Sherburn has good ground for decking and a mix of older terraces and newer family homes. The main checks are whether your house is in the conservation area, the levels at the back door and access. Here's the detail.
The homes
The Census area (LSOA) around the centre of Sherburn is mostly semis and detached houses. The 2021 Census counted 45% of homes as semi-detached, 37% detached, 11% terraced and 7% flats. 74% of households own their home and 15% rent from a social landlord.
Around the centre are George Street, Hallgarth Street, School Court, King Street, Peart Close, Liddle Avenue, Crawford Close, Park House Close and Park House Gardens, Park Road, Garden Court, Front Street, Hall Gardens, Hope Street, Harrison Garth and Church Wynd, with Beech Road, Meldon Avenue and Mitford Drive a little further out.
The older terraces near Front Street tend to have rear yards and back lanes. The newer closes have regular gardens with drives and side access. Many gardens are fairly level, though some slope away from the house, so we check levels at every visit.
In the 2021 Census, 40% of households in this LSOA had two or more cars or vans and 15% had none. Most homes have a drive, so materials can be stacked off the road. For terraces, we use the back lane where there is one. Older terraced yards sometimes have a brick outbuilding or coal store. These can often stay, with the deck built around them, or be cleared if you'd rather have the space; either way, we check the walls and any old drains before planning the frame. Where the yard has an old concrete surface, we can often fix low bearers straight onto it if it's sound.
Slope and soil
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian glaciofluvial sand and gravel over mudstone, siltstone and sandstone of the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Sand and gravel drain well, so the ground under a deck stays dry and lawns recover quickly after rain. Loose gravel gives posts less grip than clay, so we dig deeper holes and set each post in concrete.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no Flood Zone 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the centre of Sherburn. Sherburn Beck runs about 650 metres away.
Sherburn Colliery, also known as the Lady Durham Pit, worked here, and old mine workings are possible below. The Coal Authority's interactive map shows whether a property is in a development high risk area. A low domestic deck rarely needs special measures, but we check it for larger raised decks.
Planning
planning.data.gov.uk lists two conservation areas within about a kilometre of the centre: Sherburn, covering the historic part of the village, and Sherburn House to the south-west. The Church of St Mary is the one listed building in that area (Grade II).
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.
For most homes on the newer closes, a low rear deck needs no application, though some estates had permitted development rights removed. If you rent from a housing association, you'll need its agreement. Our steep garden guide covers sloping plots.
Layouts that work
For a semi or detached house, a composite deck the width of the house, level with the back door, with a wide step down to the lawn, is practical and needs little care. A built-in bench or planter along one edge makes the most of the space.
For a terrace with a yard, a low deck across the yard with storage and planters tidies the space. In a longer garden, a second small deck at the far end can catch evening sun. See composite decking, timber decking and balustrades and steps.
Costs
We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, balustrades, lighting, removing old slabs and access all matter. Drives and side access keep delivery simple for most homes. Our decking costs guide explains each part.
Close by
- Belmont: about 2km north-west.
- Gilesgate: about 3km west.
- Shincliffe: about 3.5km south-west.
Pittington, Sherburn Hill and Sherburn House are covered too. See the areas page.
FAQ about decking in Sherburn
Is Sherburn in a conservation area?
Part of the village is. We'll check your address before designing anything.
Is the ground good for decking?
Yes. The sand and gravel drain well; we set posts deeper in concrete.
Do old mine workings affect a deck?
Rarely for a domestic deck, but we check the Coal Authority map for larger raised designs.
Can you replace old slabs with a deck?
Yes. We can lift them or build over them if they're sound and level.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, LSOA County Durham 027F (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Sherburn and Sherburn House conservation areas; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Coal Authority interactive map; Planning Portal: decking.