Building Consultancy

The Building Consultancy Team

David Apthorp

T +44 20 7747 0190M +44 79 6871 7001

David Apthorp

I am an Equity Partner at Levy Real Estate and Head of Building Consultancy and Project Management Department. I am a Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years experience.
We offer a board range of tailored advice covering commercial and residential project management, dilapidations and diligence acquisition surveys. We work for both landlords and occupiers and recent projects include the fitting out of Jupiter Assets Management office for £ 7 million, New Wine Bar for the Hambro Family, and refurbishment of the BVA head office. Although we carry out projects across the UK, the majority of our projects are in central London.
Away from the office I am a competitive sailor and will be found on the Solent or in the bars of Hamble, when not riding my bicycle following my wife on her horse in the New Forest.

T +44 20 7747 0190M +44 79 6871 7001
Gary Barlow

T +44 020 7747 0191M +44 78 8905 4648

Gary Barlow

I am a Partner at Levy Real Estate working within the Project Management and Building Consultancy Team.
As a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 15 years’ experience, I provide my Clients with professional and considered advice in core the surveying disciplines. I specialise in Project Management and Contract Administration, with expertise in commercial fit-outs and high-end residential refurbishments.
I am a keen cyclist, who endures the battle of the daily commute; however, my real passion is mountain biking, hitting the trails whenever possible, if I’m not riding at the weekend, I’m usually in training for various endurance running events.

T +44 020 7747 0191M +44 78 8905 4648
Ian Golbourn

T +44 207 747 0192M +44 791 722 0788

Ian Golbourn

I recently joined Levy as a Partner in the Building Consultancy and Project Management Team, after spending 15 years at Colliers International, three as a Director in their Building Surveying team.
I undertake the full spectrum of Building Surveying disciplines, but my specialism lies in technical due diligence (building surveys) on all manner of building types, uses and ages.
I provide detailed but commercially succinct reporting to a range of UK and foreign investors, institutions, funds and property companies, and have provided the pre-acquisition advice on a number of landmark instructions including:
The £1billion purchase of 5 Broadgate, home to UBS, in 2018, which was the largest single property transaction in the UK that year.
The £550million purchase of the Famous Art Deco Adelphi Building at 1-11 John Adam Street, for Pontegadea, owned by the founder of Zara in 2018.
The £55million purchase of Richard Branson former residence at 9 Holland Park in 2016, which was the biggest residential property sale that year.
I also have extensive experience in the industrial sector, where I have helped acquire and refurbish a number of large estates across the South East, providing a complete service from acquisition.
Away from the office most of my time is spent with my young family, where we enjoy walks and pub lunches locally in Epping Forest, or in the Cotswolds when away. I enjoy watching any type of sport and reading sporting biographies.

T +44 207 747 0192M +44 791 722 0788
Libby Osborn

Executive Assistant

T +44 207 747 0197 M +44 7899 900 042

Libby Osborn

Executive Assistant

I joined Levy Real Estate in September 2022 as the Executive Assistant to the Building Consultancy Team.
My degree in Architectural Technology attracted me to the role and allows me to use my knowledge to assist the team. My role includes creating marketing materials, organising events, and also offering support to the rest of the office.
Outside of work I spend my time between London and Kent. I enjoy paddleboarding when it is not freezing and skiing when it is!

T +44 207 747 0197 M +44 7899 900 042

Project Management

We combine our wealth of experience alongside the latest software to deliver projects on time, on budget and to the quality our clients expect.

We also provide expert advice and support throughout your project, from feasibility and conceptual studies, through to detailed design and construction ensuring that your building works for you.

Our expert project managers are Prince II qualified and have extensive experience in construction, fit out and refurbishment. Alongside that they are all highly experienced in commercial premises, luxury residential and high-end retail units.

Dilapidations

Dilapidations principally concern a tenant’s failure to conform to certain express and/or implied obligations within their lease, thereby committing a breach of covenant.

Levy Real Estate are experts in dilapidations providing landlords and tenants with strategic advice on lease termination and dilapidation liabilities, working within the strict guidelines of the dilapidations protocol set out by the Property Litigation Association and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Acting for landlords and tenants, we offer professional advice to assist in determining a fair assessment of loss and working to minimise overall costs for our clients. We are happy to meet with you to provide initial advice and costs with regard to any dilapidations claim.

Click here to view our dilapidations track record.

Technical Due Diligence Surveys

As Chartered Building Surveyors, we are experts in undertaking Technical Due Diligence surveys for prospective purchasers or occupiers.

With a technical working knowledge of most types of building we’re able to provide you with considered commercial advice and survey reports outlining essential information about a building’s condition.

Our reports are tailored to your objectives and requirements including issues like material testing, insurance, warranties and alterations.

Click here for more on due diligence building surveys and for examples of the range of properties we are experienced in.

Planned Preventative Maintenance Surveys

Planned Preventative Maintenance Programmes (PPMs) identify and quantify a programme of works to the fabric and services of a building over a prescribed period of time – usually 5-20 years. An accurate PPM survey provides information that enables the preparation of a bespoke plan of action to ensure that a building’s condition (and therefore its value as an asset) is preserved, or even increased.

Levy Real Estate offers detailed strategic advice on the maintenance of your asset using bespoke reporting formats. By doing so we can produce different levels of schedule to suit your exact requirements and deliver in your preferred reporting format.

Cost Consultancy

Efficient cost management is essential to all building projects, to ensure financial viability and commercial success.

Whether your project is a new development or the refurbishment of an existing building, we will work with you from feasibility and procurement to on-site management and the final account stages. Alongside that process, we also assist in exploring development options to ensure your project meets its financial objectives.

Using our expert knowledge and experience alongside the latest costing software we’re able to provide the best advice for financial planning during construction and life cycle expenditure of your building.

Party Wall Matters

The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 gives property owners rights to undertake work to a shared wall, when enclosing upon, excavating near or building adjacent to the boundary line. The Act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes, along with mechanisms for recovering costs.

We are able to provide you with professional advice on all neighbourly matters and have extensive knowledge of the Party Wall Act plus experience in dispute resolution across all types of neighbourly matters, including oversailing and scaffold licences.

This experience enables us to protect our clients’ interests, whether they are building owners or adjoining owners.

Reinstatement Cost Assessments

Most insurers require a formal Reinstatement Cost Assessment (RCA), this is a calculation of the cost to rebuild your property in the event that it is destroyed by fire or other disaster.

We undertake RCA survey and provide reports based on our vast experience, live project data and the industry standard Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).

With experience in assessing residential, industrial and commercial buildings, we are able present detailed information as required by your insurer.

Levy Real Estate’s Building Consultancy team offer a full range of professional building surveying and professional services, which we tailor to suit our client’s specific requirements.