Party Walls & Rights of Light

As our towns and cities continually expand and with increasing development density, there is a greater potential that many development schemes will affect neighbouring properties, infringing the legal rights of adjoining owners and occupiers. The developers and their affected neighbours should both be aware of the implications of proposed developments, which may facilitate, hinder or restrict the proposed design. “Neighbourly Matters” is the term commonly applied to this range of issue that developers must consider and which may affect the neighbouring properties.

Wilks Head & Eve are one of the oldest private practices in Central London and have offered specialist Party Wall and Rights of Light advice for several decades. The department is supported by a dedicated in-house CAD team who utilise a bespoke three dimensional light analysis programme in conjunction with AutoCAD modelling to generate and assist in the evaluation of all planning daylight, sunlight and shadow calculations, British Standard assessments and Common Law Rights of Light valuations.

Wilks Head & Eve offer the following services:

Development and Legal advice under the provision of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Rights of Light Massing and envelope advice and analysis.
Daylight & Sunlight analysis to support planning applications.
Preparation of written schedules of condition, including specialist London Underground Limited tunnel and asset surveys and EDF Energy substations.
Scaffolding access licences.
Crane Licences
Advice on the provision of the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992.
Boundary positions and disputes.
Expert Witness in arbitration or litigation.

Recently we have advised:

Hiscox v Pinnacle
Land Securities
London & Regional Properties
Standard Chartered Bank
Henderson Global Investors
Hilton Group
The Royal Household
Howard de Walden Estate
EDF Energy

Party Wall etc. Act 1996 - Explanatory booklet

Contact

William Minting BA (Hons) MSc
Email: wminting@wilks-head.co.uk
William Minting is the Partner responsible for Party Walls & Rights of Light. William graduated in 1992 and completed his Masters Degree in 1996, and has specialised in Party Wall matters since then. William is also Editor of the Pyramus & Thisbe Club’s journal, who are the organisation for professionals concerned with neighbourly construction law. In recent years, William has advised Union Railways in connection with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, The Royal Household, London & Regional Properties, Greycoat, Land Securities, P&O, Standard Chartered Bank, Henderson Global Investors, Howard de Walden Estate, The Corporation of London, and The Crown Estate.

Chris Zurowski BSc (Hons) MRICS
Email: czurowski@wilks-head.co.uk
Chris Zurowski is an Associate and a Chartered Building Surveyor with over four years post qualification experience in Building Surveying and Neighbourly matters. Chris specialises in party wall matters but is also experienced in offering advice on building defects, specifications of works, contract administration, building reinstatement valuations and dilapidations matters. Chris has advised EDF Energy Plc, Kuwait Petroleum International, DHL, The Royal College of Music, Royal Mail, McDonalds Restaurants, London Borough of Camden, Milton Keynes Council and Kent County Council.

James Crowley
Email: jcrowley@wilks-head.co.uk
James has gained over 20 years experience in the field of Rights of Light, Daylight and Sunlight, Party Wall and Neighbourly Matters. Some of James’s Clients have included City Office Developments, Abstract Securities, British Land and Persimmon Homes. James joined Wilks Head and Eve in 2006 to act as a Consultant specialising in Rights of Light and Daylight and Sunlight matters.