Your neighbour can withhold consent or raise objections. That does not always mean the underlying work is permanently prohibited. The Party Wall etc. Act has different procedures for work to an existing party wall, excavation, and a new wall astride the boundary.
Existing shared wall work
If a neighbour does not consent to work covered by a party structure notice, a dispute can arise. The Act provides for surveyors to resolve disputes through the section 10 procedure. The builder cannot treat a refusal as permission to proceed.
A wall on your side of the boundary
Where section 1 notice applies to a wall wholly on your own land, a neighbour's silence does not ordinarily stop construction after the statutory one-month notice period, provided other legal requirements are met.
A new wall astride the line
This is different. The adjoining owner's written consent is required to build a new wall straddling the boundary. If it is not given, you cannot simply build across their land; a wall may instead need to be wholly on your side.
What should you do when a neighbour objects?
First clarify the specific concern: timing, structural risk, access or boundaries. Sometimes changes to the proposal can help resolve it. Where the Act's dispute machinery applies, follow that process rather than relying on an unanswered letter.
Related: what an award means and new boundary walls.
Based on the GOV.UK explanatory booklet and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This is general guidance for England and Wales; the applicable rules depend on the actual work and affected owners.
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