New neighbour has asked us to stop construction on new home until daughter has finished exams.

[Grammarninja]

This is such a tricky one for me. We bought a house that needed a complete overhaul a year ago. We've finally gotten through architects, planning permission and trying to find affordable builders etc. It has been stressful.
We broke ground this week and the neighbours have asked us to stop until dd has finished her exams in 3 weeks.
I really feel for the family and can't imagine how upsetting it must be for them at this crucial time (we had no idea they had a child sitting exams this summer). My husband has offered them an office at his work around the corner to facilitate study. I wouldn't mind postponing if it wouldn't cost us 30k to do so as builders are working to a set time frame. I wouldn't even mind the extra costs we'd incur through having to stay in our current accommodation for another month if it weren't for the builders' costs which we simply can't afford.
I'm worried now that we're going to start off on a terrible note with our new neighbours which would be such a shame considering my current neighbours are like family.
Are we being unreasonable to continue with the build in these circumstances?

There's a compromise to be had here. Explain the cost of a delay and that you just can't change the dates. But you can insist builders will be considerate in terms of necessary noise e.g. only within permitted hours, usually 8am - 6pm , and not on weekends, no blaring talkback radio or shouting (make this VERY clear to builders, give as much advance notice as possible of particularly noisy work like drilling through concrete or whatever - the builders should be able to plan when they are doing that sort of work and for how long it will last.

Offer the noise cancelling headphones (good ones) and the use of the office and just see what they say. Ask if there are any key dates they are particularly worried about such as day before an exam, in case you can schedule quieter work for then. Stay in touch to see how they are feeling during the build, do what you reasonably can about anything they say. Basically sound as considerate as possible but well short of not doing the work at all.

Loads of young people have to study in far from ideal circumstances including living in overcrowded homes, temporary accommodation or kids sharing rooms etc and do well, so whilst this isn't great they are possibly being a bit dramatic about it.

Also, your expectations of neighbourhood relations being 'like family' or 'lovely' are too high. Most neighbours are simply polite from a distance friendly waves etc and don't want anything more. Anything more is a bonus but don't be too overly friendly or excessively fawning or you'll come across as a bit weird!.

Why what would you do?

Come on here and have a little moan that your kids arent everyone's top priority?

What do you think the OP should do then? Suck up the £30k?

If they were stupid enough to make such a unreasonable and entitled request, yes.

Play silly games, win silly prizes.

I agree with this. It’s awful timing for the poor kid.

It's a 4 month build costing 550k. Booked as of March when we finally managed to secure a builder. 3 weeks delay will cost at least 30k.
We didn't tell neighbours exactly when it would start because we weren't really sure, depended on builders availability (incredibly difficult to get builders where we live) , but they asked us to send the plans as they found it more difficult to view them online (which we did) and knew it was imminent.

Don’t be so silly. These things take time, and the Op didn’t even know the neighbours had a dd!

Some nasty people on this thread. Interesting that everyone purports to value education so much usually and now for this poor child, that’s out of the window. I think you could delay if you really wanted to, OP. Think about how you’d feel if this was your child in a few years’ time. I’d hate to have you and your project next door to me - no one else wants to listen to your building work! Incredibly selfish of you. Beware karma! And you’ll ruin the relationship before you start. What a shame, their DC could have been a good babysitter for you as time went on!

Christ but some people are wild about exams

One chance at gcses simplt isnt true

And if a lack of resilience is what got them failed in the first place then you have bigger things going on

Did you let your neighbours know in advance that you would be having work done, and for how long? Of this was a surprise to them, I’m not surprised they have taken it badly.

What consideration for others and civility is a modern thing is it? The neighbour asked probably on the off chance as exams are pretty important in most people's lives.

Nobody ever wants to listen to building work. Fact.

But it must happen.

Theres a roofer three doors down atm, i wfh and am needing to do an important presentation.

Ideal? Fuck no

Would i suggest they stop to accommodate me? Fuck no

Feel quite sorry for the lassie. I would offer to pay for her to have some sort of hotel or office space to study in to make up for it

I had to put up with noise while revising during my finals (very loud reggae in the basement - I went and pulled the plug out in the end), and many times while in student accommodation (more loud music), but I got through. She will have to learn to adapt at some point.
Someone said you can only take GCSEs once, but that's not true - you can resit in the autumn if you fail any.

Ha, I’m an 80s kid and my parents scheduled building works while I had my GCSEs…
The builders used to ask how my exams had gone each day, it was quite sweet really.

I am surprised at how much emphasis I see put on GCSEs on here these days - they’re a means to an end for A Levels/Apprenticeships, but not really such a big deal in their own right. It does feel like the culture around them has changed.

No you wouldnt

And if true, youre a mug.

They’ve offered office space, it’s in the OP.

Bloody hell, precious much! I truly hope you’re joking I have a DS doing GCSE’s now too. I don’t expect the world to stop for him and his exams.

Have you ever got plans done applied for planning and found builders
if you had you know your being ridiculous
mom impressed they’ve done it so quick tbh
they’ve offered a work round

Honestly youd think these kids are going to war the way half of you are carrying on

They must have their snacks and home comforts and flashcsrds and NOT IN THE LIBRARY OH NO they must have the utmost care and precious handling

Its revision

Not brain surgery

Jesus.

This may come as a shock to you all but most university revision is done in libraries amongst gasp other people

So you don’t actually know the work till start before the exams finish?

Your brave you don't even know what the parents are like, how do you know strangers would take your 'advice' well?

My daughter is going into school to revise.
Just make sure your builders stick to acceptable hours

Your username is absolutely spot on.

Have you been to university? University Libraries are quiet places, they most certainly don't start renovating the library building at exam time!