Can I build anything adjacent to other half of semi's conservatory?

meanmum

Hi, I'm looking at a property (30s 3 bed semi) where the other half of the semi already has a large (at least 3m deep) conservatory coming off the rear bay window, and is about 6" from the shared boundary. We'd like to be able to extend out to the same sort of depth, but are there likely to be limitations just because they got there first? Of course we wouldn't want to fall out with the new neighbours, but just wondering what would be permissible without planning permission. If we only extended out to 3m as a single storey, would we even need to inform the planning department or go through neighbourhood consultation?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Furts

You have Permitted Development Rights covering this and in principle you should be OK. In practice you would be foolish to ignore consultation with the neighbour.

You would also be unwise to go ahead with your proposals without seeking professional help on design, drainage, construction, Regulations etc.

audigex

As neither of you are going up to the boundary, you are not sharing a boundary wall etc, then you can in theory do whatever you would do if their conservatory wasn't there.

In practice, as Furts said, you should get professional advice and it's worth talking to your neighbour. At the end of the day they can hardly object to you extending to the same extent as them, but it's worth discussing.

Furts

audigex wrote: »

As neither of you are going up to the boundary, you are not sharing a boundary wall etc, then you can in theory do whatever you would do if their conservatory wasn't there.

In practice, as Furts said, you should get professional advice and it's worth talking to your neighbour. At the end of the day they can hardly object to you extending to the same extent as them, but it's worth discussing.

I have recently been working on a similar scenario. Here I advised the new owners to build their new works about 50mm further out than the neighbours. This meant when they looked out they could not see the neighbours conservatory. This gave an illusion of a space in the back gardens.

meanmum

Thanks everyone, all helpful comments. I may even speak to the neighbours before putting an offer in, to see if this is likely to be a huge obstacle.
Is there any guidance on the amount of gap to leave between the 2 extensions? I'm thinking they'll need access to clean their windows - but they should have thought of that before building so close to the boundary........

JuzaMum

If you are digging near your neighbours foundations you may need a party wall agreement.
I looked on Google and a site that said an agreement is needed if
"You plan on excavating within 3 metres of a neighbouring building or structure to a depth more than their existing foundations" and
"You plan to build a new wall or structure ON or immediately adjacent to the boundary with another property"

Furts

meanmum wrote: »

Thanks everyone, all helpful comments. I may even speak to the neighbours before putting an offer in, to see if this is likely to be a huge obstacle.
Is there any guidance on the amount of gap to leave between the 2 extensions? I'm thinking they'll need access to clean their windows - but they should have thought of that before building so close to the boundary........

Bear in mind that you too should be leaving a gap. You will have a verge, or gutter, or soffit, or downpipe, or whatever that will need maintenance.

This is the scenario that exists in my post #4. Add to which the neighbours had moved the boundary fence, to their advantage and making space more of an issue- but that is another story!

Furts

JuzaMum wrote: »

If you are digging near your neighbours foundations you may need a party wall agreement.
I looked on Google and a site that said an agreement is needed if
"You plan on excavating within 3 metres of a neighbouring building or structure to a depth more than their existing foundations" and
"You plan to build a new wall or structure ON or immediately adjacent to the boundary with another property"

But being pragmatic a 45 degree line should be struck out from the bottom of the neighbours foundation to see where the bearing is.

Hence the Party Wall Act is a little more than people sometimes imagine.

In my post #4 nobody raised the topic of the Party Wall Act. I did not as both parties were elderly and would have worried about such things. I did the job, it was correct, and everybody is happy in their ignorance.

meanmum

Oh heck, this is all getting a bit complicated! Who knows what sort of foundations they have under their conservatory.......
Re the gap, if we were to build a similar distance from the boundary, there would be an approx 30cm gap, which seems quite small.
In their shoes, I would not be happy with a solid wall being built so close to the conservatory windows. Equally, I'm not sure I'd want windows looking straight across to their conservatory, even when both are frosted.

Furts

meanmum wrote: »

Oh heck, this is all getting a bit complicated! Who knows what sort of foundations they have under their conservatory.......
Re the gap, if we were to build a similar distance from the boundary, there would be an approx 30cm gap, which seems quite small.
In their shoes, I would not be happy with a solid wall being built so close to the conservatory windows. Equally, I'm not sure I'd want windows looking straight across to their conservatory, even when both are frosted.

I do not know your scenario but the typical acceptable detail would be;

The neighbour does not have clear glazing in the end of their conservatory adjacent to boundary. If they did they would be looking straight into the next garden.

If glazing does exist there would be the boundary fence still present providing a screen height of 1800mm. Hence the neighbour has glass but no view into the next garden. It follows that a gap will exist between the conservatory and the fence.

If the latter is the case and you are thinking of removing the fence and building you have a potential problem. For a start who owns the fence? It might be the neighbour! And guess what the answer is likely to be...

But I referred to professional input - this includes the Party Wall Act, it may mean a new higher fence, it may mean a rendered light coloured end on your extension to reflect light back to the neighbour...to give a few thoughts.

My building was 50mm past the line of the neighbour but it also did not go up to the boundary. Plus as a goodwill gesture I did repairs to the neighbours conservatory roof and house guttering. There was never going to be any complaints from them after that - I was their friend!

meanmum

Their side windows have some frosted glass, but the fence is only 1m high - so they can easily overlook the garden from their conservatory. Even putting up a higher fence might be an issue for them......I think the first thing to do is talk to them.......it's not worth falling out with the neighbours for the sake of an extension.