About Us
25 years of trusted expertise, built on clarity and care.
James Powers BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE IntPE, Director
I’m a local chartered structural engineering expert based right here in Nottingham. For over 25 years, I’ve been helping homeowners navigate structural challenges with confidence, whether that’s designing a steel beam for a wall removal, investigating cracks, or supporting a full renovation.
I founded Nottingham Structural Engineering Ltd because I believe every homeowner deserves clear, honest advice from a qualified professional, not jargon-heavy reports or impersonal service. When you call, you speak directly to me.
Before returning to Nottingham, I co-founded Oculus Architectural Engineering in Auckland, and in 2021 I appeared on New Zealand’s TV3 as the damp and mould expert in Healthy Homes: A Kiwi Dream. I bring that building science to every home I visit, so damp and cracks are fixed at the cause, not just covered up.
Local chartered structural engineering expert CEng MIStructE
Member of IStructE
Fully Insured — £10M PI Cover
25+ Years in Practice
Your Local Chartered Structural Engineer
My experience includes assessing existing buildings, investigating cracking and movement, designing remedial works and preparing structural reports and calculations.
I’ve worked with homeowners facing a variety of situations, from proposed wall removals to unexpected concerns raised during property surveys.
I understand that these situations can be unsettling, especially when you’re buying a home or facing the possibility of costly repairs. My role is to explain what needs attention and recommend sensible next steps.
I believe engineering advice should be straightforward and accessible. You shouldn’t need a technical background to understand what’s happening with your own home.
My Journey
Over two decades of delivering trusted structural solutions.
Career Begins
Started as a graduate structural engineer in the East Midlands, working on residential and commercial projects.
Chartered Status
Achieved Chartered Engineer status (CEng MIStructE), demonstrating the highest professional standards.
Award-Winning Work
Recognised for outstanding residential structural design at the regional IStructE Awards.
Nottingham Structural Founded
Launched Nottingham Structural Engineering to focus exclusively on homeowner projects across Nottingham.
500+ Projects Completed
Surpassed 500 successfully delivered residential projects — from beam designs to full structural surveys.
Why I Established Nottingham Structural Engineering Ltd
I believe homeowners deserve clear, independent structural advice from someone who takes the time to understand their concerns.
Having worked on residential buildings and investigated structural problems throughout my career, I know how important it is to assess each property individually.
A crack in a wall doesn’t automatically mean a major structural problem. Equally, something that appears cosmetic may need closer investigation.
The important thing is understanding the cause and recommending an appropriate response.
My aim is to help homeowners avoid unnecessary worry and expense while making sure genuine problems receive the attention they need.
Whether you’re dealing with an issue in your existing home or considering alterations, I want you to understand your options and feel confident about your next steps.
Experience That Helps Solve Real Structural Problems
My experience covers a wide range of structural issues and alterations to existing buildings.
This includes investigating cracking and movement, assessing retaining walls, designing remedial works and preparing calculations for property alterations.
I also help homeowners and homebuyers understand concerns raised in building surveys, including previous alterations, potential movement and structural defects.
Sometimes the right recommendation involves repairs or further investigation. In other situations, an issue may be historic, non-structural or suitable for monitoring.
The goal is to provide advice that's proportionate to the problem, rather than recommending unnecessary work.
For planned alterations, I prepare designs and calculations to help homeowners, builders and architects understand what's required. This includes steel beams for wall removals, support for other structural changes and retrospective calculations where previous building work needs to be assessed.
You can learn more about our structural inspections, beam calculations and survey report reviews.
A Practical Approach To Structural Engineering
Every property is different, and so is every homeowner's situation.
My approach is to understand your concerns, assess the relevant issues and explain my findings in a way that makes sense.
Clear Advice Without The Jargon
Structural engineering can be technical, but the advice you receive should be easy to follow. I explain my findings in plain English so you understand what they mean for your property.
Recommendations That Make Sense
Not every issue requires extensive repairs. I focus on identifying what needs attention, what may need monitoring and when further investigation is appropriate.
Reports You Can Actually Use
A useful report should do more than describe a problem. Where appropriate, I provide practical recommendations that you can discuss with builders and use to plan your next steps.
Personal Service From Start To Finish
You'll speak directly with me about your concerns, so you know who's assessing your property and who to ask if you need clarification.
Helping Homeowners With Real Property Concerns
From investigating cracking and movement to designing support for home alterations, my work involves helping people understand their properties and what steps to take next.
Every situation is different, which is why I take the time to assess the issue and recommend a practical way forward.
You can explore examples of my work on our Case Studies page
Local Knowledge, Personal Service
Being based in Nottingham means I’m familiar with the variety of residential properties and structural issues found in the area.
From older brick-built houses with historic alterations to homes being adapted for modern living, different properties present different challenges.
I enjoy helping people understand their homes, whether that means investigating a concern, reviewing a survey or working with your architect on proposed alterations.
Whatever the situation, you’ll receive a personal approach, with advice tailored to your property rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Speak Directly To Me About Your Property
If you’re concerned about a structural issue, have questions following a property survey or are planning alterations, I’m happy to discuss how I can help.
You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong or which service you require. Just explain what you’ve noticed, what you’re planning or what you’ve been advised, and we can discuss the next step.
At Nottingham Structural Engineering Ltd, you’ll receive straightforward advice and personal attention from me throughout.