We also have a neighbor who is really not happy that we are building. Until now, it was simply green land and he never expected that there would ever be any construction there (he could have bought the strip as well and thus ensured that nothing would be built, but that was too expensive).
Although he had always complained in the years before that the green strip was not maintained well enough (my mother, now 78 years old, simply couldn’t manage it and we are not always around), he does not like the fact that a house is now going to be built there! Which I can basically understand; of course, a green area maintained by others as a view is definitely nicer than a house there.
But I can report directly from Bavaria how it works with the neighbor’s signature: you should obtain the neighbors’ signatures, it speeds up the process because then the building authority doesn’t have to deal with it anymore. We had arranged various appointments with the neighbor and he was not there at any of them. Eventually, we submitted the building application without this signature. Then the neighbor is informed about the building application by the building authority and can request to inspect the application and the plans and, if applicable, object to the building project if applicable law (distance regulations, valid development plan, etc.) is violated. Simply because he does not like it—no, that is not possible in Bavaria either. A set deadline applies for this possible objection (2 or 4 weeks, I don’t know exactly). After that, he tacitly agrees.
For example, we also have the Lechwerke as a neighbor (because there is an electrical hut there and the small piece of land around it belongs to LEW), the building authority informs them as well, and if there is no objection from such an institution, it is considered approval.
Since it took us almost 2 years for our building application (the municipality stubbornly opposed it at every turn, even though the district office as the higher building authority had already issued the building permit long ago), for us, the two to four weeks were no longer decisive anyway. And probably in the end faster than if we had stood in front of the neighbor’s closed door dozens of times.
As I said, I basically understand that he is not thrilled that we are building there, but that’s life. Throughout Bavaria, people are trying to counteract land consumption through infill development. So we are trendsetters.
The plot has a slight slope; originally, we planned to build on his level and make one or two steps up to the old building (my mother’s house). He asked us to keep as much distance from him as possible (he himself built 3 meters to the property line and left plenty of space in front). We didn’t have much leeway, but we have now redesigned the house so that it adjoins my mother’s garage. But this was only possible by building at the height of the old building and thus having to balance the difference to his property by means of a retaining wall or L-walls. That means we have now moved 60 cm further away, but have to support it. Does he like that better??? We don’t know because when we wanted to come to him to talk about it (with prior appointment arrangements), he was never there. I doubt he inspected the plans when the district office asked him to. So it will surprise him...
Otherwise, we will still try to maintain a good neighborhood and, of course, he and his family will be invited to the housewarming party. We also hope for the time factor; that people will simply get used to the new situation. Incidentally, this is the part of his garden that he hardly ever uses anyway. So he will not have our house right in front of his nose while grilling, sitting outside, or chilling, but only when he cuts the lawn there. That should make getting used to it easier.