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200 x 200 SHS columns and a 203 x 203 x 52 UC for a 3.6m span in a domestic structure is absolutely bonkers. That's not engineering - its profligacy.

Just a thought: the cracking looks more in the horizontal direction rather than in the vertical. Could it be that the wall in the lower section is built of lightweight block, which is known for shrinkage cracking? If so, it might have pulled some of the joints apart in the brickwork above? If...

It's not just the strength of the bolts themselves that matters, its also how the bolts react with the timber they are fixing, Here's an extract which which might give a clue as to your bolt-load capacity. Its for timber>timber connections but wont be far out for your purposes

The two most common grades of bolts are 4.6 and 8.8 (not sure if there's a 5.8?) 8.8 is usually used for steelwork, and 4.6 for timber work. You didn't say what diameter of bolt you used (that is just as significant as the grade) and the spacing. If you know these, and the load on each bolt...

O/T I don't get it, but then I'm an old Defender fan.

In section it will look something like this (hopefully it won't lean over like this does!)

Is this what you mean? If so, it is very risky taking out the ground floor chimney breast because the arch pushes in from next door and you end up with a big mess in both houses. It can be done but requires some hefty steelwork bracing on your side of the wall and will work out expensive...

Why couldn't he explain this 'other way round'?? Generally chimney flues in the loft space are supported on ether a steel beam (though you need an internal load-bearing wall plus sufficient wall at the side of the window) or suitably secured gallows brackets.

If you're stuck in a bind and you have to go back to the disappointed builder with your tail between your legs, how can you expect hm to knock money off? If anything, he'd put more on, or say he's now too busy.

That's only for doors opening across the bottom of the stairs. As there's no specifiic rule against a door over a single step, it is permitted. It would be wise, however, to hinge the door on the newel side so that you don't open it to find yourself standing directly over the next step down...

Where does that 400mm come from?

Never mind the step, surely there's some regulation about that wallpaper!!

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If this building is listed, you need to be careful as to what you take on.

With that basement to do a proper job you really need to consider tanking up the walls and across the floor, with a pumped drainage system. That is the only way to do a permanent job on it without any future problems. The white furry stuff is salts, a sure sign of dampness.

Two 47 x 200 C24 screwed together would be fine - no need for a steel plate.

The arch will be ok to support the outer 'skin' of the wall and there will be a timber lintel supporting the inner part. Why bother changing them?

It wouldn't need to comply with current regs, but I would have thought that it is not permissible to undertake any work which makes the current situation with regard to fire safety and means of escape any worse. Yes, 2-storey can have open plan but normally with escape windows upstairs. If the...

One of the reasons they normally bolt to the web of the beam (or as near to the web as possible as in your case) is to avoid torsion increasing the bending stress on the main beam. The detail you have 'offsets' the load, so putting a twisting effect on the beam. But its commonly done because...

Does it need to achieve 30 mins?