law for cookers and worktops

Refer to the manufacturer installation instructions as there may be specific distances it must be away from the wall, these will also vary depending upon wether the appliance has a gas or electric top. If these are no longer available the any distances specified by either gassafe or IEE apply

Whilst there is no particular legal issue with having a cooker with no worktops next to it, it is very odd and an inconvenience to anyone using the appliance. As previously said the manufacturers instructions for the appliance will tell you what sort of gaps to leave behind, to the side and above.

A cooker must always have at least 300 mm of worktop both sides of the cooker

As a kitchen fitter for 30 years the role is you must be at least 8 inches from the corner but this is not apply in small kitchen all you need to do is make sure you have a splashback on a return of the corner or tiled on the corner you must make it fireproof the back of a freestanding cooker is normally 2 to 4 inch away from the nearest ring so down the side of the cooker as long as you got some heat retardant material such as tiles stainless steel splashback this will go through building regs