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?

I think the age of the person who has the exams is irrelevant in all considerations. A child shouldn't have to accommodate everyone else while an adult taking exams to further their career or something would not be expected to do so. She is in her own home and should be able to do whatever she wants in her own home without constant disturbance. Environmental Health might back that up as well, if the disturbance is constant and all day every day. People think they can make noise during daylight hours but EH can still consider if it's a nuisance and often go on how loud/disturbing and how long it's like that.

OP I'd give the parents evidence of how it will cost £30k, so they believe you and don't think you're just chancing them offering it to you while you chill for a few weeks. I doubt it will make them feel any better about you in the long run though.

"They will hate you forever and you will deserve it."

😮Are you serious? I doubt anyone was faffing around. Paying rent AND a mortgage would make that doubtful. The new neighbors will have to find another way to deal with the construction. @Grammarninja isn't doing anything wrong and shouldn't lose 30k to appease them.

Why does the teen need complete silence to study? Life continues even if she's sitting exams. It's obvious that the homeowners are bending over backwards to accommodate her. The husband even offered her an office at his nearby business.

When I need to concentrate, I use noise-canceling headphones. They reduce how much I hear of whatever is going on. Maybe the neighbors should try to find a more reasonable solution, or take advantage of OP's offer of an office.

You would be bonkers to do this - she can go to the library! Don’t even give it a second thought OP - it is one of life’s many hardships she will have to deal with!

The pp saying to OP “They will hate you forever and you will deserve it” was the rude one in this exchange. Horrible remark that deserved criticism

Why don’t they pay for an air Bnb? No, don’t want to spend the money. You cannot lose 30k and neither would they. We live in a flat and my DD is sitting her A levels, noise is inevitable and if she was struggling here, school would allow her to study in the library. I wouldn’t dream of asking such a thing.

Same!

Did my GCSE’s about 15 years ago, my parents would ask me “which subject is the exam for tomorrow love?” “just do your best” and that was it.

I’d have been mortified if they were round the neighbours houses asking for quiet. Funnily enough we were having an extension built the summer I was doing GCSE’s.

Yep - you're right, they're not at school unless they have an exam.
I've also been jumped on for suggesting that public libraries are often noisy, multi-functional spaces nowadays and therefore maybe not ideal for revising.