Boundary Rule for two new builds

[Jammy5]

Hi all,

 

I've just found this forum after days and weeks of tearing my hair out weighing various things up to find they're generally answered here!!

 

So my question is....

 

My property has been marked out in accordance with building regulations on one elevation (1m) and then the other elevation meets the other home that is being built (2 plots side by side).

 

There is a shared access way between the houses of 1.2m. This is reflected on site plans that have been submitted by the architect to planning and building control. 

 

However, without knowing how a shared access way is viewed by building control, then my concern is that I'm closer than 1m to the boundary (in theory bother houses will be 0.6m)

 

The architect is working for both of us but isn't the most helpful to have this conversation with.

 

Any insight that would put my mind at rest?

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Jamie

[G and J]

The relevance of the 1m for building control is that the building must be constructed in such a way to restrict/control fire (for you and your neighbours).

 

(Planning allows you to build as close as 50mm to a boundary).

 

Our new build (on an existing site) will sit 1030mm from our neighbours one side and 1500mm the other. In both cases there is a shared access alley between us.

[Spinny]

Who owns the shared access way, and precisely what gives shared access rights over it ?

 

Are you measuring from the outside of the house wall, or the outside edge of the eaves and gutter ?

[Temp]

Remember the eaves overhang might make them closer. 

[Jammy5]

I'm measuring from the wall so I'm aware there's potentially another 100mm or so to lose because of eaves

 

I'm also aware the fence that I'm measuring to might not be on the boundary line.

 

My concern was how picky will they be when we're dealing with 50mm here and there when we're talking about a 2500:1 scale drawing from land registry?

 

I could always put a fire check external door on the side to compensate if needed. The window sizes are also above the recommended but again have been passed by building control so I'm going to progress with the build as identified on approved drawings.

[kandgmitchell]

With no defined boundary BC use a "Notional Boundary" between the buildings setting it first from one that complies and checking the other. If both are new then a compromise is worked out between them to ensure both comply.

 

Am I right in thinking you have a design with windows and a door facing a boundary only 600mm away when the regulations limit openings to no more than 1m2 within 4m of each other?

[Jammy5]

Sorry for the late reply. There's no doors on the elevations that are 600mm away from boundary (1200mm gap between the two houses), but there are two windows.

Both windows are over 1m2 each checking the building control approved drawings.

 

The home is three story build, and every room is fire compartmentalised. I assume this is what allows more than 1m2 of total glazing on this elevation? Or is it because one is a bathroom window?

 

 

[ETC]

If BC have approved the drawings and the locations of the houses relative to one another what’s the problem?

[Jammy5]

16 hours ago, ETC said:

If BC have approved the drawings and the locations of the houses relative to one another what’s the problem?

Thanks, I've put this concern on the back burner. Appreciate the feedback all

[kandgmitchell]

On 15/05/2025 at 21:04, Jammy5 said:

The home is three story build, and every room is fire compartmentalised. I assume this is what allows more than 1m2 of total glazing on this elevation? Or is it because one is a bathroom window?

The use of the window is immaterial but the compartmentation would make a difference; allowing the allocation of unprotected area to individual compartments rather than the whole wall.

[Spinny]

On 27/04/2025 at 14:50, G and J said:

(Planning allows you to build as close as 50mm to a boundary).

@G and J Please can I ask where this statement comes from ? Is there a statement somewhere of this or a document containing it ? Is this a declared policy of your local authority, or national ?

[G and J]

2 hours ago, Spinny said:

Please can I ask where this statement comes from ? Is there a statement somewhere of this or a document containing it ? Is this a declared policy of your local authority, or national ?

From the depths of the memory,but pop the question into google and you will see lots of references to it being the case as long as you either have planning or permitted development rights

[kandgmitchell]

Well you could build on the boundary subject to : not building on or over another owners' land, planning permission, building regulation consent and the party wall act plus actually being able to physically being able to build the structure.

[G and J]

1 hour ago, kandgmitchell said:

Well you could build on the boundary subject to : not building on or over another owners' land, planning permission, building regulation consent and the party wall act plus actually being able to physically being able to build the structure.

 

Indeed, this as well