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Excavation work is one of the most technically demanding and legally sensitive areas governed by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Many building owners assume that the Act only applies when work is carried out directly on a shared wall or immediately adjacent to a boundary. In practice, this assumption leads to more disputes, injunctions, and delayed projects than almost any other misunderstanding of the legislation.
Under Section 6 of the Party Wall Act, excavation and foundation works can trigger statutory obligations even when construction is several metres away from a neighbouring property. This is particularly relevant in London, where dense development, historic buildings, and increasingly deep foundations create a high-risk environment for adjoining owners.
This guide provides a detailed explanation of the Party Wall Act’s Section 6 ‘3-metre’ and ‘6-metre’ rules. We focus on the geometry behind the Act, the engineering logic that underpins it, and the practical risk management steps required to remain compliant on real-world projects.
Party Wall Act Section 6 deals specifically with excavations and the construction of foundations near neighbouring buildings or structures. Unlike other parts of the Act, which focus on works directly affecting party walls or boundary walls, Section 6 is concerned with what happens below ground.
To achieve this, the Act sets out two separate proximity tests that determine whether formal notice must be served before works commence.