Take nothing for granted.
If this is your intention you need to discuss it with the adjoining propertyholder before you buy or be prepared to engage in legal disputes under the Land Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009.
[broken link removed]
This is a draconian piece of legislation, trundling over the rights of property holders in favour of persons who wish to develop or do things to things on or near the boundary.
Oddly enough it may work in your favour, but there are checks and balances in it for people with money and access to legal representation.
It'll no doubt end up as a nice little earner for some brief still reeling from the loss of his conveyancing income.
But it presents quite a frightening prospect if you are living alone in retirement
Chapter 3 Party Structures refers, Sections 43 to 47 inclusive numbered pages 38 to 41.
Its poor recompense to someone who has grown champion roses or vegetables to see them destroyed by a builder who leaves after six months of noise, nuisance abd disruption having "reinstated the ground" with a paltry handfull of grass seed and some compost - leaving further recompense at the end of a costly court action.
The worst part is where the "building owner" [the developer] can claim money from the [adjoining owner] as follows:
==========================
S. 44 (3) The building owner may—
(a) claim from the adjoining owner as a contribution to, or
deduct from any reimbursement of, the cost and expenses
of making good such damage under subsection (2)(a), or
(b) deduct from compensation under subsection (2)(b)(ii),
such sum as will take into account the proportionate use or enjoyment
of the party structure which the adjoining owner makes or, it
is reasonable to assume, is likely to make.
==========================
Think about it.
A self-builder with a digger can go to court, get an order, make a mess of your prized begonians for six months, build an ugly rationalist boardmarked concrete wall with no capping that will stain badly in a year, but which is part of a development that wins an Award from the RIAI or AAI - and charge you for the privilege!
I ask you!
ONQ.
[broken link removed]
All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.