People

About Rob

An experienced Chartered Building Surveyor with strong party wall surveying expertise, Rob leads our London team of specialist building surveyors. His insight helps clients and project teams navigate development challenges with ease.

Rob also contributes to shaping the future of the surveying industry through his involvement in several initiatives, formerly holding the positions of treasurer of the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust and Chair of the RICS London Matrics University Liaison Committee. He is a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors.

I had the great pleasure of working with Rob during several immensely difficult and stressful years. Our basement project in Randolph Avenue had been stalled due to negligence of our builders causing extensive damage to our neighbour’s property and our existing surveyor was out of their depth in dealing with a complex and litigious dispute. Rob stepped in and took over the project. We were facing delays, uncertainties and huge financial losses but Rob was able to see pragmatically through the chaos with professionalism and sound judgement. Rob had an extensive understanding of party wall and construction law and in dealing effectively with the third surveyor and our lawyers all matters were successfully resolved. Above all a trustworthy , ethical and caring human being. A surveyor with a big heart.

Philip Catterall, Client

About Ashley

Ashley is a Senior Partner based in our London office. He is an expert Chartered Building Surveyor and specialises in party wall and other neighbourly matters, including easements, boundary plotting and related advice. Ashley was previously an equity partner in a specialist central London practice and has considerable experience advising on large development schemes in London as well as other major UK cities. He works for a range of clients, including property companies, residential developers and housebuilders, financial institutions and private individuals.

Ashley is a past Chairman of the London branch of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club, the learned society for party wall professionals, and is frequently selected to act as third surveyor.

Platform have worked with Ashley Patience and his team for several years on a number of large developments requiring party wall agreements, neighbourly agreements for construction and highways advice. His advice is always detailed and thorough with first class knowledge of the subject and understanding of some very complex issues that have been involved. Ashley provides confidence and a safe pair of hands in this area, which is why we have worked together on repeat projects.

Alastair Smith, Director, Platform

About Stuart

Stuart oversees the day-to-day management of our business. Formerly head of our rights of light department, he still gets involved in advising clients on rights of light, daylight and sunlight assessments, 3D shadow analyses, and Environmental Impact Assessment studies, where he can, and thereby continues to provide strategic advice to resolve potential issues and optimise designs for a wide range of projects.

Known for his deep technical expertise and in-depth knowledge, Stuart is highly regarded in the industry for delivering successful outcomes, and is one of our longest serving members of staff.

About Aidan

Aidan qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor in 1993 and has specialised in rights of light, daylight and sunlight, party wall and neighbourly matters since 1996. He brings a wealth of experience advising on schemes for property companies, major housebuilders, financial institutions, local authorities, housing associations, and private individuals, as well as those whose properties are affected by development. He regularly reviews applicants’ daylight and sunlight assessments on behalf of local planning authorities. He has acted as expert witness in various contexts including litigation, mediation, tribunals, and planning inquiries.

Aidan is part of our research and development team, dedicated to keeping our technical expertise at the forefront of our professional.

An experienced speaker, Aidan has presented at the Joint Planning Law Conference, Oxford and at seminars for RICS, RIBA, Institution of Structural Engineers, Law Society, Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), and numerous firms of architects, planning consultants, project managers, and solicitors. He is a member and past chair of the Pyramus & Thisbe Society (London Branch), the learned society for party wall professionals.

Aidan Cosgrave (Rights of Light) and Shirley Waldron (Party Wall, Neighbourly Issues) have worked expertly and diligently with us throughout a complex 5 year building project. Couldn’t have done it without them.

Nick Byers

About Shirley

Shirley qualified as a Chartered Architect in 1998 before embarking on stints at EPR Architects, Scott Brownrigg (and Turner), and Imperial College Estates, as well as spending three years as a Building Control Officer for the London Borough of Wandsworth. She also ran her own architecture practice from 2000 to 2018.

