Middleton St George decks

Below: the homes and gardens of Middleton St George, the clay under them, the planning position and what goes into the price of a deck.

Who lives here and what the gardens are like

The ward covering the village, Sadberge and Middleton St George, is mostly owner-occupied. The 2021 Census showed 80.4% of households owning their home, split evenly between outright owners (40.5%) and those with a mortgage (39.9%). Homes are 47.3% detached, 28.3% semi-detached and 18.5% terraced. More than half of households (53.1%) have two or more cars.

Around the centre are Chapel Street, The Square, Thorntree Villas and Station Road, and roads such as The Meadows, Westacres, Cedarwood, Pinetree Grove, Pounteys Close, Romangate, Woodlands Green and High Stell lead off them. St George's Church of England Academy, the community centre and the Havelock Arms are all in the village.

With so many family homes, a typical garden here is a rear lawn behind a semi or detached house, with a patio by the doors. A deck can replace a patio that's too small or has started to tilt, and give a level space that's the right height for the patio doors. For families, it's the spot for meals outdoors, a paddling pool in summer and somewhere dry to sit while the children play on the grass.

Soil and drainage in Middleton St George

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till, or boulder clay, over Sherwood Sandstone under the village. Till is firm once you're through the topsoil, but it drains slowly, so water can sit on the surface after heavy rain. On newer estates, the clay may also be mixed with compacted fill left from construction.

We deal with that in the usual way for clay: test holes first, posts set in concrete on firm ground, a slight fall on the ground under the deck, and a membrane with gravel on top. Joists sit clear of the soil, with ventilation gaps at the edges. That keeps the frame dry and stops the ground under the deck becoming a puddle.

The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no land in Flood Zones 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the village centre. Homes nearer the Tees at Middleton One Row should check the map for their own postcode.

Rules and permissions in Middleton St George

The Middleton One Row Conservation Area was designated on 4 May 1972, according to planning.data.gov.uk, one of 17 in Darlington borough. Listed buildings in the area include the Church of St Lawrence, Castle Hill, and two arched stone doorways in the garden of a house called Mown Meadows (all Grade II).

For most of the village, the Planning Portal's national rules apply. A deck is normally permitted development if it is no more than 30cm above the ground and, with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. Higher decks need planning permission, as do decks for flats and maisonettes. In a conservation area, side decks aren't permitted development.

On newer estates, check whether the original planning permission removed permitted development rights. Your deeds or Darlington Borough Council's planning register will say, and we'll ask at the visit.

Ideas for a Middleton St George deck

For a family garden, a deck level with the patio doors, wide enough for a table and six chairs, with a single wide step to the lawn, covers most needs. A built-in bench along the fence adds seating without clutter, and a lift-out hatch keeps any drain cover accessible. If the garden slopes, a second level with comfortable steps can make the far end usable too.

Composite is easy to clean, splinter-free and comes in many colours; grooved hardwood is the natural alternative. See composite decking and raised decking, or ask about balustrades, steps and lighting.

What affects the cost

We price after visiting. The size, height and shape of the deck, the board, steps, guarding, lighting and whether a patio has to be lifted all count. Side access to the garden makes a difference to how long the job takes. Our decking costs guide explains each factor.

Close by

• Hurworth: to the west, a village along The Green with its own conservation area.
• Haughton-le-Skerne: to the north-west, on Darlington's edge.
• Harrowgate Hill: further north-west, on the north side of Darlington.

The full list is on our areas page.

Questions from parents in Middleton St George

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