Another Party wall query

We're in the process of building a kitchen extn. One wall is going up against our neighbour's boundary. When I discussed it with them they said that as they planned to sell soon they would prefer if we kept inside the existing party garden wall so as to avoid any issues with the sale. Fair enough, so now we are building the new kitchen wall an inch or two behind that wall. It will mean the wall inside the room will need to step in half way down and look strange but so be it.

I'm now wondering what happens in the future when they sell and the new neighbour inevitabily wants to build his extn on the boundary.

Would we be petty to object? On one hand why should we care what happens behind our wall, the space is no use to us. On the other hand why should they get the space and the nice straight wall inside that we were denied? Might we encounter problems with a future sale of our house?

I know that officially, I can object if I want to but what's the general feeling on the reasonable thing to do?

Could your extension be designed in such a way that you can build to the party wall, but the wall you build could also be used by your future neighbour should they want to extend? The roof line detailing will probably be key here.
Leo

Can you clarify few things:
- did you have to get PP?
- Why moving a wall in by few inches will make it look "strange"?

- Why would you move in your wall at all if it does not suit you, and you are within your rights to build it where you intended to?

If future neighbour want to also build extension, it may be exempt from PP, hence you can not object.

The party wall belongs to both sides, so permission must be gained to build upon it / against it. Nothing to do with planning. what will be tricky and more expensive is the foundation detailing, should you wish to minimise the wasted area between the walls. If done properly, to accomodate the party wall's foundations, you will need to cantilever the floor slab, and so double the reinforcement normally required. I've done this before:

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Here as I was cantilevering the side of the slab towards the adjacent site over the existing party wall foundations, I decided to continue the cantilever to the front aswell to create the floor / seat overhang.

if you only build a few inches from the party wall... how do you intend to finish and maintain this new wall???? especially if your neighbours are selling up???
you will not have permission to enter someone elses land to maintain your structure....

the way these things usually work is either:

(1) obtain a letter from existing neighbours allowing you to build on the party line, with a clause allowing you access for maintainence

(2) build the new wall far enough off the party line to allow for maintainence without tresspass.... (usually 600mm, 2 foot) and usually means that the existing party wall remains

your situation is neither.... problems will ensue...

its in the interest of your neighbour to allow you build on the party line, as theres usually a clause in the agreement allowing any future extension on their side to use the wall as well......
if not, and situation 2 occurs, then any future extension on neighbours side would have to reflect the existing, leaving a 4 foot 'gap' between extenions.... a valuable space for most people...

no we don't need planning- It's exempt
It will look strange inside because the original half of the kitchen will be wider than the new bit as the new bit will step in, to accommodate the party wall.
I understood that we needed our neighbour's permission to demolish the existing party and build on it. They said no as they plan to sell. (In fairness to them, there are a few stories on this site of people who can't sell thier house because neighbours have built on the party wall, other people who wouldn't buy a house because of this etc, so I don't really blame them, especially in the current climate)
Our new wall is built now. We've kept the old party wall and built right up against it (more or less). The builder intends to put flashing from the top of the party wall to the new wall to weather proof the little gap. I see what you mean about maintenance of this wall in the future- I hope it wont be a problem- DO PEOPLE THINK THIS IS UNWISE? OUR BUILDER HAS A VERY GOOD REPUTATION AND HE IS NOT CONCERNED.
We are where we are now. My question is would I be reasonable to insist that my eventual new neighbours do the same as I did and stay on thier own side completely? Or is that just petty and should I allow them knock down the party wall and build thier new wall on it?

rrrrrrrrrr said:

My question is would I be reasonable to insist that my eventual new neighbours do the same as I did and stay on thier own side completely? Or is that just petty and should I allow them knock down the party wall and build thier new wall on it?

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You can insist they stay within the boundary, or you could allow them to build on the boundary on the condition that they do so in such a manner as to properly seal and protect the wall you have just built. Should be a win-win!
Leo

Had a similar issue some years ago when building a conservatory some years ago. Neighbours at the time were totally obnoxious and unapproachable. Built a new wall inside boundary wall (approx 1"). Builder used lead flashing will any water flow drained off on our side. Never had any issue since or dampness problem. Neighbours have since moved !