Demolition and construction method statement
A step-by-step method statement explaining how structural demolition and construction will be carried out safely.
About this service
A method statement sets out, in order, how a structure will be taken down, held up and rebuilt. It answers the questions a Building Control officer, a party wall surveyor or a worried neighbour will ask: what comes out first, what holds the building up while it is missing, and what stops the work affecting the house next door. Written properly, it is also a practical document the site team follows day to day.
We are usually asked for one where the risk sits in the sequence rather than the finished design. Typical examples include removing a rear wall to form a full-width opening on a terrace, taking out a chimney stack shared with a neighbour, demolishing a back addition, or replacing a timber floor with a new structure while the walls above stay in place.
The statement builds on the approved structural design and, where needed, a temporary works and propping scheme. It covers the order of demolition, the position of props and needles, how load transfers onto new steelwork, and what must be checked before props come out. Every statement goes through our three-step quality control process, with final sign-off by our Head of Engineering.
When you need it
- Planning, Building Control or party wall surveyors require a method statement
- Your contractor needs a clear sequence for complex works
- Neighbours need reassurance on how works will proceed
What's included
- Construction and demolition sequence
- Temporary works and stability during works
- Protection of neighbours
- Monitoring recommendations
How it works
- Review the design and siteWe study the structural drawings, the existing building, site access and neighbouring properties. A visit confirms wall construction, joist directions and any defects that affect how safely parts can be removed.
- Plan the sequenceWe break the works into stages, from soft strip and demolition through excavation and new structure to removal of temporary support. Each stage states what must be in place before the next one starts.
- Detail stability and protectionWe specify temporary support, restraint to exposed walls, protection at boundaries and limits on heavy vibrating plant next to party walls. Monitoring points and trigger levels are proposed where movement is a concern.
- Issue and respondThe statement goes to you, your contractor and whoever requested it. We answer queries from Building Control, planning officers or party wall surveyors, and revise it if the contractor's preferred method changes.
What you receive
What makes a method statement acceptable to a party wall surveyor?
Surveyors acting for neighbours are not looking for generic health and safety wording. They want to see that the specific risks to their client's property have been thought through: how a shared wall stays supported when joists are cut, how deep excavations will go next to their foundations, and what happens if cracks appear. A statement that names the actual walls and stages carries far more weight than a template. Our party wall guide explains the notice process.
The statement only works if the contractor follows it. We recommend agreeing it with the builder before submission, because a sequence the site team finds impractical tends to be quietly abandoned. If the contractor wants different props, a different demolition order or machine digging instead of hand excavation, the statement should be updated first, not after the event.
Projects that used this service
Frequently asked questions
What is a construction method statement?
It is a written document explaining how a particular piece of construction or demolition will be carried out safely and in what order. For structural works it concentrates on stability: how the building stays up while parts are removed, how new elements go in, and how neighbours are protected. It is separate from the contractor's construction phase plan, which covers general site safety.
Who asks for a demolition method statement?
Requests usually come from Building Control, a planning condition or a party wall surveyor acting for a neighbour. Some contractors also want one simply because the sequence is not obvious. Where a planning condition is involved, the statement often forms part of a wider construction management plan, and the two need to agree.
Can my builder write the method statement?
Contractors often write their own for routine tasks, and that is fine. Where stability depends on the sequence, such as removing a load-bearing wall beneath occupied floors, an engineer's statement is usually expected because temporary loads and props need justifying by calculation. Many projects use both: our structural sequence alongside the contractor's own safety procedures.
How long does a method statement take to prepare?
Our typical turnaround is 10 working days, confirmed in writing with a fixed fee that starts from £750 + VAT. Having the approved structural drawings, the contractor's name and their preferred working methods at the start helps, because the statement can then describe how the job will genuinely be built.