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?

I smart meter engineer will not move the location of the meter , they only swap old for a new . It’s a bigger job than most people think to relocate meters.

Last time I moved one I had to collect the meter box myself and install it ( cut it into the brickwork ) before they would come and do it . ( gas)
It took 3 teams to do it , one to dig up and install the pipe , one to come and install the new meter, and then about a week later , one to relay the slabs that the first lot dug up . And they made a shit job of that . 😮

I think (if they covered the cost) I would offer to have them moved as a way of keeping good neighbour relations. It’s awful to have a feud with the people next door.

That would be the most sensible way to go , that way both sides are happy

That's where I was coming from.

Wasn't going to say, but I work for a utility.

It may depend on which company you are with as to what they would be prepared to do.

If there's a cost to move them, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask your neighbour to fund part or all of it

Are you not objecting to the fact that your "detached" house will essentially no longer be detached?

I'm assuming that the shaded area is the proposed extension. If you look from the street you are going to look like a terrace even if there is 5 cm in between?

How are they going to build it and put the roof on? Will there be any run off onto your house?

If the meters are on that wall then the services quite probably run there underground too which will affect his foundation plans, network operator will not take kindly to their equipment being made inaccessible and more so if the clown hits a cable/gas line.

R1R2 we’re going to contact the utility companies tomorrow and see what they say.
Fanspam yes we have objected to that but planning has been relaxed in the last few years so that people can basically do what they please.

I’m finding this a bit confusing. I thought you were allowed to have access to a neighbour’s land to perform essential repairs to your own property (Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992). I realise that this is about meter access not repairs but surely the principle is the same? So if the neighbour does build up to the boundary then how would OP gain access not only to their meter but if the garage wall needed to be accessed for repairs? Come to that, what if the wall of the neighbour’s new extension needs repair in the future - how would they access it if it’s right next to OP’s property?

How did you get on speaking to the utilities?