Can I remove this arch?

[mangomangomango]

Afternoon you lovely lot!

I would like to remove this bit of wall and am fairly confident that it'll be fine but wanted a second opinion.

The joists run perpendicular to this wall but run straight over and into the wall behind which is an exterior wall.

I've attached a few more glamour shots to hopefully give more detail, but dont hesitate to ask if I've missed a glaringly obvious bit of info!


. . . . .

I'd also like to knock out the concrete at the bottom to bring it down to the same level as the rest of the hall, are there any potential problems i might run into?

 

[jeds]

Punch a hole in the ceiling and check what is above and if anything looks like it is being supported by the brickwork?

 

[mangomangomango]

Nothing directly above it, the joists run straight over it and into the external wall.
There's a bedroom above so there are no walls or structures on top of it either.

 

[jeds]

Crack on then.