Donereel blog
Building rules, costs and hiring tips for UK homeowners and tradespeople, in plain English. Every post is checked against official sources.
13 November 2026 · 2 min read
Part P explained: which electrical work needs to be certified (England)
New circuits, consumer unit changes and work around a bath or shower must be notified under Part P of the Building Regulations. Here is what that means for homeowners, what certificate you should get, and how to check your electrician.
13 November 2026 · 3 min readHow big can a rear extension be without planning permission? (England, 2026)
Under permitted development you can build a single-storey rear extension of 3 m (attached house) or 4 m (detached) without planning permission, or up to 6 m and 8 m with prior approval. Here are the limits, the catches, and what still needs approval.
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