What is this metal strap for behind my dry lining? All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[Alan178]

I wanted to add a spur socket off my ring main, so I cut a hole in the dry lining to mount the pattress box and found this metal strap running vertically behind the plasterboard and in front of the thermalite blocks.

This is about half way up the wall ( first floor bedroom, external wall ). Why is it there ? I don't suppose it would be a sensible idea to cut it out ?

Thanks for any advice,
Alan

[stoneyboy]

Hi alan178
It’s a strap holding down the wall plates of your roof.
Regards S

[Alan178]

Thank you. That does make sense, although it's a lot lower down the wall than I would have expected. In this case then it would probably have been ok to cut it ( since it is most likely that it will be screwed to the blocks higher up and this is just the tail end), but I decided to err on the side of caution and moved my socket over to one side.
Thanks again.