Land Survey Ealing: What You Need
A topographical land survey in Ealing (W5 and W13) maps all natural and man-made features with accurate heights — the standard pre-design survey for planning, drainage, and construction in West London.
What Is Included in a Land Survey
| Category | Details | | --- | --- | | Building footprints | With eaves, ridge, and threshold levels | | Boundaries | Fences, walls, property lines | | Roads and paths | Kerbs, driveways, pavements, surface materials | | Vegetation | Tree positions, canopy spread, height where required | | Ground levels | Spot heights and contour lines (0.25m–0.5m intervals) | | Drainage | Covers, manholes, gullies, visible service markers | | Street furniture | Lamp posts, signs, bins, other features | | Level changes | Changes in ground level and embankments |
Survey Methods and Standards
| Aspect | Details | | --- | --- | | Equipment | Robotic total station and GNSS; laser scanning and drone available for complex sites | | Control and datum | Tied to Ordnance Survey National Grid (OSGB36) with OS benchmark | | Drainage add-on | GPR and EML for underground services tracing | | Standard | RICS Measured Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities specification |
Typical Deliverables
| Deliverable | Format | Details | | --- | --- | --- | | 2D CAD drawings | DWG or DXF | AutoCAD linework | | PDF plans | 1:200 or 1:500 scale | Planning-ready, often stamped | | 3D or BIM model | Revit RVT or Recap point cloud | When requested | | Spot level tables | CSV | For further analysis | | Contour maps | 0.25m or 0.5m intervals | With annotations | | Orthoimagery | Online portal | Site context photography |
2025 Costs in Ealing (W5 and W13)
| Site Type | Size | Cost (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | --- | | Small residential plot | ≤0.25 acre | £350–£600 | | Medium site (small development) | 0.25–1 acre | £600–£1,200 | | Large or complex site | 1–5 acres | £1,200–£2,500+ | | Day rate (surveyor plus drawings) | 1 day | ~£500 |
Residential plots in Ealing commonly fall in the £495–£750 + VAT range when local and straightforward, rising for dense vegetation, poor access, or complex boundaries.
What Affects Cost
| Factor | Impact | | --- | --- | | Site size | Larger sites cost more | | Terrain and access | Slopes, dense vegetation increase cost | | Feature density | Trees, drainage networks add time | | Contour interval | Tighter intervals (0.25m vs 0.5m) cost more | | Special requirements | Drone, GPR, or underground tracing add cost |
Timeline
| Stage | Duration | | --- | --- | | Site visit | Typically within a few days in West London | | Drawing delivery | 3–5 working days for standard plots; up to 1 week for medium sites | | Total | 1–2 weeks from instruction |
When You Need a Land Survey in Ealing
| Project | Land Survey Required? | | --- | --- | | Planning permission | Yes — Ealing Council expects accurate topo for anything beyond minor works | | New development | Yes — site layout and drainage design | | House extension | Required for sloping sites or complex boundaries | | Drainage design | Yes — levels and drainage features | | Listed building consent | Yes — boundary and level documentation | | Garden or landscape design | Yes — accurate ground levels and features |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What accuracy is achieved on a topographical survey in Ealing?
±10–20mm for ground features. Spot heights and contours are derived from the same OS coordinate framework.
Q: Do I need a topographical or measured building survey?
A topographical survey covers external land and ground levels. A measured building survey covers internal building dimensions. You may need both for an extension project.
Q: What scale are drawings produced at?
1:200 or 1:500 for planning submissions. Confirm with your architect or Ealing Council planning department.
Q: Can the survey include underground drainage?
Yes — GPR and EML tracing are available as an add-on for mapping underground services and drainage.
Q: Is the survey georeferenced?
Yes — all surveys are tied to Ordnance Survey National Grid (OSGB36) and Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN).