Why carry out a site survey?
It is often recommended to carry out a site survey by your architect, developer, or project manager. A detailed site survey enables all parties concerned to have valuable and relevant information of the site available to them without necessarily visiting. This is particularly useful and often essential in preparing planning and building applications, and designing the position and size of a new house.

What will be surveyed?
A detailed plan will cover the following, when required:- Ground surface descriptions. Ground levels related to an arbitrary datum, and general landscaping. Visible service covers and drainage inspection covers, with cover levels and invert levels where possible. Boundaries, where relevant, with description. Significant trees. Footprint of existing buildings on site, with dpc levels if required, and eaves and ridge heights. Relationship of plot to adjacent highway. Overhead cables and approximate heights. Adjacent buildings within a certain proximity by request, or if relevant. Photographs of the site.

What will not be surveyed?
The survey will cover only features that are visible. Buried services such as cables or existing underground drainage will not be included in the site survey. However existing visible evidence is often sufficient at this stage to ascertain what services currently exist. Soil or ground conditions (e.g. sand, clay, settlement, fill etc) which may effect drainage, or foundation requirements are not covered at this stage. It will be the responsibility of the builder to commission trial holes, and obtain details of any underground services from the local authority, or relevant utility companies.

How will the survey be carried out?
We will make arrangements to visit the site, and information will be gathered using the latest electronic laser technology and instruments. By using special instruments, it is possible to survey remotely certain parts of adjacent properties, without the need to access them. A level datum will be established on site, as well as survey stations, from where observations are taken to detail. The data collected on site is downloaded once in the office, processed and edited to produce a digital plan.

How long will it take?
Dependant upon size, the survey will usually take a team of surveyors one day on site, and a day in the office, to produce. The normal turn around time is one week.

How much will it cost?
Again depending on size, the survey will be in the region of £625 plus VAT, which will form a very worthwhile investment. This fee is based on a special rate arranged with your representitive, and will ensure you receive good value, as we can carry out our work quickly and efficiently, no matter where you are in the country. However it may be possible to agree an individual price for larger or more complicated sites. Again a special discounted rate will be applied.

What area will be covered?
The survey will cover the area required by your representative. This may or may not be the whole of your property, but it will include information deemed to be relevant , as well as any specially requested information, and the adjacent access road or highway.