The practice

Construction expertise on the ground. Drone technology in the air.

Proper Property Planning is a small, deliberately independent practice. You won't be passed to a junior — you'll work directly with the chartered surveyor and pilot delivering your project. That's the whole point.

Aerial drone view of a Proper Property Planning project Aerial portfolio · 2021

From client, contractor and consultant.

Throughout our principal's career, Paul Booker has worked as a client, a contractor and a consultant — giving him a genuinely unusual insight into the priorities, frustrations and pinch-points of every party at the table.

That perspective is invaluable when you're trying to keep a project on time, on budget and out of dispute. It's the reason high-profile clients across London, Suffolk and Norfolk continue to come back.

We work across residential, domestic, commercial, retail, community, heritage, healthcare, education, government and industrial sectors — from a single home extension to multi-million-pound public-sector schemes.

  • Independent — no developer ties, no kickbacks, just objective advice.
  • Chartered — FCIOB-led, with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators credential to match.
  • Aerial-equipped — CAA-authorised drone operations baked into the practice.
  • Long-term — we develop relationships, not just projects.
The team

Meet who you'll actually work with.

A small, tightly experienced team — every project is led personally by Paul, with Colin handling all aerial-survey work in-house.

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Paul Booker

Founder & Chartered Building Surveyor
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Beginning his career as an apprentice carpenter and joiner, Paul progressed to site and contracts management, then on to QS / Senior Contracts Manager and Senior Planner — where he could realise his passion for property and project management.

More recently Paul served as Regional Property Manager for Suffolk County Council, managing a portfolio of over 250 buildings across the county.

Paul brings a wealth of knowledge across residential, domestic, commercial, retail, community, heritage, healthcare and industrial sectors. Having worked as client, contractor and consultant, he has a unique and valuable insight into understanding the needs of customers, suppliers and collaborators from every angle.

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Colin Phelps

Drone Pilot & Aerial Surveyor
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Colin is our CAA-authorised drone operator, delivering 4K UHD aerial video and high-resolution photography across our roof, cladding and site-progress survey work.

Working hand-in-glove with the chartered surveyor, Colin's flights are planned and executed with the right defects, angles and elevations in mind from the outset — so the captured imagery is genuinely useful, not just pretty.

All flights are conducted with full PPE, NEBOSH-qualified site discipline and CAA-compliant flight planning.

Sectors served

Wherever bricks meet brief.

Our work spans a deliberately wide range of sectors — the underlying disciplines (programme, cost, quality, compliance) don't really care about the building's purpose.

Why work with us

Four decades. Same principles.

The construction industry has changed. Drone capture didn't exist when we started. But what makes a project successful hasn't shifted an inch.

On time

Programmes that account for reality, not best-case scenarios — and the on-site discipline to keep them on track.

On budget

Realistic costs up front. Tight cost management throughout. No nasty surprises in the final account.

To standard

Quality you can be proud of, signed off by a chartered surveyor, with the documentation to back it up.

Without drama

Clear communication, sensible decisions, and a relationship that lasts well beyond the snagging list.

Tell us about your project.

A free initial conversation — we'll listen, ask the right questions, and tell you straight whether we're the right fit.

Get in touch Call 07871 324440