Building notice/ knocking down walls- Help!

[CharlieBrown65]

Hello

I understand I'm probably going to come across as a bit dozy so apologies in advance! We've just bought our house and have decided to remove the wall between living and dining room. Had three builders round for quotes and all except one said it would need an RSJ fitting. We booked one in for end of this month.

I've just tried to book a kitchen fitter and he's asked to see the structural engineers plans and building notice for the project? I've since googled and now I'm panicking!

1. do I need a structural engineer?
2. how does building notice work?
3. if I can't get a building engineer, can the builder do it himself?

Nobody had mentioned these things up until this point which I am annoyed at but also aware I should have looked myself. Any help would be great thanks!

Yes you need a building notice and to get building regs involved. They will also want to see structural engineers plans. He/she calculates the load and what kind of support you need. It might just be a steel beam of X size, or it might need side supports and concrete footings etc. I would not use a builder who says you don't need to do this - you will have to have the building control sign off when you come to sell, as well as the safety aspect.

Forgot to add the building notice is just notifying the council you are doing building work, and it has to be done x days before you start work I think. But you need to get building control involved ASAP as they do staged visits. There's a fee obviously. (Don't think because you have informed one part of the council you are doing work that they will tell another part - planning, building control, listed buildings etc are all separate).

With building regs, do we need to wait for approval from them before we do the works? Or are we able to start it. They said their application time is 2 months!