Step-by-Step Guide to Listed Building Surveys

Our Listed Building Survey is essential for buildings of architectural or historic interest to help keep their character intact. Blackacre Surveyors is a one-stop service for properties that must be assessed thoroughly to detect defects, comply with legislation, and ensure a program of works is put in place to maintain or restore them effectively.
What is a Listed Building? A building entered into a list of significant architectural or historic interests is afforded statutory protection under UK heritage law. Buildings are listed in one of three grades: Grade I (of exceptional interest), Grade II* (particular interest), or Grade II (national importance).

WHY BLACKACRE SURVEYORS?

Blackacre Surveyors is a surveyor for heritage assets specialising in listed buildings. We operate a specific approach to heritage building surveys, which involves historical research and understanding of the building for surveys and investigations. We are experts in historic building surveys and provide independent advice and analysis through photogrammetric 3D Laser Scanning, Drone Surveys, and detailed Bridge and High-rise Building Surveys. We are committed to compliance and conservation, enabling better decision-making.

Step-by-Step Process for a Successful Listed Building Survey:

1. Check the Building’s Listing Status: Find out the property’s National Heritage List listing status-grades I, II *, and II are listed. More details will follow when greater protections are triggered, such as in a conservation area or a listed building. Blackacre can check the status to help ensure the listing is complied with.

2. Historiographical Background: Collect historical sources (original architectural drawings and renovation documents) to know where the survey will focus on the most vulnerable areas.

3. View of the structure: Our specialists examine all the different elements of the structure (inside and outside) and provide expert opinions on the roofing, the walls, the wolds, the windows, and the chimneys, using in-house developed methods and techniques to detect the most common problems (rising damp, timber decay, roof wear, and tear and repairs).

4. Use non-invasive survey methods: To date, we continually sought to use non-invasive techniques to determine any concealed defects, using thermal imaging and laser scanning to produce accurate 3D drawings of the building before the work and after completion.

5. Defects / Areas that Require Repair: Guided by the data from our survey, we map structural problems and offer conservation-sensitive repair and maintenance options to preserve the property’s historic integrity.

6. Assess Legal and Planning Issues: All listed buildings have strict planning controls. We partner with local council authorities to grant all the necessary consents and work alongside industry heritage standards.

7. Detailed Report: We provide a definitive report that includes an assessment of the building’s condition, considering its current state and particular requirements, identification of defects, and recommendations on how to maintain and preserve it. Our reports include visual records, such as photographs and diagrams.

8. Recommend Tailored Maintenance Work Plans: Maintenance protects listed property. For this reason, we advise dedicated maintenance work plans tailored to each building’s specific needs, from regular inspection to preventive measures.

Contact us Today

With a portfolio of happy clients and a promise to provide the best service, Blackacre Surveyors have the freedom to specialise in listed building surveys so that you can be sure it is done to the highest possible standard: your valuable heritage will remain unscathed for our successors.

Contact us today! Phone us on 0203 476 9561 or Email us at info@blackacresurveyors.com.

Beginner’s Guide to Conducting Financial Viability Assessments

When you start a new business or undertake a new investment, ensuring it does not fail is essential. Blackacre Surveyors’ experts know that without performing a Financial Viability Assessment, your investment is just a guess and an act of bravado – you don’t want that, do you? Get ready for this Financial Viability Assessment guide, with essential steps to get you started.

What Is A Financial Viability Analysis?

A Financial Viability Assessment is a document that should determine whether your project can generate enough funds from revenue to cover costs, without unreasonably consuming your time and resources. Suppose you understand issues such as cash flow and profitability, the capital you need, and the potential market. In that case, deciding whether to proceed with your project as it is or amend it until it gets the all-clear should be fairly simple. With inexperienced users, it’s essential to take this in small chunks. Let’s see how to make your business successful financially.

How to Run a Financial Health Check

Learn Your Business Model

But you’ll want to understand your business model before you get too close to numbers. Which services or goods are you planning to provide? Who’s your market? How are you going to get to them? How will you price them? These are the keys to building an effective business plan and setting up the structure for your Financial Viability Assessment.

Calculate Initial Costs and Capital Investment

You must figure out how much you need to get off the ground for your business. It is the direct expenses (equipment, stock, and materials) and the indirect expenses (licences, marketing, and staffing). Most startups don’t understand their startup cost, which can create a cash flow issue. At Blackacre Surveyors we advise you to keep a running list of everything you’ll need to start with, ensuring you do not go too far to get all the details right the first time.

Forecast Revenue Opportunities

Now that your costs are known, it’s time to calculate your revenue. Are you making money from selling products, subscriptions, or consulting? What will be the number of times revenues are earned? You’ll get a strong financial picture using your potential sources of income. So, try different scenarios – best, worst, expected – and you’ll be set for different results.

