Reducing (not completely removing) depth of chimney breast

marcosscriven

Hi there

I live in an upper floor maisonette (there's the ground floor, and that's it - just two maisonettes)

There are several chimneys, but the one in the kitchen area is HUGE. It is 52 cm deep. For this reason, I'd like to reduce it down to 30cm deep, just like the other chimneys in the house.

The loft belongs to me too, and having looked, the actual chimney stack is only 30cm deep, and rather oddly shifted 80cm to the right (i.e the flue comes in at an angle).

Buried in the brickwork of the chimney breast must be the flue from the lower maisonette.

The question is, would it be relatively simple to remove the front of the chimney breast, retaining 30 cm depth? I can't see how the extra 20cm of depth is involved in supporting the part of the stack in the loft?

I want to keep the chimney partially, as compared to the other chimneys in my place, that's still plenty to have a nice looking fire.

Would this require planning permission, freeholder permission, or party wall permission?

Thanks

Marcos

vaio

Certainly party wall & building regs, probably freeholder, not sure about planning but I would include a visit from a structural engineer