Side extension against boundary

Mahsroh

Hi all,

Speculative at this stage but we're looking into options to extend our home in the future which (based on the fairly limited space we have) involves extending the building into the side passage and right up to the boundary. So the external wall to the house would effectively replace what is currently a brick boundary wall. The other side of said boundary is private land but is a shared access for 5 properties that are at the rear of our garden (so in effect a private road) but it's a pretty narrow. At the narrowest point roughly 3.5m from our boundary to the neighbours fence on the other side on their driveway.

In terms of a finished building I'm reasonably confident about planning (other properties in the area have done similar extensions) and lack of objection from neighbours including the 5 properties in question as it has little impact on them. But I am concerned about access / working space during Construction. It's the only vehicular access for the residents of those properties so we'd have to maintain access at all times. I don't think scaffolding would be an option, even if we had the okay from the land owner.

Has anyone come across similar problems / done home renovation projects working in such tight spaces or builders that have had to deal with similar? Can this easily be overcome? In my head I'm thinking the majority of brickwork can be done from our side of the boundary and rendering (which will be needed to match existing) would be a fairly short duration activity which could be done from a MEWP which can be moved fairly easily on demand to allow access (again, I realise this is subject to getting permission from the landowner etc.). Or am I living in cloud cuckoo land? Before I go too far down the line in putting our plans into action i'd just like to know that i'm not trying to do something that'd be virtually impossible.

Thanks all.

EssexExile

A scaffold tower? I had my own for many years, very useful.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6663272/side-extension-against-boundary

…would be a fairly short duration activity which could be done from a MEWP which can be moved fairly easily on demand to allow access (again, I realise this is subject to getting permission from the landowner etc.).

You'd need to be sure you will have that permission (i.e. already in a formal legal agreement) before committing to the build.

In the neighbour's position I would refuse access for the build, unless you signed an access agreement and paid a decent amount of compenstion up front.

Although you probably can't use it for the initial build, the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 could allow you to gain access in the future for maintenance work even if the neighbours don't agree.

I would want you to enter into an agreement which covers the issue of future access for maintenance, drafted in a way which would reduce the risk of you applying for an order under the Act (and costing me money), or causing me inconvenience.

The other thing to think about is it is rare to be able to build a property with the wall right on the boundary which doesn't have some feature (windows, eaves, boiler flues, extractor vents etc) which overhang the boundary. If you do build right up to the boundary then you might need a legal agreement to allow parts of the building to project over the neighbouring land.

There are two other issues. How will the rear of the house be drained - does the existing drain run under the side passage? And how will the builders access the rear garden with equipment and materials when the side passage has been built over? Will you mind them traipsing through the house all the time until the build is completed?

Mahsroh

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954871#Comment_81954871

You know, I previously thought of this and dismissed this because we're planning a two storey extension (I missed this point on the original post). but on reflection we've had roof repairs done off one before, so perhaps this is an option!

Albermarle

After it is finished, would you be left with no outside access to your rear outside space?

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954879#Comment_81954879

You'll still need permission to put it on the neighbouring land.

Also, there will be a cost implication - assuming you can even find a builder willing to do a project of this type using only a scaffold tower. Carrying materials and tools up and down a tower, and moving the tower itself, every time one of the neighbours wants to come or go, would add to the time and cost of the work.

More feasible - if you can get permission - would be to cantilever the scaffolding out over the driveway once it reaches a height where the scaffolding won't interfere with the driveway being used. A combination of ladder beams and putlogs in your new wall should be a possibility.

Mahsroh

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954876#Comment_81954876

Lots of questions there, most of which i've thought about.

Yes, aware of the need for legal agreements etc. I have a bit of a trump card though to deal with any push back (though I'm not sharing that here on a public forum), but one way or another i'm pretty confident about getting agreement from the landowner.

In terms of general access for maintenance, it's already in the title deeds about access (we've regularly carried out repairs, and more recently replacement of garden fence from that side access) although as you say covered by the Act anyway.

No windows / doors on that side (there is only one small window on the landing currently which would have to go, but wouldn't need any added, only on the rear (and potentially) front elevations. Only thing that could potentially overhang is the eaves, but then we'd just step in the extension by 100mm if needs be.

You are right about drainage, currently it does run down that side passage and that's something we'd need to look at.

I realise it's fraught with difficulties - as I say, speculative at this point

Mahsroh

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954900#Comment_81954900

Yes, unless we obtained agreement from the neighbouring land to put a gate with access on the side (undecided at this stage whether to pursue that avenue).

Mahsroh

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954902#Comment_81954902

I had thought of the cantilever option too but not sure how feasible that is.

Again, I'm aware of the need to get permissions. If we did go ahead with it we'd make sure that's all in place first.