Decking in Elwick

In Elwick, a deck has to suit a conservation village and gardens that open onto the countryside. Here's our guide to the homes, the clay and the beck, planning and cost.

Houses and gardens

Elwick is in Hartlepool's Rural West ward, which also takes in West Park. Across the ward, the 2021 Census found that 89.1% of households own their home and only 2.4% rent from a social landlord. Car ownership is high too: 41.5% of households have two cars or vans and 17.1% have three or more. More than three-quarters of homes in the ward are detached.

The older part of Elwick is centred on North Lane, with the Spotted Cow, the McOrville Inn, the village shop and St Peter's Elwick Church of England Primary School. Manor Close, The Paddock, Greenlea, Martindale Close, Hillcrest Grove and North Close are newer additions, and Coal Lane heads out of the village. A public footpath links the village with Dalton Piercy.

Gardens vary from compact cottage plots in the old village to generous lawns on the newer closes, some with countryside behind. A deck can bring a sloping or uneven plot level, create a sheltered seat out of the wind, or give a raised spot to enjoy the view.

What's underfoot

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows till over Permian dolostone of the Ford Formation. Till is a stony clay that's firm below the topsoil but slow to drain, so lawns can stay wet in winter. We set posts in concrete below the soft layer and leave a membrane and gravel under the deck so water drains away.

Village gardens often have older features worth keeping: a hedge, a fruit tree, a stone path or an outbuilding. We plan the deck around them rather than clearing them, keeping footings away from roots and leaving a gap where a deck meets an old wall so moisture can escape. If part of the garden is shaded by trees for much of the day, that's where a grooved or capped board pays off, because it stays grippier when damp.

Char Beck runs about 200 metres from the centre, and Dalton Beck a little further. The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows small areas of Flood Zone 2 and 3 within 300 metres. If your garden runs down towards the beck, check your postcode on the map. A raised, open frame lets water pass underneath without harm.

Permission

planning.data.gov.uk records the Elwick Conservation Area as designated on 22 April 1975; it's one of eight conservation areas in Hartlepool. The Church of St Peter is Grade II*, and Elwick Windmill, The Forge, Wilton Cottage and Elwick Hall are Grade II.

Under the national rules on the Planning Portal, a deck is normally permitted development if it's no more than 30cm above the ground and, with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. Within the conservation area, side decks need planning permission. At a listed building, there's no permitted development allowance for decking.

For the newer closes outside the conservation area, a low rear deck usually needs no application. Anything raised above 30cm needs planning permission wherever you are.

Designs that work here

In the old village, a low hardwood deck in a natural tone suits the setting and stays out of sight from the street. A gravel border and planting between deck and lawn help it sit comfortably in a traditional garden.

On the newer closes, a composite deck across the back of the house with a step down to the lawn, built-in seating and lights in the riser gives a practical family space. If the garden overlooks fields, a slatted screen on the windward side adds shelter without blocking the view. See timber decking, composite decking and balustrades and screens.

Cost

We price every job after a visit. The main factors are size, height, board choice, screens and balustrades, lighting, and access, which is usually easy on the newer closes. Our pricing guide explains what goes into a quote.

Nearby

• West Park: about 3km east, on the edge of town.
• Hart: about 3km north-east.
• Throston: about 4km north-east.

Our areas page lists everywhere we work.

Questions answered about decking in Elwick

Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, Rural West ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Elwick Conservation Area and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.