From 2010 Shirley provided strategic advice to Crossrail on its obligations under the Party Wall Act; she managed those matters at its Bond Street Eastern Ticket Hall location where the adjoining property, a Grade II* listed building, was protected by a pre-Crossrail Act deed of agreement. Her guidance led to Crossrail discharging its duties under the deed by re-applying all rights and obligations under the Party Wall Act.

Shirley brings over fifteen years’ experience as a specialist party wall surveyor, having delivered awards for the Shard of Glass, Cannon Place, Crossrail, Mayfair Park Residences, the Mandarin Mayfair, and numerous other developments and residential projects. She is the previous National Chair of the Pyramus and Thisbe Society.

Aidan Cosgrave (Rights of Light) and Shirley Waldron (Party Wall, Neighbourly Issues) have worked expertly and diligently with us throughout a complex 5 year building project. Couldn’t have done it without them.

Nick Byers

I engaged Shirley Waldron from DPR, following a glowing recommendation, to support the resolution of a roof leak. Shirley herself was a breeze to deal with: she was available at short notice, not afraid to get up on a ladder at great height, and direct in her assessment. Her subsequent report was an important piece of evidence in my successful legal proceedings against a well known property maintenance firm, whose efforts to resolve the leak had been inadequate. Highly recommended.

Nick A

About Lok

Lok oversees management of the technical CAD department at our London office. Specialising in both daylight and sunlight for planning and common law rights of light and with over 15 years of experience, Lok advises both developer clients and neighbouring property owners on a wide range of project types and scales. He has advised on numerous large-scale commercial and residential developments across the UK.

Lok’s deep technical knowledge in all aspects relating to rights of light and daylight and sunlight ensures sites can be maximised to their full potential with the necessary strategies in place to mitigate potential risks from a rights of light and daylight and sunlight perspective.

I have used Lok at DPR for rights of light advice several times and have found him to be extremely professional, responsive and clear in his advice helping to simplify what can be a very complicated issue.

David Hughes, Director – Alchemy Asset Management

About Chris

Chris established our Bristol office in 2021, having previously spent 12 years as part of our London rights of light analysis team until 2017. During the interim, he led a neighbourly matters team at a multi-disciplinary project management consultancy.

With over 15 years of experience specialising in rights of light and daylight and sunlight, Chris is highly respected in the industry for his expertise. He has advised on numerous large-scale commercial and residential developments across the UK, helping clients optimise their projects. Chris divides his time between London and the South West.

About Suzanne

An experienced Chartered Surveyor, Suzanne specialises in party wall surveying and occupier services, providing a range of comprehensive occupier services for clients both regionally and nationally. According to the needs of the commission, this comprises everything from analysing future space requirements for an office or business to identifying and negotiating more favourable provisions for occupiers around reinstatement of works or alterations undertaken under the terms of the lease.

Suzanne works closely with clients and legal advisors on due diligence as well as the practical aspects of lease agreements and licences for alterations. In addition, she acts in monitoring landlords’ Category A works in circumstances where they assume a responsibility for undertaking certain works in advance of occupation.

Suzanne regularly acts as party wall surveyor both for parties undertaking works and neighbours and is currently the Secretary of the North-West branch of the Pyramus & Thisbe Club, the chief organisation for party wall professionals.

We have recognised the evolution of working life and our staff have embraced the benefits of flexible and agile working in our offices across the UK. Rolling this out in our headquarters was a natural next step – it has enabled us to function more efficiently, continue to grow our teams and successfully limit our environmental impact.

Due to the nature of the project we had to work to very tight timescales and requirements throughout the legal negotiations and refurbishment, and Suzanne at [DPR] was a trusted pair of hands throughout this process. She knows the business well and knew what we needed and expected from the process – having worked with her on a number of projects across the UK over the years, we knew we were getting high quality, expert support. The move and the fit out itself has been a great success, delivered in line with our contractual agreements and within budget. We are now truly fit for the future.

