As Autumn arrives and we move into the final quarter of 2026, it has been another productive period for Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors. From school building projects and residential property valuations to commercial surveying instructions and planning consultancy services, our team has continued to support clients across Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and the wider North West.
Education Projects Continue to Progress
Our school Building Consultancy and Building Surveying teams have remained busy throughout the third quarter, with projects progressing across Lancashire, Cumbria and the wider North West. Alongside supporting schools, academy trusts and dioceses, the team has been heavily involved in the delivery of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) projects and wider education-sector consultancy services.
Recent highlights include:
- Construction getting underway on the new teaching block at Little Lever School, Bolton.
- Continued progress on the accessibility improvements and ramp project at QEGS, Blackburn.
- Delivery of an external canopy project at St Wilfrid’s Church of England Academy, Blackburn.
- Flood reinstatement works at Bakewell Methodist Academy.
- CIF-funded projects delivered at many academy schools in locations such as Manchester, Keswick, Liverpool, Warrington, Oldham, Tameside, Burnley, Chorley etc.
Alongside project delivery, the team has continued to support diocesan schools and academy trusts with School Condition Allocation (SCA) projects, condition surveys and building consultancy advice, helping clients identify maintenance requirements, plan future improvements and secure funding for essential works.
The team has also recently been instructed to undertake the valuation of a portfolio of schools on behalf of a Multi Academy Trust, further strengthening an already busy workload across the education sector.
With the next round of CIF funding opportunities on the horizon, preparations are already underway to support schools with future bids and improvement projects.
Residential Surveys & Valuations
The Residential Survey and Valuation team has remained consistently busy throughout the quarter, with strong demand for RICS Level 2 Home Surveys, Building Survey Reports and Valuation Reports across Lancashire and the wider North West.
Lea Hough has continued to support homeowners, buyers, lenders and housing providers with residential surveys and valuations, delivering clear advice to help clients make informed decisions.
A particular success this quarter was securing a new three-year valuation framework agreement with a housing provider following a competitive tender process, further strengthening Lea Hough’s position within the residential property sector.
Commercial Property & Building Consultancy
Our Commercial Property Surveyors have remained busy across a broad range of projects and instructions throughout the North West.
Recent activity includes:
- Refurbishment works at Padiham Working Men’s Club approaching completion.
- Further instructions have been received to undertake Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) surveys, including projects for L’Arche in South London and Liverpool.
- Commencement of works at properties in Burnley through the HAZ (High Streets Heritage Action Zone) scheme.
- Schedule of condition at Liberal Café in York city centre.
- Commercial property surveys, building inspections and consultancy instructions across Lancashire and the wider North West.
- Quinquennial Inspection Reports for Methodist churches across the region.
- Ongoing project management and building consultancy commissions for a variety of commercial and community properties.
The team continues to provide surveying, project management and property consultancy services, helping clients make informed decisions on acquisition, development and long-term asset management. The team has also benefited from an increasing number of instructions in well-connected city-centre locations, including Liverpool and York, enabling efficient project delivery while further expanding the firm’s geographical reach.
Land Registration Plans & Measured Surveys
The team has remained busy, supporting clients with planning applications, Land Registry-compliant plans and development consultancy services across a range of projects.
Recent work has included:
- Preparing Land Registry-compliant plans for many clients. This included plans for ten plots at a new-build residential development in Darwen.
- Measured survey and drawings of a large hotel in Keswick.
- Supporting demolition and planning-related work at a commercial site in Kirkham.
The team continues to provide practical advice on planning and development matters, supporting residential and commercial projects at various stages across the North West.
Team Growth & Company Updates
Alongside project activity, we have continued to invest in our people and support the growth of the practice.
Earlier this quarter, we welcomed Oliver Kendrick to Lea Hough as a Graduate Building Surveyor. He has already made an excellent start towards achieving his APC as he progresses towards chartership.
We also welcomed Maisie Smith to the firm as our newly created Business Development and Marketing Graduate role. Working across our Blackburn and Buckshaw Village offices, Maisie supports marketing, communications and business development activities, helping to raise awareness of Lea Hough’s services and support the firm’s continued growth.
We’ve also seen a continued increase in positive client reviews, reflecting the high standards of service delivered across the practice and the trust placed in us by clients throughout the region.
Away from project work, members of the Lea Hough team attended the Endeavour Learning Trust Awards 2026 at Park Hall Hotel, Chorley. As one of the sponsors, we were proud to celebrate the achievements of pupils, staff and schools from across the trust.
With a strong pipeline of work and several significant projects underway, the final months of 2026 look set to be another busy period for the Lea Hough team. We look forward to supporting clients across Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and the wider North West, and sharing further updates in our next quarterly highlights.
