Widening doorway (Help needed).

[Porkx]

Hi, I want to widen a doorway in a non-load bearing wall from a 500mm opening (small I know) to approx. 2000mm. The current lintel is wooden, so therefore need replacing with (I assume) a concrete one.
Firstly, what size do you think I need (wall is single brick and plaster with 3 courses of brick above lintel) and, Secondly, do I need planning permission (or what building regs do I need to follow)?

 

[^woody^]

Just take the wall away up to the ceiling, you don't want to be messing about with a lintel and only three course of bricks.

Put a timber frame back in across the top if you want it to look like a doorway

You don't need planning permission. You wont need b/regs for structure, but for fire precautions it will depend where it is and what type of property

 

[Porkx]

Thanks Woody, that's a great help. Now just to put it into practice.