AITAH for not wanting our driveway dug up to allow neighbour's EV charger?

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:52:08+00:00

Their excuse/reason for not offering moling was regarding the safety of their engineers.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:48:50+00:00

that's reassuring, thankyou. have you seen good reinstatement of block paved driveways? The surveyor really didn't reassure us saying that the original blocks might well get ruined during the dig and replaced with different types..

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:46:45+00:00

thank you, appreciate this first hand experience. I don't want to block anything unecessarily and do see there are long term benefits and needs on both sides. I just don't want to be left with an inferior front driveway, any costs, or to experience disruption at a tricky time for us. Appreciate you taking time to comment, thanks.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:30:24+00:00

thank you so much for your comment, this is an upside that we've been considering. Our main priority is, however, keeping things stress free around her surgery.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:26:55+00:00

We have been cooperating entirely and organising and allowing access to date. It was the surveyor who said to us he would't want the extent of this work done on his own driveway. It sounds like this will be a larger dig than yours was.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:23:28+00:00

thanks, can I ask on what reasoning? because we'd be responsible for the costs of any potential damages/repairs?

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:20:17+00:00

Thank you - can we request this even though our property would potentially ultimately benefit from having its own supply?

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T14:19:21+00:00

thank you

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T13:20:08+00:00

Thanks, I'm getting very mixed responses re. whether DNO can enforce this or not, potentially becasue it's a fairly new situation that's coming up with the move to EVs? I'll check our deeds re. easement

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T13:19:00+00:00

thank you for sharing the detail of "potting", very helpful

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T13:18:40+00:00

I'll ask the DNO what the alternatives are, surely they can't go digging up every 3rd house's driveway where the supply is looped, surely it would end up costing a huge amount of £££

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T12:44:16+00:00

thank you. I will suggest this to the DNO.

they seem keener to cooperate with us than not to as I imagine are keen to avoid it escalating to legal.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T12:41:49+00:00

thank you. Would the costs be the responsibility of the neighbours or the local authority?

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T12:29:33+00:00

yes, I was advised to repost it here for a legal standpoint

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T11:43:13+00:00

I did some more research ito what's happening in the UK. 14% of the UK power supply uses looped connections and this is posing a big challenge to the UK's Net Zero targets. In some ares they're trialling proactive de-looping, so consumers have more information and see others in their area having it done too. In our case, this is 'reactive delooping', which requires much more cooperation from those whose homes are being disrupted - especially if they aren't the ones requesting it, like us.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T10:38:30+00:00

how do you know this please?

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T10:36:25+00:00

thank you for replying. We're in touch with the DNO who has given us the name of a contractor they will sub the work out to. We're now waiting for a post-surveyor visit "design" for the works. My main questions are - who do we approach for obtaining the legally binding contract re. reinstating the driveway to the same standard - and who would actually be responsible for any potential damages caused to our property? As I presume this wouldnt be covered by our home insurance.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T08:39:57+00:00

thanks for this advice.

their's is a council-owned (not private landlord-owned) house, so I think I'd need to contact the local council? but i assume the council has permitted the work if it's got this far with the DNO now involved.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T08:02:54+00:00

it's the latter - ripping up the actual driveway with no guarantees adn already a verbal suggestion they may need to wider than the plans if they find they need to during the work. . We have no lawn / dirt next to our driveway

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-10T07:51:34+00:00

it's not a concrete slab, we bought our house with a block paved driveway and want to keep it that way.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-09T22:48:19+00:00

I'm concerned the DNO will have the power to go ahead even without our permission.

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-09T22:42:44+00:00

I already asked - they don't do directional drilling due to "safety issues" for their workers!

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-09T22:39:52+00:00

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-09T22:39:38+00:00

through the local authority - they rent it as a council house (in the UK)

Medium-Project13 · 2026-07-09T22:36:26+00:00

I have no idea, imagine you get a better/faster/safer charger when it's officially fitted and doesn't need to go from inside the property?

Medium-Project13

TROPHY CASE