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?

Maybe the question should have been "can anyone afford to spend an extra £30k when it can be avoided"?

Not many of us, I suspect .....

Its tough. Its just one of those things.

I'd explain its simply not possible and these were the only dates available with the builder, and it will cost an additional £30k to postpone.

DH works from home. This means he's at the mercy of whatever is going on in the street - but even if he worked in the office he'd be at the mercy of whatever is going on there.

Our batshit neighbour has been working on the house since she moved in. This means excessive noise during the week during working hours when it takes her fancy. This perhaps wouldn't be so bad, under normal circumstances because you know its time limited. Except she's been doing this for seven years and still doesn't live there.

Sometimes you can't avoid the situation. You just have to get on with it. Its a life lesson. She will have other places to revise. They may not be her first choice but it doesn't mean she doesn't have other options.

Unless the family are willing to offset the extra cost you have to continue.
There was building work outside my school all through our O Levels, there was no suggestion it was stopped.

How is that relevant?

Again, you have limited comprehension skills. Where did I state the OP should forgo 30000 to accommodate the request- it's rhetorical, I didn't!

Lol...have they heard of the library or noise cancelling earphones?! Absolutely ridiculous.

Which has been acknowledged 1000 times, but OP is ok to
say no!

Presumably when they did their extension, their neighbours had to put up with a lot of noise for a while. Unless you can afford to live somewhere truly rural, that’s just part of life.

(I speak as someone listening to three different sets of power tools running right now…)

Why post that sentence.

Why not?

Have you actually explained your financial position if you hold up the building now? What does the builder say about the likelihood of intrusive noise in the next few weeks? Most companies go out of their way to avoid complaints. I think this neighbour is looking gif problem.

Slippery slope. What else will they ask?

Maybe teach resilience.

There’s demolition involved initially
So hard to be quiet and would make the job far more expensive to take something down brick by brick

I'm in Ireland too and they must know they're being ridiculous. I've had 100 houses built beside me over the last year and you soon get used to it. The entire country is a building site at the moment. I would apologise but don't even consider changing your plans. Apologise in a "ah sure what can you do" kind of way and ignore.

Its a point of view

It doesn't add anything to the debate.

It's an unkind and I'm absolutely devastated.

Ridiculous. Annoying for them. But it is what it is.
she can use her school library, the local library outside school times, her ear plugs, use your husband office her has offered.

no way I would consider losing 30K.

It's unkind not "an".

Leaving cert exams run up to June 23rd, but she may be finished sooner too. It depends on the subjects chosen. OP mentioned that the neighbours asked them to delay by three weeks so presumably their DD has exams timetabled near the final date.

If you’re absolutely devastated (which is a massive overreaction), I suggest you step away from the thread.

Because that’s not a comment that should cause absolute devastation, in anyone’s life.

In your opinion?

In the meantime, I’ll decide if I feel it adds to the “debate”.

Really? Absolute madness. Why didn’t your adult daughter ask if it was an issue, still cheeky though.

🤥