Why fear is often greater than reality
Party Wall discussions naturally focus on what could go wrong: cracking, movement, excavation, temporary support and weathering. Listing risks is not the same as saying they are likely to happen.
Practice-based indications
Based on Coburns’ practical experience, identifiable damage is encountered in roughly 1–2% of matters involving work directly to a party structure and below 1% in ordinary nearby-excavation matters. These are Coburns’ practice-based estimates, not independently verified national statistics or a prediction for an individual property. The likelihood and severity of damage vary by project.
An award can still reduce risk
The award can regulate relevant sequencing, temporary support, weather protection, access and other proportionate measures.
An award can mitigate inconvenience too
For many adjoining owners the greater day-to-day benefit is having clear arrangements for disruptive operations, access, protection, contact and what happens if a problem arises.
Low risk does not mean no risk
The sensible approach is proportionate protection, not complacency and not alarmism.
The aim is to manage a relatively small risk sensibly and make the much more common inconveniences easier to live with.