Party wall - neighbours unfair

[flowers82]

Hi everyone,

Does this seem a bit unfair - 'mean' to you?
We bought a Victorian terraced that we are doing a side and rear extension.
Our neighbours two years ago built an extension of the same nature but only extended by 1.6 meters because they wanted to keep more garden. We would like to extend by 3m and we are doing this with our other neighbours on the other side at the same time (no party wall issues there).

We have asked the neighbours if they would extend the party wall by a further 1.4m meaning that we would encroach by 10cm onto their boundary side. There will be a brick wall up anyway and he extra part of our extension, so all we are asking is that they have 10cm more of brick in their garden - not even affecting their property.
I am shocked they haven't agreed as it really will not make any difference to them but a huge difference to our space.
What can I do to try and make them be nice and reasonable? The previous owner let them build a 6.5 meter huge brick party wall! We are only asking for for 1.4m of a wall that would be there anyway!

What should I do?

Thanks!

I see why you feel aggrieved but they don’t have to allow you to do it. What you think would be nice is irrelevant - they sound a bit like CFs themselves in that they persuaded your seller to let them build on your land but won’t let you do the same. It’s like when someone builds an extension with associated noise, mess & disruption - then when neighbour wants to build an extension they start raising objections about noise, mess & disruption.
Think the only way you’re likely to succeed is to lose the attitude and offer them money - but definitely do it all legally as you’re tampering with the boundaries.

I see that the OP didn't get the replies she wanted and didn't come back!

Ridiculous as I have a stepped in extension on a very long party wall so I thought I could have helped and offered to - just wanted to see a diagram. Oh well.