Party wall notices for extensions in West Sussex

West Sussex at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: South East England
Postcode areas: BN, PO, RH
Towns covered: 19 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a party wall notice involves

This service suits you if your two-storey extension is close to a neighbour's house, wall or boundary. You get a check of which notices your work needs, the notices prepared and served with the right drawings, a timetable that builds in the notice periods, and help with a surveyor if your neighbour dissents.

West Sussex towns we list: Crawley (RH10), Worthing (BN11), Bognor Regis (PO21), Littlehampton (BN17), Horsham (RH12) and Haywards Heath (RH16). Every other address in West Sussex is covered as well.

Fees

We confirm every fee in writing before the design stage starts; typical professional fees are on our prices page.

Rules in England

In England, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies. Notices are needed for a new wall on the boundary (1 month), work to a party wall (2 months) and nearby excavation (1 month). If a neighbour dissents, surveyors settle the terms; one agreed surveyor typically costs £1,300–£1,500 plus VAT, normally paid by the building owner.

Approval in England: Householder planning application: £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Lawful development certificate: £274 (about £288 for applications from 8 December 2026). Councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval (full plans recommended) from the council or a registered building control approver, with a completion certificate at the end.

Getting the design right

Building the timing in

Notice periods add to the programme, and a dissent can add more while surveyors agree the terms. We serve notices once the design and foundations are known, usually while planning is being decided, so they run in parallel with other approvals.

Talking to neighbours first

A conversation before the notice arrives often makes the difference between consent and dissent. We explain the work, share the drawings and answer questions, so neighbours know what to expect and are more likely to agree.

How we work in West Sussex

Look at the house
We start in West Sussex with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for West Sussex and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Towns we cover in West Sussex

Party wall notices for extensions in West Sussex: questions

Can my neighbour stop my extension with the Party Wall Act?

No. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out how work is done and how neighbours are protected, but it does not let them block lawful work that has planning approval or is permitted development. It can delay the start if notices are served late, which is why we serve them early.

What happens if my neighbour does not respond to a party wall notice?

For a party structure notice or an excavation notice, a neighbour who does not respond within 14 days is treated as having dissented. Surveyors are then appointed to agree a party wall award, which sets out how the work will be done and records the condition of the neighbour's property. Either one agreed surveyor or one for each side can act.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in West Sussex · About party wall notices for extensions