The role of a chartered surveyor is situated in a vast and ever changing landscape. A job that is commonly misunderstood, the title of a chartered surveyor is an encompassing term for a variety of different professions all linked to advising on landed property. This can be any role, from surveying roads and advising companies on the potential of land and assets, to inspecting homes on the market and making decisions on major infrastructure work.
The work of chartered surveyors is all around us. Take for instance, the London skyline. The constant evolution of our vast and popular capital city is down to the team of chartered surveyors who work to meet the economic, travel, business and leisure needs of a modern metropolis.
London’s skyline is a mark of the varied and creative work of chartered surveyors. The fantastic variety of buildings shows how chartered surveyors unlock the potential of the urban landscape to enhance a city on not just a practical level, but aesthetically too.
Look at these iconic marks on the London skyline, and their involvement with chartered surveyors:
- The Gherkin – recognised for its gleaming glass structure and unique shape, this landmark was sold for £700 million in 2014, with a chartered surveyor carrying out technical due diligence before the sale.
- The Walkie Talkie – Fenchurch Street’s striking glass structure was calculated as having a gross rental value of £21.8 million by a valuation surveyor.
- The Shard – perhaps one of the most famous buildings on the skyline today, here the head of facilities management is responsible for the running of the building, including the safety of the occupiers across all 72 floors.
- Tower 42 – London’s first skyscraper, here the office leasing is managed by a commercial property surveyor.
- One Canada Square – Canary Wharf is where the real business gets underway, and this building is part of a large property portfolio planned by management consultancy surveyors, a group who maximise property assets for some of the world’s biggest corporations.
As you can see, London wouldn’t be the city we know today without the skills of chartered surveyors. The variety of tasks they complete is vast, but with the same goal: leading the growth of development.
In today’s world, one of the primary issues chartered surveyors face is development in the face of the scarce and rapidly diminishing supply of the earth’s natural resources. In the midst of the planets green movement, it’s vital that chartered surveyors find ways of meeting modern demands whilst preserving the earth’s valuable resources for future generations.
Land and property need to be professionally managed so that the best results are achieved. Surveyors need to consider global, social, economic and environmental factors when ensuring a project reaches its full potential. The future lies in being connected, and chartered surveyors ensure we are connected through infrastructure. To be a chartered surveyor is to help shape the future of not only our land and property, but the way we work, the way we travel and the way we live.