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There is a VAT forum which appears to have some HMRC staff on it.. https://community.hmrc.gov.uk/customerforums/vat

You could either buy a strip of land or buy an agreement/permission for the encroachment. I'd discuss the situation with your solicitor. If the wall was entirely on your side of the boundary the neighbour would have no right to build their own extension off your wall as it wouldn't be a party wall. Eg They would have to build their own cavity wall entirely on their side taking up at perhaps 300mm of space. So there is some room for negotiation if they want to build their own. For example if they give you permission for the encroachment you could agree it's a party wall allowing them to build off, saving them probably 150mm.

My builder said you can build anything given enough money. What's the construction? If its block and block with outside rendered it might be possible. I'm thinking build a new inner leaf (on a beam if the foundations aren't wide enough?), demolish the existing outer leaf and render what is now the new outer leaf. Make sure to sort out the thermal bridge at corners.

Are they on this boundary? Do the neighbours want to build a matching extension? You could allow them to build off the leaf that's on their side.

Over the years I've made 4 or 5 complaints to the advertising standards authority (not about Octapus!) and they have taken action each time. They anonymise complaints so the company doesn't get to see your name and they do eventually tell you the outcome.

If the breather membrane is vapour permeable the (normally 50mm) ventilated gap isn't so critical...at least not on a tiled roof. Might be more so on a sheet metal roof.

This page on slurry bonding from the Paving Experts also worth a read.. https://www.pavingexpert.com/bond_bridge_01

Mortar just doesn't seem to stick to some stone very well without it. Not a great example but..

Plus one for the real thing but bear in mind they aren't suitable for sitting/playing on as they can leach tar and oil.

I've started using Ultra Scape Pro Prime to repair loose india stone originally stuck with unknown slurry.

I suspect the professional companies that do insulation removal have figured out a way.

Not sure about Ireland but in England the water co own the bit from the main to your property boundary so they get to do the connection for you.

@TonyT See the OP. This thread is about preserving PP from the "must start within 3 years" condition. The stuff you mention will be relevant once the OP starts building in several years time but now they need the BCO to confirm work has started for the Planners.

It only applies to ground floor windows where there is a height difference of more than 600mm between inside and outside. See table 3.1.

From what I can see... ADK (Protection from Falling) - Min height of windows 800mm. ADB (Escape from Fire) - Max height 1.1m of escape windows. ADO (Overheating) - No max/min but to count towards your overheating mitigation strategy any window that opens more than 100mm must have guarding to 1.1m and meet other rules in para 3.9. So you can still have 800mm high openers if you fit 100mm restrictors.

So was it empty for more than 10 years?

I might be wrong but I think you can only reclaim the vat on items you purchase yourself under the >10 year scheme.

The government have two different schemes to encourage empty houses to be refurbished. Depends how long they have been empty/unoccupied: https://www.no-use-empty.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/property-tax-and-vat/reduced-vat-schemes/ So if your place has been empty >2 years any trades you hire to do renovation work should only charge you 5% not 20%. Make this clear to them when they come to quote and get them to amend any quotes that say +20% vat. If they question it refer them to VAT 708. Make sure they are VAT registered. There are also reduced rate VAT for energy saving things. These apply even if its not been empty >2 years..

I can't quite work out which direction you want the new driveway to run but best try and keep it away from the corner as much as possible and "conventional" in orientation. Perhaps have it aligned with your front door? You will need to make a Dropped Kerb Application. This doesn't just get permission for a dropped kerb but also the permission needed to drive over the footpath.

Why is it non-dischargable?

I asked on Quora and someone replied that the 15m distance came from BS 6297 which I've not seen. Apparently its to do with the risk of a flooded drainage field getting into the building causing a health hazard. So on that basis I would suggest you don't need to consider overhanging parts of the building. The responder also reminded me that the Approved Documents aren't the law but represent one way of demonstrating compliance with the Building Regulations Act. So it's upto the BCO to determine if an alternative proposal also meets the Act. I would try explaining to the BCO that your drainage field will be 15m from any part of the building that could be affected by the drainage area flooding which you understand to be the intent of this part of Approved Document H and BS 6297. Ideally a drainage field would also be down slope from the building?

I couldn't find a reason why it's 15m written down anywhere.

If there is a planning condition requiring work to start within 3 years then apply to have that condition discharged. There is a small fee. First you will also need to meet any other conditions that say "Before work starts..." or similar. Typically this will be conditions requiring materials or drainage details to be approved. So go through all the planning conditions and see which you need to do before starting work. Some will only need to be done "Before occupation". Those can be done later. Send in any samples and drawings you need approval for. When they sound happy or if you don't get a reply send one letter/form requesting those conditions be discharged. The fee is per request not per condition so do as many as possible in one letter. My letter said something like: With reference to planning grant number xxxxx I write to request the following planning conditions be formally discharged: Condition 2: The landscape plan has been agreed with the landscape officer. Condition 4: Brick samples have been submitted to the conservation officer. Condition 7: A Drainage plan has been agreed. I enclose a cheque for the fee of £x. Yours etc In my case they wrote back to say conditions 2 and 7 were discharged but 4 was not discharged as they had lost the brick samples! I had to send more then sometime later make a new request to discharge and pay the fee again. I guess these days you have to pay the fee by BACS rather than cheque ? If really worried its possible to apply for a Certificate of lawfulness on the grounds work has started. I have seen that done for a wind farm. They built the site entrance then applied for a Certificate to extend their PP indefinitely. It was eventually built 4-5 years later. However the fee for a Certificate is similar to that for a planning application.

Yes 3m is OK..

They are from the tech guide here.. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permitted-development-rights-for-householders-technical-guidance If you see references to "Article 2(3) land" that means conservation areas, national parks and AONB .