Stuart Whittle, Weightmans LLP

About Mark

Mark specialises in providing strategic consultancy for complex rights of light, daylight, and sunlight matters, bringing 17 years’ experience and an impressive track record of successfully leading teams on some of the UK’s most high-profile and challenging developments.

Current projects he is advising on include one of Europe’s single largest regeneration sites – the Woodberry Down development by Berkeley Homes; the major Barking Riverside project aiming to deliver over 21,000 homes; as well as the £1.7 billion redevelopment of Edgware town centre, a joint venture between Ballymore and TfL. His previous work includes City of London projects and large-scale tower developments, such as 70 St Mary Axe, The Baltic Exchange, Hill House, Little New Street; Wood Wharf, the Shell Centre and Cuba Street.

With a particularly strong interest in rights of light, Mark thrives on helping clients assess challenges and develop clear strategies to maximise development potential. He skilfully mitigates risk on complex sites through well-considered negotiation and insurance tactics.

We have been a client of Mark Kidd and DPR for several years, which is testimony to their diligence, professionalism, and reliability. They make the complex topics of rights of light and DSO understandable – not an easy task!

Simon Ryan, Developments Director, Ballymore

I have worked with Mark Kidd for over 10 years. Over this period, I have found him to be helpful, proactive, collaborative, always looking for positive solutions and works in a highly professional and commercial way but with the utmost integrity. I would have no hesitation recommending him for any project.

Laura Jenkinson, Principal, Town Planning, Avison Young

About Conor

Based in our London office, Conor started his career at TPS Consult as a graduate surveyor. He brings an impressive breadth of knowledge on party wall matters, a dedication to excellence, and a personal approach to every project, always seeking out practical solutions to often complex neighbourly matters situations.

Conor works across all aspects relating to the Party Wall etc Act 1996, along with scaffold licences, crane oversail licences and boundary disputes. He has supported on some of the largest projects across the UK, including the City of London’s Court buildings, NHS Middlesex Hospital and Lancer Square developments, as well as smaller scale domestic projects.

Conor holds the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing and regularly provides advice to local authorities and registered social landlords.

Rockhopper have worked with Conor for a number of years on a range of neighbourly matters. His personable and reliable nature combined with an attention to detail, prompt, clear and effective specialist advice along with proactive and effective budget management have proven to be highly valuable to us on a number of occasions. We can say without hesitation that we highly recommend!

Jeremy Titchen – Rockhopper Real Estate Ltd

About Tim

Tim heads up the dilapidations department at our London office. A chartered surveyor by training, he works across the building surveying field, with an interest and wide-ranging expertise in the field of dilapidations.

Tim has provided strategic advice to clients including British Airways, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and DTZ Investors on significant developments, helping them overcome complexities to reach favourable outcomes.

About Brian

As the head of DPR’s measured survey department, Brian has over 30 years’ experience in the field and regularly provides expert advice on schemes ranging from domestic boundary establishment to large-scale, iconic city developments.

Brian strongly believes that the more complex a project, the greater the need for the quick provision of detailed, accurate information to navigate challenges and forge the best way forward for schemes. Committed to giving back to the industry, he also regularly gives Continued Professional Development (CPD) talks.

About Rahul

Rahul brings over 12 years of experience in the Rights of Light sector. With a Diploma in Engineering and expertise in programming languages like AutoLISP and C#, as well as software such as AutoCAD, Revit, Excel, Game Engine, and Radiance, Rahul leads our research and development programmes. He has a deep understanding of the latest technical guides in the industry, ensuring our services are aligned with current standards.

Rahul focuses on advancing our software, technical services, and presentation techniques to ensure we remain at the forefront of rights of light, daylight & sunlight, and environmental consultancy. His innovations enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and quality of our light analysis services.

