New Build Wall

teachfast

No wall at all seems better?

Cris123

teachfast said:

No wall at all seems better?

That would leave the garden open, I have young children so this isn't an option unfortunately

tinytiddles

I reckon that’s a dwarf retaining wall to help with terracing your back garden rather than a full 6ft job. Some of the garden plans around here had lines right across them but they were actually about 3-4 bricks high to help level off a steep garden. 

Cris123

tinytiddles said:

I reckon that’s a dwarf retaining wall to help with terracing your back garden rather than a full 6ft job. Some of the garden plans around here had lines right across them but they were actually about 3-4 bricks high to help level off a steep garden. 

Its a small wall with pillars and fence (1.8m), the garden slopes slightly from the garage towards the house.

Cris123

moneysavinghero said:

Firstly, congratulations on choosing Persimmon, a fine choice.

You would probably find it difficult to get them to change the plans and you would likely have to pay the extra costs involved. Does the wall run near to a road and a corner? It may have to be set back to increase visibility for drivers

Do you know if they would have to resubmit plans or is it a decision they could make, I would be happy to pay reasonable additional costs

princeofpounds

You are right to want to clarify this before getting too involved. Normally it is best practice to fence to the full extent of your land. Whilst that's probably not a huge issue in this instance, as you won't have a neighbour 'adopting' your land, you may find your future actions around establishing physical boundary features are restricted by covenants common on new build estates.

If you own one of a few publicly accessible spots of lawn then you might risk becoming the local dog toilet, that's one thing.

If it's not a retaining wall, it's quiet strange to have a boundary wall in that position, separating you from some of your lanscaping.

What is the 'V' feature? A bus stop? A visitor's parking space? Wondering if there may be plans for a telephone cabinet, or drain junction, or something similar in this open space.

Cris123

princeofpounds said:

You are right to want to clarify this before getting too involved. Normally it is best practice to fence to the full extent of your land. Whilst that's probably not a huge issue in this instance, as you won't have a neighbour 'adopting' your land, you may find your future actions around establishing physical boundary features are restricted by covenants common on new build estates.

If you own one of a few publicly accessible spots of lawn then you might risk becoming the local dog toilet, that's one thing.

If it's not a retaining wall, it's quiet strange to have a boundary wall in that position, separating you from some of your lanscaping.

What is the 'V' feature? A bus stop? A visitor's parking space? Wondering if there may be plans for a telephone cabinet, or drain junction, or something similar in this open space.

Thanks, the V is a visitor parking space

Section62

Cris123 said:

Thanks, the V is a visitor parking space

Is the road being adopted?

If the alignment of the wall is changed it will make it a longer wall to build, and hence more expensive.  I'd expect the developer to want some extra money, or a quid pro quo of some kind.  That will be greater if planning consent/signoff is needed for the change.

Regardless of whether or not formal planning consent is required, you need to see in writing that the planning authority have been asked and agreed to the change.  Don't rely on the developer's word that it is Ok.

Worst case scenario is this little triangle of land has been included as 'green space' within the public realm for the purpose of calculating overall percentages of land use within the development.  If moving the wall has a significant effect on the calculations it might be a no-go.

Section62

princeofpounds said:

If it's not a retaining wall, it's quiet strange to have a boundary wall in that position, separating you from some of your lanscaping.

It is a perfectly normal feature of new developments in the modern era.

Historically there was usually a clear definition of what was public and what was private, and boundary features were built or planted on that line.

Now the lines have been blurred and things which used to be public (e.g. a grass verge or other landscaping) will often be incorporated into the adjacent property's ownership.

The costs of maintaining those areas - traditionally borne by the taxpayer - get offloaded onto the buyers of the new-build development.  Buyer beware.

p00hsticks

Are those existing trees on the plan ? I wonder if moving the wall closer to them would either a) damage the tree roots or b) mean that the tree roots woudl eventually damage the wall.