Replacing a freestanding cooker with built in oven and hob

[AdjustableWench]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice, as I'm not very good at DIY or design or anything of any practical use!

My kitchen used to have a built in hob and oven.
This was replaced against my wishes with a freestanding cooker. To do this, the worktop was cut to make room between the floor units. There's only just enough room in this space for a 60cm cooker (I think there's supposed to be more clearance either side, but whatever - I haven't set fire to anything yet).

The oven stopped working a while ago, and I hate the cooker anyway, so I really want to replace it with a built in hob and oven. But that section of worktop has been removed.

I don't want to replace the whole worktop - it's very long and there are tiles above it. It would be a major hassle.

Is there any way to replace the missing section of worktop with a new section, and cut a hole in it for a new hob? Maybe with a support at the wall and metal brackets at the sides to join it to the existing worktop? Or is this a stupid and completely impossible idea?

What is the current work top made of? You could replace a larger piece of a contrasting material, granite for example, so it looks deliberate. I've seen kitchens with wood and stone work surfaces.

You could replace a larger piece of a contrasting material, granite for example, so it looks deliberate.

I like that idea! It's some kind of laminate stuff. But some wood would look nice! So I could take out a large section and replace it without having to replace the whole thing?

Oh wait, maybe wood would be a bad idea - too flammable?
But granite's pretty hard to burn, if expensive (so I hear).
Hmmm. Things to think about.

We had a beech work top with Inset hob. Wood will scorch long before burning, we put glass work top savers alongside to put hot pans on.

Gosh, that sounds lovely! Right: I'm going to go and look at worktops at the weekend.

Ditto those glass savers We have a couple and they really do protect the
worksurface and easy to clean- just pop in the washing bowl and wipe.
They can be put away as well if say selling.

Thanks Muddle! I'll get my hands on a couple of those.