New neighbours building work

[meg54]

We have new neighbours who are doing major renovation work to their "forever" home.
Their property has an existing single storey kitchen extension ( which forms the boundary of their property and ours at the side of the house, extending to 4 metres into their/our garden, front to back. This is now the boundary wall between the two properties, with our garden fence running the length of the gardens.
They applied to the council for planning permission to build directly above the kitchen extension.

We objected.

The council denied our objection.

They cannot build the extension without accessing our property - from our driveway, through our garage, down the stairs, into the garden, removing two of our fence panels.

All the materials for the build will have to use our access, as they bricked up their back kitchen door - the only access they have to the back of the house (houses built on a slope, so one floor up at the back), is a builders ladder, accessible from their living room window.

The extension will also need to be built from our boundary, as
obviously they do not want building materials dragged through their recently very expensively renovated living room.

The scaffolding has to be erected from our side, and will also obstruct our access to the garden, and the cellars, which houses the big freezer and washing machine and DH's workshop.

The more I think about it, the more I think they are CF's.

Any advice wise folk?.

OP. I'm struggling to see how it would be impossible for them to build a first floor extension by either taking materials through their house, or craning them over the top. I live in an area of terraced houses and see this happen all the time....people pay a small fortune to get their stuff craned over the roof.

Also I thought building works up to a boundary require a party wall agreement, even if there isn't strictly a party wall?

Hope this has worked. Picture taken from the back of our garage, down to the garden.
Neighbours 1st floor kitchen extension shown on left, original build wall, brickwork and rendering identified as continuation of of original build, and recently built.
Brickwork on the right, porch outside our kitchen door.

They really have done their building work in the most extraordinary fashion. It actually defies belief that anyone would be this stupid to have fully completed the kitchen extension (and fit out) and changing the bathroom into an ensuite necessitating a second floor extension to provide a bathroom - all the while without actual access unless trampling all over what has just been completed at great expense.

But then it makes you wonder that surely nobody can actually be this stupid?! Therefore, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this approach is the belief that you would suffer all the mess and disarray in allowing access for their future project to be built. There just can't be any other conclusion to draw can there?

Would love to hear the most recent parking drama/sin which will give further insight into their thoughts on what is acceptable (or not) with neighbours.

It’s simple, they will have to go through their own house in order to do any work to the back of it. Same as any terraced house without side access. If they’ve blocked up their only access door to the back (why?!) then they’ll have to open it up again. If there aren’t any steps down then the builders will have to build some. If they’ve built a lovely new kitchen across the back then their builders will have to protect it as best they can.

None of this is your problem.

Picture taken from the bottom of the stairs, (not quite at ground level though). Door at top of stairs leads into our garage.
The rendered wall on the right is the neighbour's kitchen extension.
They want to build on top of this to create a new bathroom, not clear from the picture but it has a pitched roof, back to front.
In the foreground is the start of the garden fence, which runs the full length of the garden.
This is by way way of explaining how the extension cannot be built other than from our

Get on gum tree and whack a free shed - no matter how shit down that side outside the kitchen door - with a sign saying "Roosting Bats - Do not Disturb. " & then let the garden grow & stick a big sign up saying Sight of special scientific interest - rare orchids believed to be growing here. Do not enter.

& then shrug & say " really sorry - otherwise I would love to help. "

Obviously I joke & I do wish you well.
Clearly just saying no is easier.

Sorry, trying again.
Picture taken from the bottom of the stairs, (not quite at ground level though). Door at top of stairs leads into our garage.
The rendered wall on the right is the neighbour's kitchen extension.
They want to build on top of this to create a new bathroom, not clear from the picture but it has a pitched roof, back to front.
In the foreground is the start of the garden fence, which runs the full length of the garden.
This is by way way of explaining how the extension cannot be built other than from our side.

And from the top.
For the third time....

@meg54The pictures are showing, not sure why you can’t see them.

I figured it would be similar to this.

Yes OP I fully understand now what you are talking about. When you see the picture of it both front and back facing it seems even more extraordinary that they have fully completed their kitchen and there is no current access door to the back! (I don't really understand the no current access door to the back?)

It starkly highlights how they fully expect to be able to do their build from your land. But they might just have to open up their kitchen access and bring everything through the house to enable their build.

I understand the layout but still don’t see why it’s impossible for them to bring everything through their house.

I can see it is much easier and cleaner for them to go through your garage, and expensive and messy for them to go through their house (especially if they may have to knock various holes in their house), but that’s not quite the same as it being impossible to go through their house….

Thinkfast.
They can take what they like through the house, and deposit it in their garden.
But they can't build it where it needs to go without stripping out their new fully fitted kitchen, or using our land.

They're insane. Stand your ground. How could they possibly think they could rely on access to a neighbour's house to do building work. Totally crackers. Have you told them a firm no yet OP?

You can object to the planning application but if it's been granted you can't stop them doing the work. What you can do is refuse access to your land or house in any way shape or form. Their builders will have to come up with a solution that doesn't include access to your property. It will cost them more - but that's not your issue. Simply refuse access

Well they’ll have to strip out their kitchen then 🤷‍♀️

Not your problem.

(Although as an aside, why do they need to strip out the kitchen? Can’t they go out the back another way? Or get out from a first floor room? Too invested!!)

They will have to strip out their newly fitted kitchen then won't they. Or pay for it all to be craned over the house

Wow this is insane. Are there any legal eagles here that know the law in this instance?

That's pretty oppressive to have out your kitchen door as it is

@RandomMess

That's pretty oppressive to have out your kitchen door as it is

I "think" that's the view from the garage rather than the kitchen

Freindlycat/Miniepie
They bricked up the back door from the inside, before they fitted their kitchen. The outside remedial work still needs to be done.
The only access they have now to the back garden is a set of builders ladders out of the recently fitted sliding doors, about 2 metres above garden level.

Your picture now makes it all clear. CFs.

Stupidity on their part does not constitute permission on your part.

Please tell us all at the end of this lengthy thread that you have told them no, cos I for one am getting a bit bored of you not clarifying!!!

They are numpties aren’t they!?

Still. Not your problem.

And the builders can build temporary steps and ramps where necessary.

@meg54

Snowspider.

This won't happen.
Their inside is already fully tiled, fitted, floored and plumbed with a brand new kitchen.

To be kind, that isn’t your problem. I live in a London terrace, when I want work done at the back of my house, or in my garden then everything has to come through my house.

So have I understood you know that legally they can’t have automatic access to your land but you feel you should give it to them?