Detached Semi-Detached Garage Widening

[adamroutley]

Evening All,

My neighbour and I have mirror image bungalows, with detached garages between which share a party wall and adjoining fence down the middle which runs the length of the drive. I'm looking to widen my garage into my garden more to which he's happy for me to do.

What legislation regarding the party wall do I need to follow?

Expecting it falls under permitted dev.

I intend to leave the front and back wall as is (just wider) and extend the roof joists as they fall away from the party wall respectively (flat roof with pitch).

Thanks, Ad

Images for reference

 

[Tigercubrider]

My understanding of a party wall agreement is that you only need it if you are doing works to the PW?
I am not qualified to say.
However all you are doing is the same as building a side extension on a semi detached house?

presumably you will be ensuring that your modifications don’t put his garage at risk of collapse during works?

 

[adamroutley]

Does it fall into a party wall agreement if I'm extending joists that bear on the party wall?

 

[Tigercubrider]

I doubt it ( qualified answers welcome!)
Maybe if you replaced the timbers but I assume you’d just sister them?

 

[^woody^]

The PWA would apply for any new cutting in to the wall for new components in new places. But, as you are replacing timbers presumably in the same places using the same holes in the wall, then the Act should not apply.

However, there could be an argument that the new longer joists will alter the loading to the party wall (albeit minimal, and even if just sistered) and therefore the principle of the PWA should mean it applies - although there is nothing in the wording to support this. There may be a precedent, but I'm not aware of any.

If you are widening the holes for larger joists then strictly the Act will apply

Its such a relatively minor job then I'd be inclined to just crack on as the neighbour is already aware an has no problem with it. If the neighbour is unlikely to dissent, then if you want to formalise things you could serve a Notice and let the neighbour agree to that. But if he does not agree or does not even reply, then you could be in for a very expensive time.

 

[cdbe]

there could be an argument that the new longer joists will alter the loading to the party wall (albeit minimal, and even if just sistered) and therefore the principle of the PWA should mean it applies

I wonder if this could be a solution if the need arose, some doubled up timbers of a suitable size?