Neighbours at war over 8ft shared driveway… after one wants to build a new £2M house in their back garden

A homeowner has spent £7,500 fighting his neighbour over an 8ft-wide shared driveway between their two properties. 

Robert Medcalfe, 36, has been locked in a legal battle with his neighbour after he submitted a planning application to build a brand new house behind his property.

The north London resident launched a campaign with other locals on the street in a bid to prevent the new development, adding he was never even spoken to about the proposal. 

Italian developer Alisson Roberto Teixeira, 40, has applied to build a property to the rear of a house in Dollis Hill, using the 2.7m-wide shared driveway as an access road – with the project estimated to cost up to £2million to complete. 

But Mr Metcalfe has been left ‘livid’ and ‘absolutely outraged’ by the proposal, telling MyLondon: ‘How can you try to do something with someone’s property without speaking with them and getting permission? That’s not what neighbours do.’

The dispute is over this shared driveway, which would become the access road for the new property. Pictured is neighbour Robert Medcalfe who has launched a campaign to stop the development

The site (marked by a pink square) is set behind the two properties and surrounded by other back gardens

The land being developed is owned by Mr Teixeira, council documents show. But Mr Medcalfe claims the application ‘relies on his consent’ as the ‘co-owner’ of the drive, and says he has not given this permission.

The bitter feud seems set to escalate further with an online petition garnering more than 200 signatures against the planning application. 

While fresh fears have been raised over how the proposed property could be used, with residents concerned it could be transformed into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) and rented out. 

Local residents also argue the proposal is very similar to a previous application by the same applicant, which was rejected. 

In that case Brent council said the proposed property was ‘oversized’, concluding it was ‘considered bulky and incongruous and too prominent.’

Planning documents seen by MailOnline show the new plan has reduced the length of the property by getting rid of a ground-floor bedroom with disabled access – but the width and height remain the same. 

This application, for a three-bedroom property, comes with a basement complete with a games room, wine cellar and bar. 

According to planning documents, the construction would involve digging three metres underground for the basement, removing ‘poor quality’ trees and demolishing an existing garage. 

There has been significant criticism of the proposal online. One local resident said: ‘This application much like the previous applications is full of inaccuracies, misinformation and undeclared facts.

The bitter feud seems set to escalate further with an online petition garnering more than 200 signatures against the planning application

The application would see one of the garages behind the two properties (pictured) demolished

The developers previously made a similar application, which the council rejecte

‘There is serious legal impediment to accessing the proposed site and they have not declared the change of use. None of the local neighbours support these plans, see this as damaging to the community and the applicators as a nuisance to the area.

‘This is purely a degenerative and desperate money hungry attempt. Local residents also see this as damaging to the adjacent Homestead Park conservation area.

‘Why is Brent entertaining the disingenuous information in these applications when so many residents have made objections and complaints?’

A second added: ‘It has been brought to my attention that once again permission is being sought for this outrageous plan which seems very much like the first application.

‘My objection remains as before. It would be completely detrimental to the road and surrounding properties!

‘I simply do not see any positives of this proposal but I certainly see an endless list of negatives.’

A third said: ‘Residents in the area continue to question how this ridiculous application keeps coming back. It has already caused many residents upset, and legal costs which can be ill afforded at this time of financial crisis. 

‘I strongly object to this application and trust that planners will see the suggestion is completed outrageous.’

Plans show what the proposed three-storey dwelling could look like 

As well has having three floors above ground, the proposals also include plans for a basement level 

But although Mr Medcalfe is frustrated that the developers have allegedly not spoken to him about the proposal, planning documents claim that all affected households were consulted via letter or email early in the process.

Teixeira is the director of four companies associated with letting and managing real estate. 

In 2018 he and his former business partner Paulo de Souza were taken to small claims court for unlawfully evicting a tenant at one of their properties after the male went on holiday in February 2017.  The pair were directors of One Room UK at the time.

The claimant had agreed a short-term tenancy deal of at least eight months for a room in a shared lodge in St John’s Wood, London in December 2016, court documents said.

He had been away for a week and missed his payment date when the locks were changed, forcing him to sofa surf for months. 

A judge at Willesden County Court ordered Mr Teixeira and Mr de Souza to pay damages of £36,557.36 to the claimant.

However, MailOnline has learned the pair appealed the initial judgement, triggering a lengthy three-year legal tussle.

The pair later agreed an out-of-court settlement of £48,521.24 to the claimant in September 2021, while accepting no liability for the claim brought against them. 

The increased settlement sum was used to pay for damages and legal costs, a source said.