Party wall surveyors for city-centre schemes
Dense sites, deep excavation and many adjoining owners in Manchester and Salford.
- Free initial consultation
- 5.0 from 15 Google reviews
In short
City-centre sites in Manchester and Salford often sit next to older warehouses, terraces and occupied commercial buildings. Piling and basements commonly trigger Section 6 on several boundaries at once. We manage notices and awards with every adjoining owner, review engineering and monitoring, and flag non-Act licences early.
Typical issues
- Piling and deep basements within 6 m of neighbouring buildings
- Older neighbouring buildings with shallow or unknown foundations
- Multiple freehold and leasehold owners on each boundary
- Tight access for scaffold and cranes
- Listed buildings and conservation areas
Our approach
- Map every boundary and every owner, freehold and leasehold
- Review the engineer's design and temporary works against each neighbour
- Serve notices early with full plans and sections
- Agree awards, monitoring and security where appropriate
- Record and resolve any damage through to final inspection
Outside the Party Wall Act
Crane oversail, scaffold and hoarding licences, rights of light and highway consents aren't covered by the Act. We flag them at appraisal stage so they don't hold up your start.
What clients say
We’ve worked with Manchester Party Wall Surveyors on several projects and they’ve been great every time. Guy is efficient, clear, and easy to deal with. The process is always smooth and well-managed. Highly recommend.
Common questions
Does the 6 metre rule apply to piling?
Yes. Piling is excavation under the Act and is often caught by the 6 metre, 45-degree rule.
How many notices does a city-centre scheme need?
It depends on the number of boundaries and owners. A tight urban site can easily involve several freeholders and leaseholders on each side.
Source: Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (applies in England and Wales).
Written by Guy Crouch BSc (Hons) MRICS, Director and Chartered Building Surveyor at Manchester Party Wall Surveyors. Last reviewed 26 October 2026. This page is general guidance, not legal advice. About our team
Planning a commercial scheme?
Bring us in at design stage and party wall matters won't hold up your programme.