Double storey side extension without touching manhole

Bunti

Hi, I currently have 3 bedroom semi detached house with space on the left side (when facing the house) to extend into. I want to build a double storey side extension. Both me and my neighbours currently have a shared manhole on our boundary. I want to build an double storey extension on top of the area where the manhole is and so asked neighbour for permission to move the existing manhole and build a separate new manhole and new private drainage ( with approval from Thames water of course) for both the neighbour and myself (at no cost to the neighbour at all, I would pay full costs). In the long term having separate manholes would be beneficial for both of us. However neighbour is not giving me consent to do this. Neighbour is against any sort of compromise here so stuck at how best to proceed here

Note planning and building regulations have both been passed.

The neighbour is not giving me consent to move the existing manhole and therefore I have no option but to leave around 50cm-60cm gap on the side of the extension so there is still access to the manhole. Im not a fan of side access to the garden and so want to see what else I can do to work around this.

One thought I had was to maybe have an internal access to the same manhole from my house? This way I can build upto the boundary all the way apart from where the manhole is, at this point of the boundary the wall could go around the manhole and then back along the boundary again. Then have some sort of access to the manhole from my house perhaps using shutters or something? Just trying to think of other options

Would be grateful for any advise / suggestions here on how to still achieve as much of the double storey extension without touching the manhole

Thanks

Aylesbury_Duck

Might you be forced to lose even more floorspace by having to build well within the boundary? Can a wall be built right up to the manhole?

I can't see your suggested wall layout and access via some sort of shuttered cat-flap being a viable solution and probably not a permitted one, either.

Have you considered asking your neighbour what sum they would accept to allow you to exercise your preferred option? They might be amenable to "selling" the right to move the manhole to you.

ComicGeek

Looks like your neighbour is trying to prevent you building right up to the boundary, which I would also be doing in their situation. At the end of the day, it's normally money that makes things move forward - why should the neighbour get all of the grief and no benefit? Have a discussion with them and see if you could work out. Trying to work around the existing manhole is just a non-starter.

Sounds like you pressed ahead with bldg regs on the assumption that you can amend the existing drainage without agreeing it first with your neighbour. And what about the party wall agreement, is this also in place? I would have thought that agreeing the drainage amendments would be part of this process?

AndyMc.....

If it's a shared drain it's the responsibility of the water company. If they have given you build over permission then can the neighbour stop this?

ComicGeek

The problem is that the op isn't able to fully build over it, even if they got permission, as the manhole is half on their side and half on their neighbours side. It would need to be fully inside or fully outside the extension.

AndyMc.....

ComicGeek wrote: »

The problem is that the op isn't able to fully build over it, even if they got permission, as the manhole is half on their side and half on their neighbours side. It would need to be fully inside or fully outside the extension.

It wouldn't because it would be moved.

kerri_gt

We have this with our neighbours - they have extended out and their extension has an 'alcove' built into it so the manhole is still accessible and fully outside. They would still need to come onto our property if they needed access (however if one needed access...both would IYKWIM!) and if we ever extended the manhole would need to be moved fully. Extension was done in the late 80's so likely may not be allowed now though (It's also only single stoery not double)

Doozergirl

kerri_gt wrote: »

We have this with our neighbours - they have extended out and their extension has an 'alcove' built into it so the manhole is still accessible and fully outside. They would still need to come onto our property if they needed access (however if one needed access...both would IYKWIM!) and if we ever extended the manhole would need to be moved fully. Extension was done in the late 80's so likely may not be allowed now though (It's also only single stoery not double)

That sounds ridiculous! The pipe has to go somewhere and that's the most important thing, so the pipes are either under your respective houses or exceptionally close to the footing of said extension.

Bunti

Yes I've hired seperate party wall surveyors to agree on how best to work this. They are still in talks to come to an agreement.

Thanks for the suggestions and thoughts. Good to see things from different peoples points of views

I will ask neighbour if they would accept some compensation for the disruption they would face and see if they agree that way

Cheers

kerri_gt

Doozergirl wrote: »

That sounds ridiculous! The pipe has to go somewhere and that's the most important thing, so the pipes are either under your respective houses or exceptionally close to the footing of said extension.

Given that its been like that for so long and we're not planning extensions on our side any time soon....we're going to let that particular dog lie. It was certainly 'creative' for sure.

southcoastrgi

If they are being stubborn about a drain have you thought about you needing scaffolding on their side ?