Composite & timber decking in Great Bowden
Composite and timber decks in Great Bowden, built on a braced frame with the ground prepared properly underneath.
Composite decking typically costs £200–£250 per m² supplied and fitted, and softwood timber decking £110–£140 per m². A 15–20m² composite deck is usually £3,000–£5,000; raised decks with balustrades and steps cost more. Decking in a rear garden is normally permitted development if no part of it is more than 30cm above the ground and, with other outbuildings and platforms, it covers no more than half the garden.
- Composite, fitted
- £200–£250 per m²
- Planning
- Not needed under 30cm high
- Ground
- Clay; slow to drain
- Guarantee
- 5 years, in writing
Our 2026 guide prices, all in. Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit. Council fees checked October 2026.
Composite & timber decking in Great Bowden: what is involved
We build composite and timber decks on a properly braced frame: posts or pads set on firm ground, a treated or aluminium sub-frame at the right joist spacing for the boards, and a weed membrane and drainage underneath so the frame stays dry.
Great Bowden is a village of greens just north east of Market Harborough, with ironstone, brick and thatched houses around its greens and lanes, and later housing on its edges. It has its own neighbourhood plan, first made in 2018.
We cover Great Bowden (LE16) and the villages around it, including Market Harborough, Little Bowden, Welham, Slawston and Foxton.
Ground and conservation in Great Bowden
Great Bowden sits on the clays and mudstones of the Welland valley, which drain slowly, with the River Welland and the Langton Brook to the south. We design for the water first. On the clay around Great Bowden, which shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters, posts and pads go deeper and sit in concrete below the movement, so they stay plumb.
Great Bowden has a conservation area covering the historic village and its greens, and a neighbourhood plan with policies on design and character, so road-facing changes should respect the materials around them.
Sources: Great Bowden conservation area · Great Bowden neighbourhood plan.
Permissions in Great Bowden
- PlanningDecking in a rear garden is normally permitted development if no part of it is more than 30cm above the ground and, with other outbuildings and platforms, it covers no more than half the garden. A raised deck over 30cm needs planning permission, and a listed house needs consent. Listed buildings and the Great Bowden conservation area have tighter rules, so we check your address before anything is designed. Planning Portal: decking
- TreesTrees in a conservation area need six weeks' notice before work, and protected trees need consent; both are free. Harborough: tree work
- Design and priceWe measure up, check the ground and the planning position, and give you one fixed written price.
Rules checked October 2026.
What you get
- Composite boards that will not rot, splinter or need staining, or pressure-treated softwood
- Frame built to the board maker's joist spacing, so boards do not bounce or bow
- Picture-frame edges, hidden fixings and LED step lights where you want them
- Steps, balustrades and glass panels for raised decks
The specification
- Ground levelled, weed membrane and drainage gravel laid
- Posts or pads on firm ground, set in concrete
- Treated softwood or aluminium sub-frame, braced and level
- Boards fixed to the manufacturer's spacing and fixings
- Edges, fascias, steps and lighting finished
- Five year workmanship guarantee in writing
“Really pleased with my new driveway. Beautifully finished, friendly professional workmen, would definitely recommend and will be using them again for the garden once other renovations complete.”
Driveway — Google review
“Absolutely great guys, job was done in good time and looks brilliant. No complaints, the driveway is immaculate. More work in the near future, thanks again!”
Driveway — Google review
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Composite & timber decking in Great Bowden: questions
How much does a deck cost in Great Bowden?
Do I need planning permission for a deck in Great Bowden?
Does the ground in Great Bowden make a difference?
Composite or timber?
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Request a site visit in Great Bowden
We measure up, check levels and drainage, and send a written proposal with the build-up, the programme and one whole price. No pressure and no follow-up sales calls.