If you’re looking to level out a sloping garden, installing decking may be the perfect solution. It is commonly used for creating a separate area of your garden that is easy to maintain, and can even be used to make balconies, paths, benches, and flowerbeds. In this article, we’ll outline how decking can be used in your garden to level out slopes.
Decking is a great way to level out a slope in a garden and is considered one of the more cost-effective options for making a sloped garden more useable. Sloped gardens greatly restrict the amount of useable space, whether it is for your children’s toys and play furniture, or garden seats and flowerbeds – anything situated on a slope has the potential to fall over or collapse due to instability.
Table of contents
- Why install decking on your sloping garden?
- When you may NOT need planning permission
- When you may need planning permission
- Final thoughts
Why install decking on your sloping garden?
Having an uneven surface in your garden can restrict how you use your beautiful outdoor space. This covers placing furniture which is likely to topple, having limited safe space for children to play, and prohibiting the construction of buildings like sheds and summerhouses. Adding decking will mean all of these things will be possible, diversifying your space!
In short, installing decking will:
- Level out uneven ground
- Allow you to install structures such as sheds and place furniture
- Provide additional storage space underneath
- Ensure a safer space, as falling over is less likely
- Be easier to maintain
- Look aesthetically pleasing
Let’s explore these in more detail…
Level surface
Firstly, installing decking in a sloped garden creates a sturdy level surface where you can easily place garden furniture, play furniture, potted plants and other garden accessories. On a sloped garden, not only will garden furniture such as chairs be likely to fall over, but they may also sink into the ground.
Storage
Providing that your decking has the correct structural support, you can consider having a garden shed or storage cupboard, as they will be able to stand upright.
Not only can you place things on top of the decking, why not create a storage space underneath? Toys will no longer end up at the bottom of the garden as you can tuck them neatly away and out of sight, especially if you install decking with railings. You can even use this space to store garden tools and other items, as it will partially shelter them.
Safety
Decking also provides a level of safety that is difficult to achieve with a sloped landscape. Slopes, and particularly steep slopes, can result in people of all ages falling over and struggling to get up. Installing level decking over the sloped garden removes this safety hazard, and you can also fit grips and handrails to further reduce the potential for friends and family to fall over in your garden.
Easy to maintain
Decking is much easier to maintain than sloping ground. You do need wash it occasionally to keep it clean, and make sure you have the appropriate ground preparation beforehand. If you install your new decking with a geotextile membrane, this prevents weeds from growing up beneath or around the decking, making it even easier to maintain.
Clean, uniform appearance
You can use decking to cover up any outdoor fixtures such as drain covers or other utilities that are unsightly. This creates a clean, uniform and sophisticated outdoor space that may increase the selling value of your house. The straight, clean lines on decking also contribute to a neater appearance overall.
Do I need planning permission to install decking in my garden?
Some decking projects do require planning permission, whilst others do not. If you’re still unsure if your decking meets this criteria, please visit the GOV website’s page on planning permission.
When you may NOT need planning permission
If you’re adding decking to the garden of a house, it is no more than 30cm above the ground, and takes up less than 50% of the total garden space (combined with any outbuildings or extensions), the decking project would be considered as a permitted development, and you therefore wouldn’t need planning permission. Note that this only applies to houses, and not flats, maisonettes or other buildings.
So, if your decking:
- Is being added to the garden of a house
- Is no more than 30cm above the ground
- Takes up less than 50% of the total garden space combined with outbuildings and extensions
- Meets all three of these guidelines
Then you DO NOT require planning permission. However, check the section below if there are other planning conditions in place.
When you may need planning permission
Even if you meet the guidelines above, you may still need planning permission if there is another planning condition in place, such as a listed building or conservation area.
You also need to seek planning permission if the decking is within 20m of a highway, if it affects the privacy of neighbours, and if any of the decking is higher than 30cm above the ground.
If you’re installing decking on a sloped area, the planning regulations can be somewhat confusing – the decking may be higher than 30cm from the ground at some points due to the ground sloping downwards and the decking remaining level. According to building regulations, heights are measured from the highest point adjacent to the building, but there is little clarity on this when installing decking. Therefore, we’d always recommend checking with your Local Planning Authority if you’re unsure as to whether you require planning permission.
So, if your decking:
- Is higher than 30 cm above the highest point of ground
- Is within 20m of a highway
- Affects the privacy of neighbours
- Is within the grounds of a listed building
It is highly likely that you WILL need planning permission.
Final thoughts
You should now have a better understanding of the benefits of installing decking to level out an uneven surface in your outdoor space, and whether or not you’ll need that all-important planning permission. If you’ve decided you’d like to go ahead with installation, check out our decking category.
Whether you’re looking for composite decking, wooden decking or decking pedestals. If you’re unsure which products are best for your decking project, or need to know how much you’ll need, feel free to call the team on 01752 692 760. They’ll even be able to give you a free tailored quote for your project.
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