Decking in Guisborough

What follows is a guide to decking in Guisborough: the homes, the ground and Chapel Beck, the conservation area and the cost.

The homes

Guisborough ward has more terraces than any other type of home. The 2021 Census counted 40.7% of homes as terraced, 29.3% semi-detached, 15.3% detached and 11.1% flats. 56.9% of households own their home, 21.7% rent from a council or housing association and 20.6% rent privately.

The old town is built along Westgate, with Bow Street, Church Street, Northgate, Fountain Street, Chaloner Street and Belmangate leading off it, and lanes and yards such as Walkers Row behind. St Nicholas Church, Guisborough Library, Laurence Jackson School and Chaloner Primary School are all within a short walk, and pubs such as the Fox Inn, the Ironstone Miner and the Three Fiddles sit among the shops. The ruins of Gisborough Priory are just east of the church.

That mix means very different gardens. Behind a house on Westgate, the plot may be long and walled, with old stone or brick boundaries and outbuildings. A terrace off the centre often has a yard. On the estates around the edge of town, gardens are more regular, with a lawn and a fence. Inland, Guisborough is more sheltered from salt spray than Redcar or Saltburn, which widens the choice of materials a little, though wind still matters.

Ground and drainage

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows glaciofluvial sand and gravel, laid down by meltwater from the ice sheets, over the Jurassic Redcar Mudstone Formation in central Guisborough. Sand and gravel drain well, so water rarely sits under a deck. They can be loose, though, so we dig deeper post holes and set each post in concrete.

Chapel Beck runs close to the centre of town, and the Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows small areas of Flood Zone 2 and 3 within 300 metres. If your garden backs onto the beck, check your postcode on the map before planning. A deck can sit near a watercourse if the frame is kept clear of the ground, the footings are deep and the fixings suit damp conditions.

On estates built more recently, the natural ground can be mixed with fill from construction. A test hole at each post position tells us what we're dealing with.

Planning in Guisborough

The Guisborough Conservation Area covers the historic town centre, and planning.data.gov.uk lists dozens of listed buildings and structures there, from houses and walls along Westgate, such as 12 and 12A and 40 and 42 Westgate, to boundary walls and gate piers behind them and the Three Fiddles Hotel (all Grade II). Redcar and Cleveland has 16 conservation areas in all.

The Planning Portal's national rules say a deck is normally permitted development if it's no more than 30cm above the ground and, together with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. In a conservation area, side decks need planning permission. At a listed building, the permitted development allowance for decking doesn't apply, and listed building consent may be needed, including for anything fixed to a listed wall. Many of the boundary walls behind Westgate are listed in their own right.

So for a house in the old town, we'd check the listing and the boundary before designing, and suggest a low, freestanding deck that stands clear of historic walls. On the estates, most low rear decks need no application.

Deck ideas for Guisborough

In a long walled garden, a low deck near the house for dining, with a gravel path to a second seating spot further down, makes good use of the length. Hardwood or a woodgrain composite in a warm tone sits well against old stone and brick. In a terrace yard, a wall-to-wall deck with a hatch over the drain and planters along one side gives a tidy, usable space.

On the newer estates, a deck the width of the house with a step to the lawn and lights in the riser is a practical family choice. See timber decking, composite decking and balustrades, steps and lighting.

Budget

We price after a visit. The main factors are size, height, board choice, steps and guarding, lighting and access. In the old town, carrying materials through a house or a narrow gate takes longer. Our decking costs guide explains each part of the quote.

Around Guisborough

• New Marske: to the north, a village of modern estates.
• Ormesby: to the west, near Ormesby Hall.
• Saltburn-by-the-Sea: to the north-east on the coast.

All our areas are listed on the areas page.

FAQs about decking in Guisborough

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