Determine Operating Costs. Analyse Operating Costs

Think about your operating costs. These are the costs of keeping the business running daily (rent, salaries, utilities, maintenance, etc). To develop sound financial projections, you must understand what portion of those costs are fixed (e.g., independent of overall sales volume) and variable (change in step with changes in the production level).

Find Your Break-Even Mark

Your break-even point is where your company makes its way through the operation without profit. This important metric tells you what you must sell to be profitable. This will enable you to determine if your time and effort investment is by your financial targets.

Evaluate Competition and Market Trends

Your Financial Viability Assessment must account for market dynamics, a competitive environment, and economics. By doing some market research, you can fine-tune your revenue projections and identify potentially problematic areas for your business.

Conduct Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis is a complex but crucial part of your Financial Viability Analysis. It simulates the effect of various factors, such as the fluctuation of prices or costs, on your finances. Simulation will help you predict problems and improve pricing, cost management, and expansion plans.

Why Financial Viability Audits are Crucial

Risk mitigation: Track risks early and correct them before launch.

Making Data-Based Decisions: Understand the financial situation to make the right scaling or investment decisions.

Raising Capital: An effective FVA is a powerful way to raise capital because it shows stability and future development.

Long-Term Planning: Establish realistic goals and plans for the future, ensuring sustainability and profitability.

Conclusion

Would your business idea be financially feasible? Supposing you are an aspiring entrepreneur or business leader that has already started an enterprise, you need to make sound financial choices. Financial Viability will unquestionably put you in the right direction.

Blackacre Surveyors are dedicated to putting you on the path to financial well-being. Want to move to the next level? Call 0203 476 9561 today for professional advice and support in your Financial Viability Assessment. Contact us and let’s get ready for a great future!

Impact of Right to Light Surveys on Property Development

There are many things to consider when starting a property development, from the building design to local planning laws. Still, Right to Light Surveys is arguably one of the most important elements of your new construction, which can impact your development in vastly different ways. Developers can avoid expensive litigation and make their developments successful by becoming familiar with how these surveys operate and what they can mean for your project.

What Are Right to Light Surveys?

You need a Right to Light Survey to determine if your proposed development affects your neighbours’ natural light.

Right to Light Surveys are a highly skilled task carried out by us professionals at Blackacre Surveyors using the latest technology, mathematics, and legal knowledge to determine the amount of light reaching your existing windows and your neighbour’s, and if reducing any of it to below acceptable levels could be prejudicial to your neighbour and might be objectionable in law.

Why Are Right to Light Surveys Essential?

Yet, for those property developers who neglect to appreciate the value of a Right to Light Survey, you risk stemming an energy-sapping pipe of potential problems. A successful claim for loss of light can result in financial compensation, being forced to alter your development, or, at worst, having parts demolished. This is why it is crucial to undertake the survey at the initial inquiry stage.

Moreover, you can wield our surveys as leverage in negotiations with neighbours. Any worries or conflicting perceptions that come up in discussions can be immediately settled on the site, and understanding and further goodwill can be established to smooth the path of your project with the aid of our Project Managers here at Blackacres.

How Right to Light Surveys Impact Design and Planning

The results of a Right to Light Survey can significantly impact how you design your site and the appearance of a new property. Suppose our calculations show that your new development encroaches on an adjoining property’s right to light. In that case, you might need to change your plans – this could mean reducing your structure’s height, orientation, or position about neighbours so it doesn’t cause a conflict.

This could also prompt significant alterations to your original design, causing reapplication for planning permission and possibly setting back the project schedule. Furthermore, altered designs might adversely affect the profitability of your project.

Avoiding Delays and Legal Disputes

The greatest benefit of carrying out a Right to Light Survey is the ability to identify potential issues BEFORE any legal action is taken. Developers who don’t get a survey done run the severe risk of facing objections at the planning stage or even after erecting the site. Irrespective of whether objections come from an individual house owner or a company, if their case is strong, it could halt your progress entirely – sometimes even months after completion.

With Right to Light Surveys taking place up front, you can have some kind of risk management Here, too, the channel of communication with your neighbouring property owners. You are willing to flex your project to respect their rights, it could go a long way to building healthier relationships and helping to avoid any kind of entrenched conflict.