About Jonathan

Jonathan specialises in providing strategic daylight and sunlight and rights of light advice. He draws upon more than eight years of experience in the industry to balance the maximisation of a site’s development potential against daylight and sunlight and rights of light risk. Jonathan has a proven track record in guiding clients though the often complex technical elements of the industry.

Jonathan holds a BSc (Hons) in Surveying and Mapping Science from Newcastle University. His portfolio includes work on high profile developments such as the North Quay and Wood Wharf Masterplans, New Scotland Yard and Bishopsgate Goods Yard. From 2019 to 2022 Jonathan provided key technical and strategic advice on a high-profile rights of light litigation case. The case was ultimately settled outside of court but pioneered the use of emerging technology within the rights of light field.

About Jessica

Based in our London office, Jessica assists clients on matters relating to daylight, sunlight and common law rights of light to support planning applications. She has previously held client advisory positions with specialist London practices and, over the past seven years, has developed a strong speciality in rights of light negotiations.

Jessica’s significant breadth of experience includes providing high level strategic advice and overseeing negotiations on projects ranging from some of London’s largest masterplan schemes, to smaller residential disputes. Bringing exceptional understanding of all aspects of rights of light matters, Jessica delivers clear and concise guidance on every client instruction.

About Amy

Based in our London office, Amy specialises in both daylight and sunlight for planning and common law rights of light. She has developed in-depth technical knowledge of all aspects relating to these matters and regularly provides strategic advice to both developers and neighbouring properties on a variety of commercial and residential instructions.

About Cathryn

Cathryn specialises in providing strategic rights of light advice and guidance on negotiations, bringing ten years’ industry experience. Her approach enables clients to maximise the development potential of their sites with confidence, whilst mitigating often complex rights of light risks.

Cathryn has led on a wide range of rights of light projects, including The Television Centre, Gateway, White City Place, One Creechurch Place, London Wall Place, Tottenham Hotspur Football Stadium, Canada Water Masterplan, and the Albert Bridge House Environmental Impact Assessment. She adds considerable value for clients and is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes on every project.

About Chris

Chris is based in our London office within the neighbourly matters team. With almost a decade’s expertise working for specialist neighbourly matters surveying firms, Chris has a wealth of experience in advising on large-scale residential and commercial developments. Bringing a deep understanding of both the Building Owners’ and Adjoining Owners’ perspectives under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, his extensive experience includes negotiating crane and scaffolding oversail licences for a variety of projects, ensuring smooth and successful outcomes.

Chris is also adept at preparing specialist Schedules of Condition for listed and vulnerable properties, a critical service that protects clients’ interests on some of London’s most significant developments. His portfolio includes managing large-scale developments, multiple basement excavations, and a wide array of neighbourly matters. Additionally, Chris has successfully negotiated asset protections and conducted precautionary Condition Surveys of Crossrail tunnels prior to the commencement of groundworks, reinforcing his ability to handle complex and high-stakes projects effectively.

About Sophie

Sophie specialises in rights of light and daylight and sunlight matters, consulting with private and public sector clients on a diverse range of commercial and residential projects of varying scales – from the initial pre-acquisition stage through to planning and construction. By identifying opportunities and risks associated with development sites, she can provide strategic advice to help maximise their potential.

Sophie acts for developers, architects, local authorities, commercial entities and private individuals and has worked on significant projects including Bollo Lane development by Barratt London, the London Olympia regeneration project, Temple Island Bristol development by Legal and General, and Woodberry Down development by Berkeley Homes. Previously, Sophie practised for over nine years at GIA and Avison Young.

About Veysel

Veysel works within our rights of light and planning teams from the London office. He is an experienced professional with expertise in the legal aspects of rights of light, daylight, sunlight and overshadowing for planning matters, particularly on commercial and residential developments.

Veysel brings a hybrid approach combining technical, theoretical, and practical expertise to assist clients holistically with analysis, review, reporting, negotiations and strategic advice at all stages.