550 stub ?

[bongobus]

is this allowed - shouldnt the return on the right be 550mm as per the regs ?

the rear is a flat roof single storey extension, the kitchen area would have originally had a single opening door, this is a 2 storey house with this being the back holding a first floor

 

[hotrod]

is this allowed - shouldnt the return on the right be 550mm as per the regs ?

The document you quote is an Approved Document and for guidance only - it's not the "Building Regs" per se in black and white. so the 550mm figure can be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Approved Docs have a caveat, something along the lines of, "There is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an approved document if you prefer to meet the relevant requirement in some other way."

As long as the design and installation is fit for purpose that's all LABC bothered about - rather that meeting some mystical figures.

 

[^woody^]

Lots of properties up and down the country have no return/butressing and are perfectly stable.

The approved document was only altered in recent times with this guidance, but there is no absolute requirement to have wide returns on walls.

In practical terms, you may require structural calculations if the recommendation was is adhered to