"JK" wrote
| BTW I think the rooms look much the worse for the removal of the
| chimney breast.

Some studwork and plasterboard later ... voila! a chimney breast.

| A far better way of supporting the chimney breast in the loft
| would be to provide a steel beam long enough to bear on the main
| front and rear external walls. This would restore the full support
| which is now missing.
| Hmmm....wonder how much a 25' rsj would cost!

Not-a-lot really. The cost is in putting it into place ...

| It would a good idea to have a full structural survey done ...
| Yes. I was hoping to avoid a structural; ones that I've seen just say
| things like "The chimney looks badly done, I recommend you get a chimney
| specialist to look at it."

Get a structural engineer (NOT surveyor) to report on the chimney only. If
the work is satisfactory it will confirm that, and you may be able to apply
for a Regularisation Cert from building control. If the work isn't
satisfactory you will need the engineer's report and work spec to take to
builders for tendering.

Owain