Great Smeaton is a small conservation village with houses strung along the main road and generous gardens behind. A deck here needs to suit the setting and the planning rules. Here's what we check.
Houses in the village
Great Smeaton shares a Census area (LSOA) with East Cowton and the countryside between them. The 2021 Census counted 65% of homes there as detached, 21% semi-detached and 11% terraced, with only 3% flats. 81% of households own their home, and 63% have two or more cars or vans.
Older houses line Northallerton Road, the A167, with Oaktree Hill, Hambleton Court, Church Garth and East View as the newer parts of the village. St Eloy's Church is at the heart of the village, and the school and village hall are a short walk away, with the Black Bull close by.
Houses on the main road often have long gardens running back to fields, which gives room for a deck and views across open country. Newer homes have more regular plots with fences and side access.
With most households owning two or more vehicles, drives are often full. The A167 is a busy main road, so we never unload on it; deliveries go to your drive or a side road, and we agree where materials will sit before the van arrives. Long gardens can mean a long carry, so we look at the route at the visit.
Ground and drainage
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till, a mix of clay, sand and stones, over sandstone of the Sherwood Sandstone Group. Below the topsoil, till gives posts a firm base. It drains slowly, so lawns stay soft after rain. We set posts in concrete in firm ground, lay a membrane and gravel under the deck and keep air moving around the frame.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no Flood Zone 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the centre of Great Smeaton.
Gardens that back onto open fields can be exposed to wind, A slatted screen, a hedge or a pergola on the windward side makes a deck far more comfortable. We fix screen posts into the deck frame so they stay solid.
Planning rules
The Great Smeaton Conservation Area was designated on 27 February 1990 and covers the village. planning.data.gov.uk lists 11 listed buildings within about a kilometre, all Grade II, including the Church of St Eloy and several tombs in its churchyard, Smeaton Manor and its stables, Phoenix House, East House, The Old Rectory, The Old Bridge and two mileposts.
Under the Planning Portal's national rules, a deck is normally permitted development if it's no more than 30cm above the ground, covers no more than half the garden together with other extensions and outbuildings, and isn't in front of the house. Raised decks above 30cm need planning permission. In a conservation area, decks at the side of the house need permission, and listed buildings have no permitted development allowance for decking.
Trees in a conservation area are also protected: you must give the council six weeks' notice before cutting down or pruning most trees. Our guide to rural and village gardens covers long plots that back onto fields.
Deck ideas
Behind an older house, a low hardwood deck close to the back door, oiled or left to silver, suits brick and stone. In a long garden, a second deck at the far end facing the fields gives a spot for evening sun and views.
On a newer house, a composite deck level with the patio doors, with a wide step down to the lawn, is easy to look after. See timber decking, composite decking and railings and lighting.
Pricing
We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, railings, screens, lighting and access all matter. A long carry, planning drawings or listed building consent add cost where needed. Our decking costs guide explains each part.
Villages nearby
- East Cowton: about 4km west.
- Appleton Wiske: about 4.5km east.
- Brompton: about 8.5km south.
Little Smeaton, Hornby and Danby Wiske are covered too. See the villages page.
Questions people ask about decking in Great Smeaton
Is Great Smeaton in a conservation area?
Yes. The Great Smeaton Conservation Area covers the village. We'll check your address and any listing.
My garden backs onto fields and gets windy. What can help?
A slatted screen, hedge or pergola on the windward side. We fix screens into the deck frame.
Do I need permission to prune a tree for a deck?
In a conservation area, you need to give the council six weeks' notice for most tree work.
Can you build on clay?
Yes. Posts go into firm ground in concrete, with gravel underneath for drainage.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, LSOA Hambleton 003B (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Great Smeaton Conservation Area and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; GOV.UK: trees in conservation areas; Planning Portal: decking.