Re building or excavating close to (within 6m in some cases of excavation, or 3m usually) your boundary will require the developer to have a Party Wall Agreement with you. They must serve you with a Party Wall Notice, and agree the details of the excavations, or building works, with you prior to the building works being started. You have the right to appoint your own Party Wall Surveyor, who will negotiate on your behalf, and he/she is paid for by the developer, not you!!! Brilliant isn't it..

If they build anything or excavate anything close to your boundary and haven't served a Party Wall Notice, you can obtain an injunction against the works.

There's a very useful leaflet here with more details;

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/...133214.pdf

You don't have to grant access to your property for any building works, but often it's actually best to allow this (on condition that they make good afterwards, replace anything that they've damaged) as the wall or wahatever they build facing you will look better in the long run!

Re planning; some good comments above. Lewisham Planners aren't daft, and to some extent will protect your rights under the various Planning Acts. If you're going to object, I would advise you to stick to planning-type objections (i.e. the new structure will reduce privacy, be overbearing, etc).

The planners can't do much about noise if planning is granted, but they can impose a planning condition (and usually do) stating that works must be carried out within certain hours, and not at weekends etc. The planning conditions form part of the permission and will be a public document so you'll be able to get a copy online.

Good luck!