Footing not digged according to plan

[Jay35]

Hi Guys,

 

I am new on  here so any advice would be much appreciated. Sorry its bit of a long one. We have just started our house project building a 2 storey side extension with a single rear. Everything has been approved along with full approval of building regs. Currently I am supervising the project and getting different tradesman to do the jobs which works out to be cost effective. I have uploaded the plans for your info.

 

As you can see from the plans the side extension will not be straight and tilts slightly as it goes further back. So the front end of the extension will have more space compared to the rear due to the lack of space we have so we wanted to maximise as much space as possible. We had a few builders advise us that it would be best to build the extension as a right angle compared to what has been submitted in the plans due to it will be more expansive. They mentioned we will lose some space but nothing to much. So we decided to go ahead with this.  

 

Cut the long story short, once we saw the footings dug out, there was a lot of wasted space (shown in the photo), so we decided to go back to our original plan and dig up to the boundary wall. My dad is my neighbour so there is no issue with the boundaries, party wall etc On the day the builder dug to the boundary wall and poured the concrete I couldn't be at the site due to work commitments. The building inspection office was also attending on the same day.

 

On returning from work, The builder did not dig up to to the boundary wall and also left a lot of space. (Please see pic). The builder stated that the building officer had advised that there had to be some distance between the neighbours property. I was checking if anyone else had had this issue? Is this true? 

 

Can some one please advise? I have attached the pic of the wasted space.

 

1. Can the building regs officers ask you to change what is not on the plan? We have full building regs approval and I was thinking if I have had the approval then why am I am not able to dig to the boundary wall? 

 

2. The concrete has been poured, can we dig again the remaining areas and re-pour concrete? The builder will probably not be impressed but I want to make sure everthings is right.  The mrs is not to happy losing space and she's stressing me out too. lol

 

Any sort of advice will be much appreciated. 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2020 by Jay35

[joe90]

I once had a BI try to change what had been approved previously, I threw him off site, went to his office and complained to his boss, never saw him again and built as approved. This is the problem with not being on site during inspections. I don’t see why you cannot build right up to your boundary as long as you don’t undercut your neighbours (Dads) walls which don’t appear to be the case or have guttering facia etc hanging outside your property.  Not sure you can “add” to a footing. I would get the BI back to explain and discuss.

[Mr Punter]

I think you may be OK digging again as long as all the wall goes on the new footing.  You may need to have steel dowels where it joins the existing.  Not sure why they dug it there.  You should be there to supervise and agree setting out on site and with the digger operator.

[MJNewton]

This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day... I'm sure this is the third thread I've seen on here starting with the very same post! 

[Onoff]

You need some space to maintain the boundary (fence) imo.

 

Do you have front to rear access by some other route? Nice to be able to at least get a wheelbarrow through without scraping your knuckles.