Working with Blackacre Surveyors

Because of the technical and legal challenges of Right to Light Surveys, it’s recommended that you work with an experienced team who makes the precise measurements and can help you through every stage of the process. At Blackacre Surveyors we are experts in gathering all the data you need on the impact of light on your property. Still, we act on your behalf to resolve issues amicably with the other parties involved.
Want to protect your schemes from the bane of uncertain Right to Light issues? Ensure that air rights are clearly defined to avoid costly surprises, such as structural alterations, during the planning process. Should you require a Right to Light Survey for your project, contact us at 0203 476 9561 or via email at info@blackacresurveyors.com.

Top Technologies Used in Measured Building Surveys

At Blackacre Surveyors we understand that accurate data is the key to successful Measured Building Surveys. Through the strategic deployment of cutting-edge technology, we ensure that our clients, architects, engineers, and planners have the necessary information to make the right decisions. This blog will examine how the most critical technology improves Measured Building Surveys by making them more accurate, efficient, and successful.

3D Laser Scanning (LiDAR)

The most up-to-date, and certainly the most exciting, Measured Building Survey tech is 3D laser scanning. Also referred to as LiDAR (for Light Detection and Ranging), laser scanning projects millions of data points each second from a sophisticated pulse laser and can draw a very accurate 3D model of the building. It’s most useful for more complex, historic buildings, where very little, if any, contact with the surface is allowed.

Total Stations

A total station is an essential piece of surveyor equipment combining electronic distance measurement (EDM) and angle measurement. New versions are Bluetooth-enabled and automate the data processing, making things considerably more accessible in the office.

Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)

Drones provide:

The perfect platform for Building Surveys.

Rapid and efficient data capture. Drones are fitted with cameras, some at high-definition and others with LiDAR sensors which capture both aerial and close-up views of structures.

The surveying of hard-to-reach places.

Imaging with drone surveys is far quicker than traditional laser-scanning methods, shortening project timelines and removing surveyors from potentially hazardous environments.

Building Information Modeling

Using BIM, we can collect data from laser scans and other equipment, creating digital twins of the building and its subsystems. This integration speeds processes and allows more cooperation so that data flows more naturally inside a project team, enabling future projects or renovations to benefit more readily from this data.

GPS and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems)

In open-air surveys, we rely on GPS and GNSS for absolute location data, which is essential for large projects, whether we are creating mass points for a gridded excavation or creating a precise map or 3D model with total stations or drones out in the field, GPS Surveys allow us to set up reference points quickly and accurately wherever we work.

Mobile Mapping Systems

The trend in Measured Building Surveys towards using mobile mapping systems, which incorporate laser scanning and GPS into vehicles or handheld units to capture large amounts of data in the field quickly, gives this type of survey a natural edge. Large or challenging sites can be surveyed almost incidentally, even as they’re being renovated or constructed. We can be on-site with a mobile mapping unit during the day and still produce deliverables in the office that evening.

Conclusion

At Blackacre Surveyors, leveraging these technologies enables us to provide measured building surveys with unparalleled precision, speed, and safety. From 3D laser scanning for greater building accuracy, aerial drones that help us capture data from difficult-to-reach places, and GPS and reality capture such as BIM, all these tools have helped us deliver verified data to our clients to aid their decision-making process.

Contact us today at info@blackacresurveyors.com or 0203 476 9561 to book your measured building survey and ensure your redevelopment project starts on the right foot.

Why Listed Building Surveys Are Essential for Historic Properties

Trying to save the character of a historic property is more than simply maintaining a building. These are physical links to the past, and how historic buildings are maintained, repaired, or restored is crucial. Therefore, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a builder or surveyor specialising in Listed Building Surveys.

But what is precisely a listed building survey, and why is it so crucial for period buildings? Well, here’s the gist.

What is a Listed Building?

Before delving into the specifics of preparing surveys of listed buildings, we should consider what it means for a building to be ‘listed’. A listed building is one entered on a national register of Historic Buildings, deemed of architectural or historic interest and thus protected by law. Any repairs (that are not like-for-like) or alterations to a listed building require special permission from the local authority.

Placing a building on a list preserves it for future generations, but this can be difficult as buildings age. This is where a survey of a listed building is vital: it deals with all the important structural and environmental issues.

What Are Listed Building Surveys?

Why Are Listed Building Surveys Essential?

Specialised care is needed for listed properties. The specific features and materials of historic buildings necessitate a survey adapted to the property’s needs. Here’s why listed building surveys are required:

Legal Compliance

Listed-building owners have to work within strict regulations if they want to make any changes. Some minor alterations require consent, and there will be legal ramifications if unauthorised modifications are made. A listed building survey will tell you what work you can do to your property without falling foul of the law.

Conservation of Historic Features

Properties of historical interest frequently possess particular period features-such as period windows, masonry, or timber framing-and a listed building survey gives detailed information as to their condition and how best to conserve them while maintaining the integrity of the historic building.

