Follifoot is a small conservation village with stone houses, good-sized gardens and firm ground. A deck here needs to suit the stone and respect the planning rules. Here's what we check.
Houses and gardens
Follifoot is in the large rural Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale & Tockwith ward. The 2021 Census counted 53.1% of homes there as detached, 29.9% semi-detached and 12.3% terraced, with only 1.2% purpose-built flats. 76.3% of households own their home.
Main Street runs through the village, with Tofts Lane, Forge Green, Ivy Close, Leconfield Garth, Manor Fold, The Paddocks, Plompton Road, Pannal Road, Pellentine Road, Walker Terrace and Hillside close by. The Church of St Joseph and St James is a short walk from the centre, and Rudding Park's gates open onto the village.
Older stone houses and cottages on Main Street often have walled gardens, some long and narrow behind the house. The newer closes have more regular plots with fences and side access. Many houses have mature trees and hedges, which affect where a deck gets sun.
This is a car-dependent village. In the 2021 Census, 42.9% of households in the ward had two cars or vans and 16.9% had three or more, while just 5.7% had none. Main Street is narrow in places, so we plan where the van and materials will go before delivery day and keep the road clear for neighbours.
Ground conditions
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows sandstone of the Lower Plompton Grit close to the surface here, with no superficial deposits mapped at the centre. Ground like this gives posts a very firm base and drains better than clay, though digging can hit stone. We set posts in concrete and, where rock is shallow, use bolted post bases or adjust footing depths.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no Flood Zone 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the centre of Follifoot. Horse Pond Beck runs nearby, so gardens that back onto it should still be checked.
Planning checks
The Follifoot Conservation Area was designated on 17 October 1979 and covers the historic village. planning.data.gov.uk lists 15 listed buildings within about a kilometre, including Rudding Park House (Grade I), the Rudding Gates and flanking walls, Park Croft, Park Side with its beeboles and garden wall, Hunters Lodge, Hilltop House, the village pound, the stocks, the K6 telephone kiosk near the cross and the Church of St Joseph and St James.
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, and listed buildings have no permitted development allowance for decking, so listed building consent may be needed.
Trees in a conservation area are also protected: you must give the council six weeks' notice before cutting down or pruning most trees. If a deck design needs a tree trimmed, that needs to be planned in. Our guide to hardwood vs composite explains how each looks next to stone.
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Design ideas
Behind a stone house, an oiled hardwood deck that's allowed to silver blends with old walls. Keep it low and close to the house, with a simple timber edge or a step down to the lawn. Planters made from the same boards tie it together.
On a newer house, a composite deck in a warm brown or stone tone is low-maintenance, and a pergola can give shade in summer. Where the garden slopes, a raised deck with glass or timber balustrades keeps the view. See hardwood decking, composite decking and balustrades and lighting.
What affects the price
We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, balustrades, lighting and access are the main factors. Shallow rock can change footing work, and planning drawings or listed building consent add cost where needed. Our decking cost guide explains each part.
Nearby areas
Spofforth, Plompton and Kirkby Overblow are covered too. See the areas page.
Frequently asked questions about decking in Follifoot
Is Follifoot in a conservation area?
Much of the village is. We'll check your address and whether your house is listed.
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.
Is the ground hard to dig?
Sandstone can be close to the surface. We adjust footings to suit and fix the frame firmly.
Which decking suits a stone house?
Hardwood often looks most natural, but some composite tones work well. We bring samples to compare.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale & Tockwith ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Follifoot 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.