Decking in Romanby

Romanby has good ground for decking, regular family gardens and a small conservation area around the green. Here's what to know about the houses, the ground, planning, design and price.

Houses in the village

The Census area (LSOA) around the centre of Romanby is mostly semi-detached. The 2021 Census counted 72% of homes as semi-detached, 24% detached and 4% terraced, with no purpose-built flats. 85% of households own their home, and 42% have two or more cars or vans.

Near the centre are St Paulinus Drive, Chantry Road, Craven Court, Ainderby Road, St Cuthbert Drive, Kirk Road, The Close, Harewood Lane, The Fairway, The Peppergarth, St James Mews and St Wilfred Drive, with Cherry Garth and Manor Green, Ainderby Gardens, Poplar Crescent, Slingsby Gardens and Richmond Rise nearby. The WI Hall and Romanby Methodist Church are close to the green, and Romanby Park and Romanby Golf Club are within a few hundred metres.

Most semis have a drive at the front and a rear lawn with side access. Gardens are generally level and regular in shape, which makes for straightforward deck layouts. Older houses around The Green tend to have longer gardens with mature trees and hedges, which shade parts of the garden for much of the day.

With so many two-car households, drives are often full during the day. We agree where the van and materials will go before delivery, and measure the side gate so boards and joists arrive in lengths that carry straight through. Waste leaves in bulk bags at the end of the job.

Ground and drainage

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows gravelly sand of the Vale of York Formation over mudstone of the Mercia Mudstone Group. Sand and gravel drain well, so the ground under a deck stays dry and lawns recover quickly after rain. Loose sand gives posts less grip than clay, so we dig deeper holes and set every 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 Romanby. Willow Beck runs about 370 metres away, so gardens backing onto it should still be checked.

Planning rules

The Romanby Conservation Area, designated on 21 April 1987, covers the historic green, and the Northallerton Conservation Area is also within about a kilometre. planning.data.gov.uk lists nine listed buildings in that area, including County Hall (Grade II*), the Church of St James the Great, 52 The Green, the Romanby War Memorial Clock Tower, the Packhorse Bridge, the Railway Hotel, the Old Theatre and the Zion Sunday School (all 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, 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.

On the estates, check whether the original permission removed permitted development rights; North Yorkshire Council's planning records will show this. Our guide to rural and village gardens covers the larger plots around the green.

Deck ideas

For a semi with patio doors, a composite deck the width of the house, level with the threshold, with a wide step to the lawn, is easy to live with. Grey or brown boards suit brick, and a built-in bench or planter saves on furniture.

For a longer garden, a second deck at the far end, perhaps with a pergola, gives a spot for the evening sun. Behind an older house on The Green, a hardwood deck sits well with mature planting. See composite decking, timber decking, raised decks and railings and lighting.

Pricing

We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, railings, lighting, removing old slabs and access all matter. Side access keeps delivery simple for most Romanby homes. Our decking costs guide explains each part.

Villages nearby

• Morton-on-Swale: about 3.5km west.
• Brompton: about 3.5km north-east.
• Scruton: about 6km west.

Yafforth and central Northallerton are covered too. See the villages page.

Questions people ask about decking in Romanby

Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, LSOA Hambleton 005D (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Romanby and Northallerton conservation areas, listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.