Front garden - party wall boundary query

JuliaMary_2

Hello - new neighbour (although never moved in) is a property developer.  
Live in semi-detached 1940s house. Front gardens have bushes and small green lawn with driveways to far side on each.  Very small (few inches high) concrete divider between middle of two properties - there were bushes also either side forming a boundary.
Got home from work yesterday and tree company were just packing up - they had torn out all bushes and greenery on neighbours side, the concrete divider was gone and they had also hacked into and over our bushes which went up to the dividing line.
I asked them what they were doing and they said neighbour wants drive/parking in front garden so they have cleared for same. I said I had not been advised or agreed on any work on party wall area but they told me neighbour would be putting up new divider/fence or wall and that it was standard to take a bit more to make space to lay driveway and my bushes would 'grow back'.
I now have huge gaps in the boundary of bushes - on my side - running between two and have no idea what the neighbour is planning to build on boundary, which seems to have crept a foot or so into my side. Whilst I'm all for people improving their properties I don't think it reasonable to do it at the expense of mine. 
I can't get hold of neighbour as he doesn't live there and tree company have now left.  
We had difficulties during other building work where neighbour pulled down party wall in back and despite speaking to him at time he basically ignored us and carried on.  
I'd just like to know what our rights are, if any regarding front garden boundaries and what, if anything, we can do.

ThisIsWeird

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, call them up right away.

Your neighb is clearly an entitled 'ole.

In general, tho', they are entitled to do with their land what they wish. But, they are not entitled to come over the boundary line, so record what is happening now with plenty of photos.

I'd also try and confirm where - exactly - the boundary line is, and this should be relatively easy with semis - it's the exact middle of where they join. So double-check using measurements from matching windows, or whatever other features there are. Does this correspond with the centre of the removed brick line?

Ok, I suspect this neighbour will try and position this new fence down the middle of this boundary line, so straddling the boundary, claiming it's a 'party' or 'shared' fence and boundary - do not let them. A party or shared fence needs to be agreed by both parties, and you want the status quo restored (oxymoron?!). He can do what he wants, but only on his land, so the backs of his new fence posts can touch this 'line', but mustn't come over it.

Be ready to communicate this is a clear, matter-of-fact manner. "That's the boundary line, isn't it? Good. On this side of that line is my property, and you do not have my permission to go on to it." Have this witnessed, or have your phone set to record.

"You saw fit to begin this work without the basic courtesy of talking it over with me first, and now there's all this mess and damage, much of it on my land. Do you really think I'm now going to allow you to put your property on land you have damaged on my side?"

He will lose at least 4" of land, and you will have gained half the width of the old divider.

Do you have CCTV at your house, or even a doorbell camera that covers this area? If not, consider one.

I suspect the neighb won't turn up, but the builders will, so make it clear to them that they are NOT to cross over the central boundary line - that is YOUR property, and you are refusing permission. If they now try and do so, it will be 'trespass with criminal property damage', and you WILL call the local police. Stand there if you must, and prevent them access whilst you call the police there and then. Or place planters, pots and troughs along the line, fully sitting on your side but edging up to the 'line' - "Don't you DARE touch these plants!"

Assuming the builders then call your neighbour to discuss this with you, be fair and reasonable; acknowledge that he can put a fence up on his land if he wishes, but to not cross over on to your side. Add that you are 'deeply disappointed' (or your own words) that he began this work without discussion - the more calmly you deliver that line, the more effect it should have. He needs to know he's made a very poor start with his new neighbour.