Two neighbours in a leafy North London neighbourhood have been locked in a bitter feud for over three years. Robert Medcalfe hired a lawyer and has spent £7,500 fighting Alisson Roberto Teixeira over an 8ft-wide shared driveway between their two properties.

The neighbourly feud started in 2022 when Italian developer Mr Teixeira applied to build a property to the rear of a house on Randall Avenue in Dollis Hill, using a 2.7 metre driveway between the neighbouring properties as the access road - with the project estimated to cost up to £2million to complete. At the time Mr Metcalfe called the plan “completely unlawful”.

He told MyLondon: “I’m absolutely outraged and livid by the whole thing. It’s a complete shock. How can you try to do something with someone’s property without speaking with them and getting permission? That’s not what neighbours do.”

Mr Metcalfe launched a campaign with other locals on the street in a bid to prevent the new development, adding he was never even spoken to about the proposal.

It claimed those affected were caused “undue stress” and urged the council to refuse the plans “and all future variations or appeals”.

Fellow up in arms locals were concerned it could be transformed into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) and rented out.

One resident said: “Again this tiresome application comes to light. [...] It is ludicrous to erect a HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) in the back of a garden which runs alongside my garden and property. The idea of the only access [being] through a shared drive is preposterous and I imagine completely unlawful.”

However, it appears the three year dispute over the communal tarmac has taken its toll on Mr Medcalfe and has called off the fight. He has reportedly moved out.

Triumphant Mr Teixeira, who is renting his house out, has submitted new plans to the council for the controversial development, which will see three garages pulled down for access and the creation