Extension plans to block our utility meters in

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Our neighbour has put plans in to build right up to the boundary where are gas and electricity meters are on our garage wall. There will be a 5cm gap which means we can’t read the meters or access them in emergencies etc. Planning are going to approve the plans but building regulations say there should be a 1 metre gap from the closed box. We have to step on to the neighbours drive to read the meters. We have about a foot of land. The house was built like this over 30 years ago so I believe that we have established rights? I wonder if anyone can advice me at all?

There is no way they will let that happen , there has to be access to the meters in case of emergency/ fire etc, he will have to build it further back, but I’m not sure on the regs for it .
I do know they like them on the front/ near the front of properties now for easier access to them . So they don’t have to go through, around locked gates.

Did he draw up, submit the plans himself ?

party wall agreement should have been done first?
ring up planning & ask & explain your concerns

Can’t the meter be moved somewhere accessible? It doesn’t seem right that an extension could be stopped for such a petty reason. What if they paid for an electrician to do it?

Do you know how much it costs to move gas and electric meters ? It’s not cheap.

The only other please the meters could go would be inside our garage which we will refuse to do. The plans were drawn up by an architect.

All he needs to is make his extension a bit smaller , so access is still available to the boxes. Simple

Why the hell should OP have to move meters to facilitate their extension? Plus that's not cheap to do

Buildings regulations will not let them be put inside , they have to be outside.

We’ve spoke to planning and they said it will be approved! It’s bizarre because building regulations and planning don’t seem to work together.

Have you formally opposed the plans?
Are you suggesting that they'll happily built an extension which then won't be signed off by building refs, bonkers. Have you spoken to the neighbour, possible that they're unaware?

I agree he needs to make it a metre smaller around where the meters are but planning emailed us today and said they’ve only asked him to make a minimal change to his plans.

They'll still need to comply with building regulations though?

Yes that’s what we thought.

Do you need to go on your neighbours property to read your meters at the moment?

Yes we do.

Planning are a bit slack sometimes, we got our planning permission without us knowing they had even been, I’m guessing they just drove up and had a peek over the fence.

Building control will not let that happen , so it’s up to him if he wants to start knowing there will be a problem further down the line.
No building inspector will let that pass knowing he could be in for some shit later on 😀

We are the detached house on the right. The bit that sticks out is the garage where our meters are on the side.

So unless their is legal provision for you to go onto their property to read your meter they would be within their rights to build up to the boundary? Like something in the deeds?
I'm not an expert btw

You need to read your deeds to see if you're allowed access onto their property for tasks such as reading the meter.

Their= there!

It doesn’t say anything in the deeds about that.

I would ask a building inspector to come visit now, letting your neighbor know to save them and you trouble and stress down the track. Is it possible the building inspector says you have to move your meter as you don’t have a right to access their land so it was never in a suitable spot to begin with?

It’s got nothing to do with rights it’s about health and safety if the emergency services need to access them for whatever reason, they need to be accessible
Or there’s a gas leak from the meter ? How are they going to stop it !!!!

I would not stop my neighbours extension for the sake of meters. Get someone out to have a look. They may have a solution you've not thought of. Talk to you neighbours!