Areas We Cover
Areas We Cover Across the North East
Andy’s Building and Bricklaying Services works across 32 towns and villages in Tyne and Wear, County Durham and south east Northumberland. That area spans 7 separate building control authorities, and which one applies to your property is decided by the address rather than by the postal town.
Call 07854 366464Get a Free QuoteOne region, seven authorities
People are often surprised that a twenty minute drive can cross three building control authorities. Washington and Houghton-le-Spring sit with Sunderland City Council despite Durham style addresses, Birtley sits with Gateshead Council rather than Durham County Council, and Boldon Colliery sits with South Tyneside Council rather than Sunderland. Each town page below leads with the authority that actually applies, along with the ground conditions and the housing stock you can expect to find there.
Every Town We Cover
Towns and villages, grouped by building control authority
Durham County Council
Newcastle City Council
North Tyneside Council
Northumberland County Council
South Tyneside Council
Sunderland City Council
Our building services
Every service below is available in every town we cover, each with its own local page.
Recent work
Our Approach
How we work
Site visit first
We come out, look at the property and ask the awkward questions before quoting. A price given without a visit is a guess dressed up as a quote.
A written quote
The quote arrives in writing with the scope set out, so you can see what is included rather than trusting a number said out loud.
Regulations handled
An extension is the one job where planning and building control both come into play. Many single storey rear extensions still fall inside permitted development, but the limits on depth, height and eaves are specific and they tighten on a semi detached or terraced property. Building regulations approval is needed either way.
Kept informed
Expect to know what is happening each week. Clear communication is what most of our work across the North East comes from, because people pass it on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coverage and local authorities: your questions
Which areas of the North East do you cover?
We work across 32 towns and villages in Tyne and Wear, County Durham and south east Northumberland, from our base in Blaydon-on-Tyne. Each has its own page below.
Why does it matter which council my property falls under?
Because the council decides where the building regulations application goes, which inspector attends and whose published guidance applies. Our working area spans 7 authorities: Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council.
My address says Durham but I have been told it is Sunderland City Council. Which is right?
Both can be true. Postal addresses and historic counties do not follow local authority boundaries. Washington and Houghton-le-Spring have Durham style addresses but fall under Sunderland City Council, and Birtley falls under Gateshead Council rather than Durham County Council.
Do you charge more for jobs further from Blaydon?
No. Pricing is based on the work rather than the postcode. Distance affects how we plan the week, not what the job costs.
Do you cover areas that are not listed here?
Very likely. The pages here cover the areas we work in most often. If your town is not listed, call 07854 366464 and we will tell you honestly whether it is within reach.
Is a coal mining risk assessment needed everywhere in the North East?
No. It applies where a site falls within a Coal Authority Development High Risk Area, which covers a large part of the old Durham and Northumberland coalfield but not all of it. Coastal North Tyneside and parts of Northumberland sit outside it.
Do you work in conservation areas and on listed buildings?
Yes. Both bring extra consents and closer scrutiny of materials and detailing. Listed building consent is separate from planning permission, and it is needed even for work that would otherwise be permitted.
How quickly can you get to a site visit?
Usually within a few days across the whole coverage area. Being based in Blaydon-on-Tyne keeps most of Tyne and Wear, north Durham and south east Northumberland within a reasonable drive.
Do you provide written quotes for every area you cover?
Yes. Every quote follows a visit to the property and arrives in writing with the scope set out and no obligation attached.
Which services are available in every town you cover?
All of them: house extensions, house renovations, bricklaying, structural alterations, groundworks and foundations, garage conversions, plus general building work. Every service has a page for every town we cover.
Not sure if we cover your area?
Give us a ring on 07854 366464 and we will tell you straight away. If your town is on the list above, we will arrange a visit and put a written, no obligation quote in front of you.
Call 07854 366464Request a Quote