Areas We Cover
Building Services in Chopwell
Chopwell sits with Gateshead Council for planning and building control, and it is a former colliery village on high ground above the Derwent, with Chopwell Woods on its doorstep. Andy’s Building and Bricklaying Services has been building across the North East for over 25 years, and everything below is specific to working here rather than general to the region.
Call 07854 366464Get a Free QuoteBuilding in Chopwell
Andy is a time served general builder based in Blaydon-on-Tyne, which puts Chopwell comfortably inside our normal working area. Every enquiry gets a visit to the property and a written, no obligation quote before anyone commits to anything.
What we do in Chopwell
Each of these has its own Chopwell page covering the local detail rather than a general description of the trade.
Local Knowledge
Planning, building control and ground conditions in Chopwell
Gateshead Council is the authority for Chopwell. Both the planning side and the building control side sit there, which at least means one set of forms, one fee scale and one set of guidance notes rather than two.
There is a design dimension too, because this is the far western edge of Gateshead, so the authority is Gateshead Council even though the village feels closer to Durham in character. The village is high, exposed and a fair drive from the main routes, so we plan deliveries in fewer, larger loads rather than trickling materials in.
Chopwell exists because of the pit, and the shallow workings beneath the village are exactly the situation where a coal mining risk assessment changes a foundation design. Above ground, Chopwell covers colliery terraces laid out in regular rows around the old pit near Chopwell Woods, High Spen, Blackhall Mill as well as limited later infill on the village edges. The right method follows the property rather than the postcode, which is why a site visit comes before a price.
Recent work
Our Approach
How we work in Chopwell
Site visit first
The first step is a site visit. Nothing gets priced in Chopwell until we have seen what we are actually being asked to build.
A written quote
You get a written, no obligation quote that states the scope. If something is excluded, it says so rather than leaving it to be argued about later.
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
We keep you updated as the work goes on rather than disappearing for a week. It is the least complicated part of building work and the part most often done badly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Building work in Chopwell: your questions
What kind of building work do you do most of in Chopwell?
Both ends of the range, because Chopwell has colliery terraces laid out in regular rows around the old pit as well as limited later infill on the village edges, and each brings different work.
Do you charge to come out and look at a job in Chopwell?
Not at all. We come out, look properly, and put a written quote to you with no obligation. The village is high, exposed and a fair drive from the main routes, so we plan deliveries in fewer, larger loads rather than trickling materials in.
Which council do I apply to for building work in Chopwell?
Applications for Chopwell go to Gateshead Council, which covers planning and building control across the borough.
Is my Chopwell property likely to be in a conservation area or subject to any special restriction?
That varies street by street. This is the far western edge of Gateshead, so the authority is Gateshead Council even though the village feels closer to Durham in character. Establishing it early is far cheaper than redesigning later.
Do you handle building regulations applications and inspections?
Yes. We work to the approved details, book the stage inspections and meet the inspector on site. The completion certificate is the record a future buyer solicitor will ask for.
How do I get in touch?
Call 07854 366464, send a message through the contact form or email andy@andysbuildingservices.uk. We will arrange a time to look at the property.
Is your work guaranteed?
Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed for an agreed period, confirmed in writing before work starts, and manufacturer warranties on materials are passed on to you.
Do I need a coal mining or ground report for building work in Chopwell?
Possibly, and it is better to know at the start. Chopwell exists because of the pit, and the shallow workings beneath the village are exactly the situation where a coal mining risk assessment changes a foundation design.
Do you arrange skips and permits?
Yes. Skips, and the highway permit where a skip has to sit on the road, are included in the written quote rather than added afterwards.
Will you tidy up as you go?
Yes. Sites are cleared down at the end of each day and waste is removed rather than stacked in the garden for the duration.
Areas near Chopwell
We cover 32 towns and villages across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and south east Northumberland.
Got a project in Chopwell?
Get in touch and we will come and look. Every quote for building work in Chopwell is written down, based on the actual property, and carries no obligation.
Call 07854 366464Request a Quote