Service: Party Wall
Silver acted as the Building Owners Surveyor on behalf of English Rose Estates in relation to a renowned development in the heart of the West End of London, which included new basement levels, new superstructure levels and significant internal alterations.
Client: Global Land
Service: Party Wall
Silver acted as Building Owners Surveyor on this prestigious development, a five-minute walk from the Palace of Westminster. The works included the installation of an external lift shaft, with new foundations, and the construction of a new floor to the top of the existing building.
Client: Embergreen Limited
Service: Party Wall
Silver acted as the Building Owners Surveyor, in relation to the demolition and reconstruction of an entire mid-terrace property in Jermyn Street, to form a new retail outlet at ground and basement levels, with six storeys of luxury apartments over.
The role required negotiation of multiple Party Wall Awards at demolition, substructure and superstructure phases, with numerous adjoining owners.
Client: Colorama House Limited
Contractor: Synergy Property Group Ltd
Services: Employer’s agent, cost consultants and quality management
We have managed the design and build of this office fit out to part Category A and part Category B standards to three floors including basement level.
Client: A2Dominion Group
Services: Employer's Agent, Quality Management and Party Wall.
This scheme, so named by local school children after its distinctive "wavy gate" entrance design is situated in the heart of Oxford. Comprises 190 fully furnished, ensuite student rooms, a central landscaped courtyard acting as a communal area for students to socialise.
Given budget constraints, initial cost estimates based on a reinforced concrete frame questioned the development’s viability. It was therefore decided to use a prefabricated timber frame system which could save time and cut costs by around 9%. Silver visited EBS Elk’s main manufacturing plant in Austria with our client’s Development Team to acquire a 360 degree understanding of the component structure, process and ultimate sustainability of the building. Construction of both three and four-storey buildings, which covered 60,000 sq.ft., took only 10 weeks to achieve complete water tightness and which included installation of bathroom pods. Overall the project build took ten months from formation of ground floor slab to occupation.
With over 30 adjoining residential properties, party wall matters had to be addressed at the earliest possible stage to avoid delays. Our experienced party wall surveyors acted proactively, extending our role to act as Building Owners Surveyor, undertaking and issuing the necessary Awards within a tight, three month timeframe.
Client: A2Dominion Group
Services: Employer’s Agent, Quality Management & Party Wall
This award-winning 121-home development, built next to Victoria Park and the Hertford Union Canal, has transformed a derelict paint factory to deliver residential homes and commercial units. Silver delivered an enhanced Employer’s Agent role which included support to our clients sales launch, project managing the delivery of the Sales Complex.
Within the short pre-contract programme, Silver led a design review, which challenged planning approved designs and applied layout, specification and material modifications, all with an objective of maximising sales and market rent revenues. This review was completed successfully avoiding a planning re-submission, and was aligned with robust bespoke contract provisions, negotiated with the selected contractor.
To achieve the programme requirements, Silver led a fast-track process in relation to various enabling works constrained by Olympic Games highway restrictions. Silver achieved agreement to facilitate the construction of a new site entrance crossover and completion of service installations within highways, which prohibited any construction from April 2012 to completion of the Olympic Games.
Silver was also appointed to negotiate all adjoining owner licence requirements, and to act as Building Owners Surveyor in discharging their duties under the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
Client: Notting Hill Housing
Services: Employer’s Agent and Party Wall
This scheme comprised the redevelopment of a former education facility, to provide 41 high quality mixed tenure dwellings (22 for private sale), including part basement, incorporating an energy centre.
Silver placed great emphasis on delivering a scheme to provide all residents with homes constructed to the highest level of housing standards and quality.
Our scope included:
Some key features include:
Client: Origin Housing Group
Services: Employer's Agent, Principal Designer and Party Wall
This is a high quality housing project comprising 21 self-contained units in one stylish brick and block three storey building.
Established on a former petrol station which had an adjoining vehicle repair garage, the site required comprehensive soil remediation, including removal of the buried fuel storage tanks.
Other associated risks included the close proximity of the site to the rail infrastructure, combined with the discovery of a complicated sub system of electricity running outside of the originally provided utility company service drawings. The scheme incorporates PV technology and enhanced security systems.
The Principal Contractor for this project is Bugler Developments Ltd. It is through their dedication, diligence and expertise that the project has overcome significant obstacles without compromising quality of workmanship or site management.
Silver has provided additional health & safety support and advice to our client as unforeseen elements of risk emerged.
The development was also shortlisted for prestigious title of the APS Principal Contractor of the Year, which highlights the expertise of the build, the strength of the team and the commitment of the Client in delivery of a safe and healthy project.
Please contact Liam or Simon for more details of our Party Wall / Licence Matters Service.
HNC BSc (Hons)
Managing Associate
Liam joined Silver in 2014. Over a 10 year career, he has developed particular expertise in advising on large developments impacting numerous adjoining properties, including ‘mega-basements’.
“I was initially drawn to Silver as a company that was really going places in its sector. Once on board, I found a company ready to break into the next level as a large-scale construction consultancy, with a clear and determined vision, a magnitude of experience and a general willingness to help achieve what a client is looking for.”
MRICS
Senior Associate
Simon is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in Party Wall matters. He joined Silver in 1995 and has over 20 years’ experience in the property and construction industry across private and public sectors.
