This page looks at decking in Haughton-le-Skerne: the homes, the clay, the conservation area around the green and the costs.
Who lives here and what the gardens are like
The ward that covers Haughton-le-Skerne, Haughton and Springfield, is a mixed one. In the 2021 Census, 52.8% of homes were semi-detached, 17.7% terraced, 16.6% detached and 11.8% flats. 63.3% of households owned their home, 23.2% rented from the council or a housing association and 13.1% rented privately. About a quarter (24.8%) had no car.
The old village is strung along Haughton Green, with listed houses, Archway House and the Methodist church along it. Around it, newer streets such as Fryer Crescent, Kielder Drive, Rockwell Avenue and Whinfield Road have semis and detached homes, and a small group of roads take golf course names: Troon Avenue and Augusta Close. The Education Village campus is on the edge of the area, and Springfield Park is a short walk away.
Gardens vary as much as the houses. Behind an old house on the green, there may be a long, walled plot with established planting. On the newer streets, a regular rectangle of lawn with a fence is more typical. Either way, a family deck usually needs the same things: a safe, level surface close to the house, where meals and play can happen without muddy feet.
Soil and drainage
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till over the Permian Roxby Formation (a calcareous mudstone) under Haughton-le-Skerne. Till is a stiff clay that drains slowly. After rain, water can sit on the surface, and in a dry summer the top layer shrinks a little.
For a deck, we take the footings down below the soft topsoil into firm till and set the posts in concrete so they don't move. The ground under the frame is given a gentle fall, a membrane and gravel, so water doesn't collect. We also keep the joists off the soil with room for air to circulate.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no land in Flood Zones 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the village centre. The River Skerne runs a little further away, so gardens on the lower side towards the river are worth checking on the map.
Rules and permissions around Haughton Green
The Haughton-le-Skerne Conservation Area was designated on 16 April 1968, according to planning.data.gov.uk. It contains some of Darlington's most important buildings: the Church of St Andrew and Butler House and The Rectory are both Grade I, and Grade II listings include St Andrew's Church Hall, Haughton Methodist Church, Archway House, Red Barns and houses on Haughton Green such as numbers 5, 9, 33 to 37, 38 and 40, and 50.
Under the Planning Portal's national rules, a deck is normally permitted development if it is no more than 30cm above ground and, with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. In a conservation area, side decks need planning permission. Listed buildings have no permitted development allowance for decks, and work within their curtilage may need listed building consent.
If you live on the green, we'll check the listing and boundary first, and suggest a low, freestanding deck that doesn't touch historic walls. On the surrounding estates, most low rear decks don't need an application. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's written permission.
Ideas for a Haughton-le-Skerne deck
Behind an older house, a modest deck in hardwood or a muted composite, laid low with a simple edge, suits the setting. On the newer streets, a deck the width of the house with a picture-frame border and a built-in bench makes a tidy family space. A single wide step is easy for children and older visitors.
If an existing deck is tired or slippery, replacement boards on a sound frame may be enough; see decking repairs and replacement. For new decks, compare composite decking and timber decking.
What affects the cost
The price depends on size, height, the board, steps and guarding, lighting, access and whether anything needs clearing first. Walled gardens with narrow access can take longer. We price after a visit, and our decking costs guide explains each factor.
Close by
- Harrowgate Hill: to the north-west, semis on cricket- and Cornwall-named streets.
- Middleton St George: to the south-east, a village with its own railway station at Dinsdale.
- Hurworth: to the south, beside the Tees.
See the full list on our areas page.
Questions from parents in Haughton-le-Skerne
Can we have a deck behind a house on Haughton Green?
Often, yes, but it needs checking. Side decks in the conservation area need permission, and listed houses need extra care. We'll advise on a design that's most likely to be acceptable.
What boards are best for children?
Splinter-free composite or grooved hardwood. We keep steps even and shallow and avoid gaps where toys can fall through.
Does clay ground cause problems?
Not if the footings are deep enough and the ground under the deck drains. We dig test holes first.
Do I need my landlord's permission?
Yes, if you rent. We can give you a drawing and description to send them.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, Haughton and Springfield ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Haughton-le-Skerne Conservation Area and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.