Gilesgate covers everything from listed houses on the old street to tidy post-war semis, often on sloping ground. The checks for a deck depend on which part you're in. Here's what we look at.
The homes
The Census area (LSOA) around the centre of Gilesgate has a lot of terraces and flats. The 2021 Census counted 43% of homes as terraced, 23% semi-detached, 23% flats and 10% detached. Only 32% of households own their home; 39% rent privately and 28% rent from a social landlord.
Near the centre are Mackintosh Court, Annand Road, Glue Garth, Edward Street, Musgrave Gardens, Cooper Square, Roosevelt Road, Churchill Avenue and Churchill Square, Wakenshaw Road, Montgomery Road, Cunningham Place and Bradford Crescent, with Sunderland Road and Sherburn Road running through. Gilesgate Park and the Sherburn Road nature area are about 400 metres away.
Terraced houses usually have small rear yards or narrow gardens, sometimes with a back lane. Semis on the later roads have longer gardens, often with a lawn and side access. Much of Gilesgate is on a hillside, so gardens often slope. Where a garden is reached by a flight of steps, a deck has to be designed in pieces that can be carried down safely.
Car ownership is low here: in the 2021 Census, 45% of households in this LSOA had no car or van. Streets can still be busy with parked cars, so we keep deliveries short. Where there's no back lane, boards come through the house, so we measure the hallway at the visit.
Slope and soil
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till, a mix of clay, sand and stones, over mudstone, siltstone and sandstone of the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Below the topsoil, till is firm enough for posts set in concrete. It holds water, so we keep the frame clear of the soil and add gravel underneath. On a slope, we brace the frame so it can't creep downhill.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no Flood Zone 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the centre of Gilesgate. The River Wear flood zones are further west, down in the valley. On a steep street, though, surface water can run off the road and down side paths after heavy rain, so we look at where it goes and set the deck so water drains away from the back door.
Planning
The Durham City Conservation Area, designated on 9 August 1968, covers the historic Gilesgate street. planning.data.gov.uk lists 38 listed buildings within about a kilometre, including 2 to 12 Magdalene Street, many houses along Gilesgate itself, the stable block behind Vane Tempest Hall, and the Great Gateway to Kepier Hospital (Grade I).
Under the Planning Portal's national rules, 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. Raised decks above 30cm need planning permission. In a conservation area, side decks need permission, and listed buildings have no permitted development allowance for decking.
Flats have no permitted development rights, so a deck for a ground-floor flat needs planning permission. If you rent, you'll also need your landlord's agreement. Our steep garden guide explains options for sloping plots.
Layouts that work
For a terrace with a small yard, a low composite deck across the space, with storage and planters, makes it usable year-round. Boards laid lengthways make a narrow yard look longer.
On a semi with a garden that falls away, a raised deck at door height with a balustrade and steps keeps a level area by the house. Where the garden rises, a deck at the top catches the evening sun. See composite decking, raised and terraced decks and balustrades and steps.
Costs
We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, balustrades, lighting and access all matter. Slopes add frame work, and carrying materials through a house takes longer than a side gate or back lane. Our decking costs guide explains each part.
Close by
- Belmont: about 1.5km east.
- Shincliffe: about 2km south.
- Sherburn: about 3km east.
Gilesgate Moor and Carrville are covered too. See the areas page.
FAQ about decking in Gilesgate
Is my house in the conservation area?
If it's on or near the historic Gilesgate street, quite possibly. We'll check your address and any listing.
Can you build a deck for a ground-floor flat?
Yes, but flats need planning permission for decking, and usually the freeholder's agreement.
My yard is tiny. Is a deck worth it?
Often, yes. A deck with built-in storage can make a small yard far more usable.
Can materials come through the house?
Yes. We protect floors and cut lengths to fit.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, LSOA County Durham 029C (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Durham City Conservation Area and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.