Waiting for workmen

[MattMagnolia]

We decided what we wanted doing to our old listed house and applied for planning permission 2 1/2 years ago.
We started looking for various workmen but after 8 months nothing has been done. Electrician for rewiring is having an operation. Painter likewise. Can’t find a builder interested in the main job. Roofer can’t come for 6 months etc
Is this normal?

We had an 18 month wait for our carpenter to replace our stairs, will be back in 12 months to replace 2 back doors, will be making a new kitchen window at the same time but no timescale for replacing it yet. 6 week wait for plasterer to make good round new stairs. Good tradesmen are in short supply and can dictate their own timescales.
Apparently the UK average age of a painter & decorator is 63! Our plasterer says he is giving up when he is 50. Need to get our kitchen replaced in the next 7 years on that basis!