Hardwiring a new appliance

[georgehiner3]

My washing machine in a cupboard in our bathroom is hardwired into a blank plate. I presume installing the new washing machine will be easy enough by cutting off the plug and stripping the wires and inserting? There is an earth lead leaving the blank plate and attached to the washing machine - is this just for older machines or will there be somewhere to connect this earth to on newer machines too?
Picture attached.
Many thanks
George

 

[littlespark]

May as well take off the blank plate and replace with a single socket.
I take it there’s a remote switch above for isolation?
I think the earth wire is to do with bonding, as in the olden days, all metal was linked together… copper pipes, radiators etc


A good opportunity to see if the circuit is RCD protected. Very much mandatory these days.

 

[brianmoooore]

May as well take off the blank plate and replace with a single socket.
I

Seem to remember a little reg. about sockets in bathrooms! Was 3m, but now reduced a bit in the last amendment, IIRC?

 

[littlespark]

Seem to remember a little reg. about sockets in bathrooms! Was 3m, but now reduced a bit in the last amendment, IIRC?

its in a cupboard, off a bathroom.... so zones are a little more complicated.
Likely never going to be unplugged, but offers local isolation.