Guidance on Restoration and Maintenance

With their natural ageing processes, every historic building will show signs of wear and tear. At a listed building survey, it is possible to identify areas of the building that need urgent attention in the short term, such as deterioration of fabric (e.g., decaying timber, leaking roof, unstable walls). The survey will also advise you on the most effective way to approach the necessary repairs that will not compromise the historical significance of the building.

Specialist Advice for Future Renovations

If you’re considering buying a listed property, a listed building survey is a vital step before committing to any work. It offers expert advice on what services or repairs might feasibly be carried out and how to make them as sympathetic to the building’s heritage status as possible. Doing it right the first time saves you a small fortune on rectifying problems later.

Enhanced Property Value

A historic building that has been fully listed and received a thorough listed building survey is likely to be worth more to potential buyers. The comfort that a buyer will have with the house’s historic contribution being preserved and is within the approved parameters should ensure a better outcome for all. Owners who take the expense to restore or fix historic features with expert advice will likely find they have significantly increased the house’s visual and cultural appeal.

Protect Your Historic Property with Blackacre Surveyors

The requirement for a listed building survey is not just a procedural step; it is a cost-effective investment in the property’s care, longevity and upkeep. If you’re a keeper of an older structure, you will get the information you need to understand the building’s structural integrity. In historical terms, the survey will protect the integrity of the building and ensure any work entailed is performed sensitively and respectfully of the building.

Blackacre Surveyors specialises in listing building surveys that preserve your property’s distinctiveness and add to its worth. Our team of heritage-building appraisers is at hand to navigate you through the listing process safely, maintaining your property’s renowned heritage and aesthetic for the ages.

So, if you’re ready to protect your listed building, call Blackacre Surveyors on 0203 476 9561 or email us at info@blackacresurveyors.com. We’ll be happy to provide a consultation and show you how we can safeguard your property’s past while improving its future. Contact us today!

Understanding Right to Light Surveys

When setting out on a new scheme, it is essential to consider how your development might affect your neighbour’s enjoyment of natural light. The significant issue here is the ‘right to light’, a legal principle that can affect the design and viability of your building, which is where Blackacre Surveyors’ Right to Light Surveys come in.

What Is a Right to Light?

Fundamentally, the right to light is a legal interest that a property holder has in being able to receive incoming light through specified openings (usually windows) on their property to affect certain areas within it. So if a new development reduces that access to natural light, that property owner may have cause to sue the latest development regarding an encroachment of their rights. The right to light is also often considered to accrue after the light has been used and enjoyed by the landowner for at least 20 years. For the developer, appreciating this reasonably soon after the start of a project can be crucial since the consequences of not doing so can be profound.

Why Choose Right to Light Surveys?

Suppose you’re thinking about developing? In that case, a right to light survey is crucial to ensure your design complies with the minimum legal airspace rights of your neighbours’ existing properties. These surveys measure the likely effect your proposed building would have on the skylight reaching neighbouring properties if it obstructs their light. This, in turn, can warn you about potential costly claims or legal actions.

Take a look at our Development Monitoring that we also offer here at Blackacre

Right-of-light surveys can save developers time and money by uncovering potential problems so you can foresee, budget and head off litigation before it even starts. They can also be handy for redesigning your project to co-exist safely, harmoniously, and in proximity with surrounding property owners.

How We Conduct Right to Light Surveys

What If a Right to Light Is Infringed?

If our survey shows your new building will block a significant amount of skylight, the affected property owner would be suffering from nuisance. This could result in a requirement that you change the design of your building, payment to the property owner, or, at worst, a temporary or permanent stop-work order (known as an injunction).
This reinforces the earlier point that the right to light survey must be one of the first steps in planning your project. Only by identifying these issues early can you work with an architect and planner to modify your scheme at the initial planning stages – before it escalates to costly and time-consuming delays.

Conclusion

Planning new property developments requires detailed legal knowledge to get it right. Getting a right to the light survey is essential if you are building new apartments, flats, houses, or any other development that could come too close to a neighbouring property. Right to light surveyors can help identify any previous litigation and ensure that your development doesn’t infringe upon a neighbour’s legal right. This is a quicker and cheaper way to develop your land and ensure your building program is not delayed. Blackacre Surveyors offers a right to light survey to help make sure your property development runs smoothly so your investment can return more quickly.

Rights of Light matters are not to be confused with Daylight & Sunlight assessments planning stage, these can be seen on our Daylight & Sunlight page

Contact Us

So, do you want to guarantee the success of your development? Call the experts at Blackacre Surveyors today at 0203 476 9561 or email us at info@blackacresurveyors.com.