Semi-detached house on a plot with rising ground

We are currently facing the following problem: The city sold 2 plots for one semi-detached house each. Our neighbors submitted their building application 3 months ago, at which time we were still comparing offers from general contractors. According to the development plan, the semi-detached houses are supposed to form a visual unit (the definition here is quite flexible) and in any case, the eaves height and ridge height should be the same. The neighbors have made and submitted their plans. Meanwhile, we are also ready and it is now apparent that the entire property, i.e. both plots combined, slopes slightly upwards on the eaves side. The neighbors have planned everything so that their front door is at street level and they have adhered to the eaves height of 6m. Our front door, assuming we connect 1:1 to the neighboring house, is currently 30 cm below street level/backwater level – this is a no-go! What to do now? The easiest solution would be to raise both houses so that we are also at street level. Unfortunately, according to the latest information from the neighbor, their building application is almost approved. Is there any possibility for us here? In any case, we cannot comply with the requirements of the development plan in this way. Due to geometric reasons, there is always some deficit somewhere. Does anyone have an idea for us? Of course, we are also fundamentally annoyed about the procedure and are of the opinion that semi-detached houses should always be planned as a whole. However, the city awards such individual plots and in the end, after a very long waiting time (6 years), we are just glad to have finally obtained a building plot.

I don't understand your problem, with us in the "mountains" almost every semi-detached house is of a different level. Just plan your entrance accordingly and that's it.

Then our house is higher than the neighbor’s and we cannot connect flush. We actually wanted to avoid that. I’m curious if our general contractor will now come with an additional charge, since I am now not connecting directly at the gable end to the neighbor, but have to plaster about 30-50cm higher and corresponding to the length of the gable. I also find this quite annoying, since this side will quickly look shabby and will be difficult to paint (thinking about the future).

You are worrying about things that are normal! But be glad that you are higher, otherwise you would still have to install a lifting system in the end, since you might be below the drainage level.

I can hardly imagine a 30 cm height difference over the width of a house visually without stepping the houses - the "upper" one would always have to plan first and the "lower" one would have to live with a plinth and steps into the garden (?) - the street surely does not just rise when looking only at these two properties???

Talk to the contractor. The 30 cm deeper on your side doesn’t seem like a real problem to me. Of course, it would have been better if you had balanced it out, neighbor goes up 15, you go down 15. But now it is like this.... waited too long, facts have been created. 30 cm will not lead to a lifting station and also not to water problems in the hallway, there will be a drainage channel in front of the door and that’s it. As I said, the contractor will tell you how it’s done, and then you say, oh God, was I unnecessarily worried. Karsten