Planning an extension is exciting—more space, better living space, added value. While your architect focuses on planning permission and design, there’s a smart Party Wall etc. Act 1996 tip that can make the build quicker, neater and often more cost-effective.
Don’t automatically step your flank wall off the boundary
Architects often set the new flank wall slightly inside your land to avoid neighbour concerns. That’s sometimes sensible—but the Party Wall Act actually gives Building Owners the statutory right to build right up to the boundary line (a Section 1(5) “up to” wall). Done properly, this can be a major win:
- Cleaner footprint & maximum internal width: You’re not “losing” those crucial centimetres to a gap.
- Better finish: No awkward sliver to maintain; the outward face sits where it should—at the boundary.
- Lawful access to your neighbour’s land to build and finish the wall (under Section 8), subject to notice, safeguards and timing.
Important: Building astride the boundary (a Section 1(2) wall) needs your neighbour’s written consent. Building up to the boundary (Section 1(5)) does not—but you must serve a valid notice and follow the Act’s procedure.
Why access matters
If you build up to the boundary, certain tasks (brickwork, waterproofing, pointing) may only be safely done from your neighbour’s side. The Act anticipates this and, where reasonably necessary, grants access rights—with conditions that protect the Adjoining Owner:
- Notice (usually 14 days) and defined working hours
- Protection measures (hoarding, dust sheets, temporary security, making good)
- Clear scope and duration so access isn’t open-ended
These protections are usually set out in a Party Wall Award, agreed by one Agreed Surveyor or two Surveyors, and they’re enforceable.
Planning permission vs the Party Wall Act
They’re separate regimes. Planning (and building control) look at whether you can build and to what design/spec. The Party Wall Act governs how you interact at the boundary (notices, rights, access, damage protocol). You’ll often run both tracks in parallel.
How to do it right
- Get a quick Party Wall check at concept stage. A 10-minute look at your plans avoids design choices that fight the Act.
- Talk to your neighbour early. A calm heads-up plus a valid notice beats surprises through the letterbox.
- Serve the correct notice(s):
- Section 1 (line of junction) for the flank wall
- Section 6 if your foundations/excavations trigger the 3m/6m rules
- Section 2 if you’re touching a party wall/structure
- Aim for an Agreed Surveyor where appropriate. For straightforward extensions and amicable relations, it’s often fastest and cheapest.
- Plan access realistically. Your builder should sequence works to minimise time on the neighbour’s land—and stick to the Award.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Invalid notices (wrong owner, wrong service method, missing excavation drawings) = delay and re-service.
- Assuming “verbal consent” is enough—it isn’t. The Act needs written responses or an Award.
- Overstaying access—if you need extra time, ask before you run over.
Simple Survey: low-cost, fixed-fee Party Wall help
- Party Wall Notice service: £25 per adjoining ownership (multi-notice bundles discounted)
- Act administration as Agreed Surveyor (single surveyor): typically £300 fixed-fee (depends on complexity and number of notices/owners)
- Two-surveyor route (we act for the Building Owner): fixed-fee proposals from £325 for our side*
We work to keep your neighbour’s surveyor’s hourly fees reasonable and contained.
We’re RICS-qualified building surveyors. We’ll check your drawings, confirm which notices you need, handle service correctly and, where required, agree a fast, robust Award that includes sensible access provisions.
Ready to maximise your extension and minimise hassle?
Email team@simplesurvey.co.uk with your plans (PDFs are perfect) and your address. We’ll confirm your notice strategy and give you a fixed price—usually same day. Build up to the boundary, finish neatly, and keep neighbours onside.