Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Can I build a full-width extension over part of shared driveway?

29 replies

YourDenimWriter · 10/08/2026 16:34

I've added photos of my land title (left hand side) and neighbours land title (right hand side), and screenshot of where I plan to build. The black lines are my intended extension, the red dashed lines show where my fence sits.

If I extend as full width of the home, I will block half of my garage, which is fine as I don't use my garage for my car.

Land registry shows that half of shared driveway is within my boundary, but neighbour has right of access, and vice versa with his.

Where it gets murky is, is where does the shared boundary end? For example, you will see from the Google maps screenshot, the neighbour has also extended (perhaps decades ago), and it is full width before the diagonal bit.

The registry states this: "The land tinted pink on the filed plan has the benefit of rights of drainage through the drains and sewers lying under adjoining land leading into the main sewer and a right of way over the part of the side passageway not included in the title."

Any help would be appreciated here.

P.S. A house opposite has done exactly what I plan to do: they have extend out and full width of house amd blocked half of their garage.

Can I build a full-width extension over part of shared driveway?
Can I build a full-width extension over part of shared driveway?
Can I build a full-width extension over part of shared driveway?
OP posts:
YourDenimWriter · 14/08/2026 10:53

slamfightbrightlight · 14/08/2026 06:42

We have an almost identical set up minus the garages. Next door have done the same as you OP, extended straight back from the existing line of their house. They didn’t apply for planning (another story but not an issue for us). We are planning a similar extension, 3m across the back and haven’t yet been advised of any issues. I think not having the garages helps as there’s nothing to access bar the gardens and that is maintained by keeping the property boundary in line with the existing left hand side of the house.

However on the same street I know a problem occurred where the left hand house took its garage down and installed a fence to square off their garden, which came up along the boundary line and then joined to the rear right hand corner of the house. The right hand house still has its garage albeit unused for cars and fenced off. When the right hand house was sold, new owners protested the left hand house’s fence as blocking their access. Title deeds on both sides were unhelpful but eventually it was established that access had to be maintained up to 56ft from the front boundary line. I have no idea if this is some kind of standard or not! The fence will eventually have to come down.

Where your title says “side passageway not shown in title” is it referring to that little sliver of land which angles towards their garage in the title plan? Would that explain why your neighbour has had to angle their extension so as not to encroach on your land? I’d so I think bar the drainage issue which will need advice, I’m not sure the area you’re planning to build on is covered by the right of way?

Helpful to hear of real experiences, thanks.

So the neighbours extension was done before the current occupants move in, sometime during the 80s I think. I also think that little bend they have in their extension is because the previous occupants did use the garage for their car, so it's easier to go in. No way a modern car fits in there, and even without my proposed extension, the turning circle is small I can't see how a modern car can fit in there or even through the passage. I certainly haven't attempted it.

The Registry doesn't make clear where the side passage actually begins and ends. Technically, isn't the neighbour encroaching by going full width with their extension before the angle?

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 14/08/2026 11:00

MissMoneyFairy · 13/08/2026 21:59

That could cause problems if you ever decide to sell

That was my first thought too. It's a totally mad idea. In any case I can't see you would be allowed to build over a shared driveway. But seek legal advice

MrsMoastyToasty · 14/08/2026 11:05

If you want to build over a public sewer you will need to get a build over agreement from the company that provides sewerage services for your area. The alternative (if it's possible) is a sewer diversion.
Both cost £££.
That aside. Have you spoken to the neighbour?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

slamfightbrightlight · 14/08/2026 11:10

Viviennemary · 14/08/2026 11:00

That was my first thought too. It's a totally mad idea. In any case I can't see you would be allowed to build over a shared driveway. But seek legal advice

But she’s not proposing to build over the shared drive. She’s proposing to extend out from the back of her own property matching the existing width of her own house. The right of way only exists over “the part of the side passageway not included in the title”. I think that’s the part you need to get advice on OP alongside the drainage, to establish what constitutes the “side passageway”.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread