Track record

Cross Farm, Wedmore

Party Wall advice to support the redevelopment of a former farm into much needed homes

Party Walls

Service

Residential

Industry

Dan Tapscott

The project

Cross Farm is situated in the heart of the village of Wedmore in Somerset. The phased relocation of the working farm to the outskirts of the village had enabled the site to be redeveloped into much needed residential homes.

Rapleys was approached by Acorn Property Group to assist with the construction of 9 contemporary, high-end, detached dwellings, situated on the areas of the farm containing various barns, cow sheds, etc flanking a number of neighbouring residential properties.

The arrangement of the stone and timber buildings had evolved over the years, resulting in unusual abutments with the neighbouring properties. Their detachment and demolition require care and in places a forensic approach to understand the form of construction and ensure the neighbouring properties were suitably safeguarded.

Rapleys was instructed to assess matters arising under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 that would arise during the development including the demolition, adjacent excavations and boundary treatments. Our instruction also included dealing with other Neighbourly Matters including a review of boundary matters and Access Arrangements for the erection of scaffolding within neighbouring gardens.

Rapleys Bristol Neighbourly Matters team were ideally located and experienced to review this project, get up to speed swiftly and to advise on matters arising accordingly.

Our solution

Rapleys initially met with the client on site to gain an appreciation of the outline proposals in context with the neighbouring properties and to discuss project timings, logistics and additional information required.

We then undertook Land Registry searches to identify the 6 relevant Adjoining Owners. This formed the basis of our Tracker Report which we exchanged regularly with the project team by way of a progress update and for requesting of additional information in order to progress matters.

Our involvement was split on a phased basis. The Phase 1 Demolition works had to progress quickly and we arranged to meet the Adjoining Owners to discuss the works, the notices and Party Wall process in general. We also prepared photographic Schedules of Condition and agreed boundary and access requirements where necessary. This approach led to consent being received to the all the notices served. This meant we were well positioned when it came to progressing with Phase 2 Excavation / Enabling works.

During the course of the project, an area of damage occurred to a boundary wall where we were able to determine the extent of making good work against the Schedule of Condition prepared at the outset.

“Acorn thrive on building communities and working with Rapleys’ Neighbourly Matters team ensures those critical relationships with our neighbours are healthily maintained and continue to grow.”

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