We’re looking for advice on a conservatory build in our side return, but we’re running into some complications with the boundary wall and would love some opinions.
The Background
- We originally planned to enclose upon and tie into both our existing wall and our neighbour’s wall, building the sloping conservatory roof off them.
- The wall in question was originally made a party wall in 1984, but in 1996, our neighbour’s extension was built, and the wall was knocked down.
- Part of the original wall remains, sitting exactly in line with their extension wall.
- Our new neighbours (who have just moved in) are unsure if it’s still a party wall, despite it being listed as such on both our title deeds.
The Cost Issues
- To get the legal status of the wall assessed will cost around £2,000, and then a Party Wall Award would cost another £2,000, plus possible enclosure fees.
- The neighbours want to check if the wall is structurally sound before we build off it, which is understandable, but this cost would also fall on us.
- We’re worried costs are spiralling out of control, and the Party Wall route seems complicated.
Alternative Plan – Single Skin Wall with Pillars
- Our builder has suggested that instead of going down the Party Wall route, we build a single-skin brick wall with supporting pillars, internally insulated, and positioned very close to their extension wall.
- This might be more cost-effective than trying to prove the legal status of the wall and then going through the Party Wall process.
Our Questions:
- Has anyone built this close to a neighbour’s extension before? Any practical or legal issues?
- Where does this leave us with foundations? Given that their foundations may encroach slightly onto our land, would we need to do anything differently?
- Would avoiding attachment to their wall mean we can skip the Party Wall process entirely?
- Would a single-skin insulated wall be a sensible and cost-effective alternative?
- How can we address their concerns about damp?
