Cargo-system kitchen installation

Hey.

Very excellent site – thankyou! Am hoping you can help me too…

I have managed to buy myself what I believe is called a ‘cargo-system’ kitchen (long story).

Basically, the base units (a straight run of 2400mm) are supported by means of two sturdy end-panels to which are fixed two metal struts which run under the base units, holding them

together/off the floor (it’s made by a company called ‘English Rose’, if that means anything to anyone…).

Now this would be great if I didn’t have waste, water and gas piping running behind my soon-to-be-installed units. I ideally don’t want to cut into the end panels as a) this would

be quite a job and b) I don’t think I should compromise their ability to support the units. (also the 50mm allowance at the back of the units for piping isn’t universal – one of the

units cleverly only has 20mm available – and anyway 50mm is a bit snug for the waste pipe etc). But this means the units need to be positioned a distance from the wall to allow the

piping to run behind.

My question is – is it imperative to fix the base units to the wall (obviously I’ll fix them to each other, and to the end panels, and I could probably fix them from below to the

metal struts too – usefully no instructions with the kitchen, hence uncertainty) and if so, can I (and how can I) attach them – maybe by using extra pieces of wood screwed to the

frame and then to the wall, to extend the units at the back, if you like??

I plan to get extra-deep worktop to reach the wall so there isn’t a gap at the back, obviously.

I’d be very grateful for any input anyone can give on this one…

Apologies for the mega-post – hope it’s clear, anyway – and thanks very much in anticipation…