The Party Wall etc Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to:

• working on an existing wall or structure shared with another property (section 2)
• building a free standing wall, or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1)
• excavating near a neighbouring building (section 6)

For more information please see the explanatory booklet from GOV.UK.