2 Counties Construction

26/10/2026

One of the questions we’re often asked about construction projects is how quickly work can begin. And while everyone wants to see progress, there’s quite a bit to organise before the first spade goes into the ground.

Planning permission: Depending on the size, position and type of extension, you may need planning permission. Some domestic extensions can be built under permitted development rights, but these come with specific conditions and limitations.

Building Regulations: Even when planning permission isn’t required, your project will usually still need to comply with Building Regulations covering matters such as structure, insulation, fire safety and drainage.

Structural calculations: If the project involves removing load-bearing walls, creating large openings or installing structural steelwork, a structural engineer will usually need to provide the necessary designs and calculations.

Party Wall matters: If you’re building close to a neighbouring property or carrying out certain work to a shared wall, the Party Wall Act may apply. This needs to be considered before work begins.

Access and site preparation: How will materials get onto the site? Is there room for a skip? Will scaffolding be needed? Are there underground services or existing drainage runs to work around?

And finally, a realistic programme of work: Construction involves different trades, material deliveries, inspections and sometimes the British weather. Planning the sequence properly helps keep everyone informed and reduces unnecessary delays.

At 2 Counties Construction, we work with clients from the early planning and design stages right through to completion, helping make the whole process as straightforward as possible.

23/10/2026

Another day, another wall going up 🧱 Although, typical British weather … there’s blue skies in the photos and rain lashing against the window as we post them!

That’s life in construction for you – making the most of the sunshine and working around whatever the British weather decides to throw at you next.

These were taken on a sunnier day on site last week, with the 2 Counties Construction team making good progress on the blockwork. From getting the mortar mix right to laying each course and checking levels, there’s plenty of skill behind a properly aligned wall. Our lads might make it look easy, but that comes from years of knowing their trade.

We can’t take credit for the sunshine, but we’ll happily take credit for the walls.

BehindTheBuild

20/10/2026

Behind 2 Counties Construction are Mark and Lucy Davies, the husband-and-wife team responsible for keeping everything running smoothly. And yes, a sense of humour certainly helps!

Between them, they oversee everything from the first conversations with clients and the planning stages to managing projects, coordinating trades and making sure the finished work meets the high standards 2CC is known for.

Running a construction company means juggling a fair few things at once. There are deadlines to meet, deliveries to organise, problems to solve and, occasionally, differing opinions on the best way to do something.

But Mark and Lucy share the same approach to business: be honest with clients, communicate properly, look after your team and take pride in every project, whether it’s a new build, a renovation or the careful restoration of a listed property.

Fortunately, they’ve got a great team around them too.

16/10/2026

05/10/2026

Before drawing new walls, spend some time thinking about what frustrates you in the house now.

Perhaps everyone arrives through the kitchen but there is nowhere to put coats. The dining room sits empty while the kitchen feels crowded. Morning queues form outside one bathroom, or the loveliest view can only be seen from a room nobody uses.

These small, everyday annoyances are valuable. They show where the house is failing and help shape a far more useful brief than a collection of beautiful reference images.

A successful renovation should improve the way you move through your home and use it every day. Begin with the life happening inside it, then make the building work around that.

2CountiesConstruction

01/10/2026

Barn conversions can create extraordinary homes, but agricultural buildings were never designed around comfortable temperatures, natural light or the practicalities of family life.

Here are five things to consider before beginning:

🏡 The planning route: Could the building qualify under Class Q permitted development, or will it require full planning permission? Its location, former use and listed status will all matter.

🏡 The existing structure: A barn may look solid while concealing problems with its foundations, roof or frame. A thorough structural assessment is essential before plans progress too far.

🏡 Access and services: Water, electricity, drainage, heating and vehicle access can involve significant work, particularly in an isolated rural location.

🏡 Light and layout: Large open spaces and high ceilings are wonderful, but they need to become rooms that feel comfortable and connected. New openings should bring in light without stripping away the barn’s character.

🏡 The true budget: Specialist materials, structural repairs and unexpected discoveries can all affect costs. A realistic contingency is particularly important when working with an older building.

The earlier you involve an experienced team, the easier it is to identify challenges, protect the features worth keeping and make the most of the building’s potential.

28/09/2026

LABOURER WANTED – WORCESTER AREA

We’re looking for a reliable labourer to join our team on building sites in and around the Worcester area.

General labouring duties
Worcester & surrounding areas
Immediate start available
Must be CIS registered
Must have your own transport / be able to get to the sites
Full-time work 40 hours a week 8.am - 4.30pm with 30 min lunch break.

Previous building site experience is preferred. Looking for someone reliable, hardworking and ready to get stuck in.

Call 01905 820080 with your experience, availability.

Please share if you know someone who may be interested.

27/09/2026

Interiors are not simply the finishing touch. They influence almost every decision made during a build.

How a room will be used affects its proportions, natural light, heating, electrics and storage. The position of a kitchen island determines where services are needed. Furniture layouts influence sockets and lighting. Materials chosen for the floor may alter levels, while bespoke joinery needs to be considered before walls are plastered.

Thinking about the interior from the beginning allows all these elements to work together, rather than forcing compromises once construction is well underway.

A beautifully built house should also feel comfortable, practical and personal to the people living in it. That does not happen by adding a few lovely pieces at the end. It comes from understanding how the finished home needs to work from the very start.

24/09/2026

While you may be planning your dream conversion, have you thought about the practicalities of actually living through one?
If you are staying in your home during a renovation, a little preparation will save a great deal of frustration:

🏠 Choose your base camp: Keep one room completely free from building work if possible. You will appreciate having somewhere that has four walls and a ceiling.

🏠 Create a temporary kitchen: A kettle, microwave, air fryer and small fridge can keep you going surprisingly well (although you may never want to see another ready meal afterwards).

🏠 Treat dust like the kids’ glitter: It travels further than seems physically possible and appears in places nobody remembers opening. Pack away clothes, books and soft furnishings, then seal what remains.

🏠 Ask about the disruptive days: Knowing when water, power or access will be affected allows you to plan work, meals and strategic escapes from the house.

🏠 Think about pets: Open doors, unfamiliar people and power tools are a poor combination. Arrange a safe, quiet space for them away from the work.

Living through a renovation has its moments, but clear communication and a realistic plan make it considerably easier. And remember: the stage when everything looks worse is usually the stage before it starts looking much better.

21/09/2026

You usually meet our projects once the dust has settled. This is the bit before that.

A quick look at the 2CC team doing what they do best: reading the plans, solving the inevitable surprises and turning a collection of raw materials into a building that works.

Much of good construction comes down to hundreds of small jobs done properly. Measurements checked, levels right, materials handled with care and problems dealt with before they become bigger ones.