Starbeck has more terraced houses than most of Harrogate, so decks here are often about making a smaller garden more usable. Here's what to know about the homes, ground, planning, design and price.
Houses and gardens
Starbeck is in Fairfax & Starbeck ward, where terraces are the most common type of home. The 2021 Census counted 39.5% of homes as terraced, 37.8% semi-detached, 8.8% purpose-built flats and only 7.0% detached. 63.2% of households own their home, and 18.6% rent from a social landlord.
Around the station are Camwal Road and Camwal Terrace, Spa Street, Spa Road, Spa Lane and Spa Terrace, Forest Avenue, Avenue Road, Prospect Road, Belmont Avenue, Belmont Grove and Beech Street. Prospect Park, Camwal Park, Belmont Park and Spa Lane Field are all within a couple of hundred metres, with St Andrew's Church, the Methodist church and Starbeck Community Library nearby.
Terraced gardens are typically long and narrow, often with a yard by the house and a lawn beyond, and some have a back lane. Semis have wider gardens and side access.
Parking is mostly on the street. In the 2021 Census, 22.9% of households in the ward had no car or van and 46.4% had one. We keep deliveries short and keep materials off the pavement. Where there's no back lane, boards come through the house, so we measure the hallway at the visit and order lengths that fit.
Ground conditions
The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows gravelly sandy clay of the Vale of York Formation over the Marchup Grit sandstone. The clay is firm enough for posts set in concrete but drains slowly, and back yards on clay can stay damp. We keep the frame off the ground, add a membrane and gravel underneath and leave gaps at the edges for air.
The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows one Flood Zone 3 area and one Flood Zone 2 area within 300 metres of the station, along Star Beck. Most streets sit outside it, but if your garden backs onto the beck, we'll check the map and use an open frame that lets water pass.
Planning checks
The Starbeck Spa Conservation Area was designated on 14 August 2012, around the old spa buildings. planning.data.gov.uk lists 11 listed buildings within about a kilometre, all Grade II, including Spa Mews, its fountain and entrance gateway, Starbeck Hall, the Church of St Andrew, Starbeck County Primary School and its war memorial, the Toll Gate House and 107 and 109 High Street.
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.
On a small terraced garden, the coverage limit matters: if you already have an extension or outbuilding, a large deck could push the total over half the garden. We'll measure this at the visit. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's agreement. Our guide to hardwood vs composite compares the two board types.
Design ideas
For a terrace, a deck across the yard by the back door, with boards laid lengthways to make the garden look longer, works well. Add a built-in storage bench and planters along the walls, and keep the lawn or gravel beyond. Composite is good in a shady yard because it doesn't need oiling.
On a semi, a deck the width of the house with a wide step to the lawn is simple and practical. See composite decking, hardwood decking and balustrades and lighting.
What affects the price
We price after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, lighting and access are the main factors. Carrying materials through a terraced house takes longer than using a side gate or back lane, and removing old slabs adds time. Our decking cost guide explains each part.
Nearby areas
- Bilton: about 2.5km north-west.
- Knaresborough: about 2.5km north-east.
- Oatlands: about 3.5km south-west.
Fairfax, Kingsley and Hookstone are covered too. See the areas page.
Frequently asked questions about decking in Starbeck
Can you build a deck in a small terraced garden?
Yes. A deck across the yard with storage and planters can make a small garden much more usable.
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not for a low rear deck within the coverage limit, unless your home is listed or in the conservation area and the deck is at the side.
My yard is shady and damp. Which board is best?
Composite with a grooved, anti-slip surface copes well and doesn't need oiling.
Can materials come through the house?
Yes. We protect floors and cut lengths to fit your hallway.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, Fairfax & Starbeck ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: Starbeck Spa Conservation Area and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.