Which council covers my village?
It's split. As a general guide, Anstey and Newtown Linford fall under Charnwood Borough Council, while Groby, Ratby, Markfield and Field Head fall under Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Boundaries can be close, so check your council tax bill if you're unsure.
It only matters for things like planning permission or conservation areas; for most jobs we do, it makes no difference. Notifiable electrical work is notified to building control as the law requires, whichever side you're on.
Because these villages are further out than the city, grouping several jobs into one visit gives the best value. Travel is included in your fixed price; distance is one of the things that shapes it, along with the job itself.
Can you rewire an old cottage with thick stone walls?
Yes, though it takes more planning than a modern house. The old village cores have cottages and terraces, some built in local stone, where chasing cables into solid walls is slow and can weaken old plaster. We usually route cables through floor voids and the loft instead, and drop down inside walls only where it's practical.
Where a wall can't be chased, neat surface conduit or skirting trunking is an option, and we'll show you what that looks like before you decide. A rewire always needs a survey visit. If your cottage is in a conservation area or is listed, check with your council before changing anything on the outside.
Can my driveway take an EV charger?
If you have off-street parking, usually yes. The newer estates around Groby, Ratby and Markfield mostly have driveways, which makes a charger straightforward. We check the main fuse, the board and the earthing arrangement from photos, then fit a smart charger to the current regulations and notify the network operator, National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Cottages with on-street parking are harder: running a cable across a pavement isn't allowed without council permission. Where there's a side path or garden next to the road, there may be other options, so send photos and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.
Can you add lighting and power to a pergola or patio?
Yes. Bigger gardens out here suit outdoor living, and a pergola or patio is far more useful with light and a socket. We can assemble and fix the pergola, then add the electrics in the same job, with the cables planned into the frame. Outdoor circuits are tested and certified like any indoor one, and the whole job goes on one fixed price.
- Pergola fitting
- Timber or aluminium kits, fixed to patio or new pads.
- Low-level path and step lights
- Fewer trips in the dark.
- Weatherproof outdoor sockets
- RCD-protected, for heaters, pumps and tools.
- Wall lights on a separate switch
- Controlled from inside the house.
Is air conditioning worth it in a home office?
If you work from a converted bedroom or a garden room that overheats in summer, often yes. A wall-mounted split unit cools in summer and, being a heat pump, can heat in winter too. We size it to the room, fit the indoor and outdoor units and run the power supply.
The outdoor unit has rules about noise and position, so check with your council if you're in a conservation area or close to a neighbour's window.