Flat Rear Garden Decking and Canopy

newleaseholder

Hopefully one of you people can help me understand.  I own a small flat which has a small private rear garden (6 meters by 4 meters) which I would like to modernise a bit...
I would like to replace the current cement tiles which cover half of the garden with wooden deck to make it cleaner. I think under the tiles there is few centimetre of mud (3cm being generous)... Do I need planning permission for it? The PP sites seems to say no for houses but goes silent on flats.
I would also like to install either a large canopy or some pergola to cover half of it so that I can dry my laundry - again - Planning permission required? 

I understand that is a flat, my lease allow me to modernise as much as I want as long as I organise the PP, so no PP all good.

Davesnave

Permitted development for houses doesn't apply to flats and maisonettes, but a decking area below 0.3m above ground level doesn't need planning permission anyway. The position of the pergola/canopy will make a difference. In a back garden it should be OK if it doesn't block anyone's light and your lease doesn't rule it out.

I laughed at your description of decking as modernisation. Many of us who've tried it long ago think it belongs in that era, where rodent hideaways and the possibility of slipping on wet, algae weren't things we bothered about!  But if you want it, don't listen to an old fogey, who ended up stapling chicken wire to theirs after falling on his bum once too often!

wilfred30

Davesnave said:

I laughed at your description of decking as modernisation. Many of us who've tried it long ago think it belongs in that era, where rodent hideaways and the possibility of slipping on wet, algae weren't things we bothered about!  But if you want it, don't listen to an old fogey, who ended up stapling chicken wire to theirs after falling on his bum once too often!

100% agree with that.

Mutton_Geoff

I agree. I can't believe there are still people on this forum installing upvc conservatories, water features and decking. All of which belong in another era.

Emmia

newleaseholder said:

Hopefully one of you people can help me understand.  I own a small flat which has a small private rear garden (6 meters by 4 meters) which I would like to modernise a bit...
I would like to replace the current cement tiles which cover half of the garden with wooden deck to make it cleaner. I think under the tiles there is few centimetre of mud (3cm being generous)... Do I need planning permission for it? The PP sites seems to say no for houses but goes silent on flats.
I would also like to install either a large canopy or some pergola to cover half of it so that I can dry my laundry - again - Planning permission required? 

I understand that is a flat, my lease allow me to modernise as much as I want as long as I organise the PP, so no PP all good.

I'd probably try hiring a jet washer to see if you can improve the look of the tiles first.

Edit:We have a flat with a concrete tile patio, and a wooden shed which I'm pretty sure has a mouse living underneath - I'm not overly concerned by this as we don't do anything like feeding the birds which would encourage them - I also think a mousetrap (non humane) is pointless as we'll be on a never ending quest to erradicate them as, as soon as we bump one off another one will just move in. 

newleaseholder

Mutton_Geoff said:

I agree. I can't believe there are still people on this forum installing upvc conservatories, water features and decking. All of which belong in another era.

oh well, I also can't believe that despite everything we know, there are still plenty of people out there who still smoke... Even while queuing at the supermarket I must get second hand smoke in my face, talking about people thinking about a different era! Anyway, enough of swapping stories. 

It is really a small garden in a terraced (converted into flats) house with no privacy at all. My next door neighbours garden (on second floor) looks right inside mine and when they are out and I leave my back door open I can't even use the bathroom without having to greet them (lovely people) so the idea of a canopy/pergola, anything is to create some privacy so that I can leave the door open. 

I would like to do something like this (my garden is half the size) but with decking (not a fan of stones) and have perhaps a sail or similar to close the pergola... 

Mutton_Geoff

Now that's a much better idea (only in my opinion). Indian sandstone patio with a sail shade, perhaps in mesh so there is dappled light but the privacy you desire.

newleaseholder said:

oh well, I also can't believe that despite everything we know, there are still plenty of people out there who still smoke...

Smoking is a habit, decking is a fashion.

Emmia

newleaseholder said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

I agree. I can't believe there are still people on this forum installing upvc conservatories, water features and decking. All of which belong in another era.

oh well, I also can't believe that despite everything we know, there are still plenty of people out there who still smoke... Even while queuing at the supermarket I must get second hand smoke in my face, talking about people thinking about a different era! Anyway, enough of swapping stories. 

It is really a small garden in a terraced (converted into flats) house with no privacy at all. My next door neighbours garden (on second floor) looks right inside mine and when they are out and I leave my back door open I can't even use the bathroom without having to greet them (lovely people) so the idea of a canopy/pergola, anything is to create some privacy so that I can leave the door open. 

I would like to do something like this (my garden is half the size) but with decking (not a fan of stones) and have perhaps a sail or similar to close the pergola... 

If you've got your heart set on decking, I'd probably look to install it over the top of the existing concrete/cement (as long as it is sound)  - installing onto bare earth may mean the supporting timbers the decking would be laid on would have a good chance of rotting fairly quickly.

If you want to minimise the mouse/rat risk by denying them space for nesting...  Ikea do fairly flat wooden "decking tiles" which you may find you can install yourself to hide the cement tiles.  https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/products/?q=decking. 


Also you need to consider drainage, decking is very slippery when wet or icy or if you get algae - so you'll need to get out there and scrub it on a regular basis... its not just an install and leave...

I'm assuming from your description of the location that this is a built up town/city area??? Unfortunately i think expecting complete privacy in this situation is a bit of a pipe dream - and is something you should have factored in when buying if it is really that important (sorry if that's harsh). However a pergola with the right plants (think evergreen..  ivy might be your friend here) will help dampen noise and may mean you don't have to look at your neighbours...

Davesnave

When I lived in the city in a 4th floor flat, I could look down onto the ground floor flat's patio.....but not in summer when they used it most. That's because they had grape vines growing over their pergola framework. It leafed-up in May, but it was bare in winter. That way they didn't lose much light at the time when was most important.

A closed-in, shaded area like the one illustrated, is the worst place to install decking, as it will not dry out quickly when wet. Not fashion; just physics.

Mutton_Geoff

Davesnave said:

.. because they had grape vines growing over their pergola framework. It leafed-up in May, but it was bare in winter. That way they didn't lose much light at the time when was most important.

Nature provides much better shelter but unless it's a fast growing invasive plant, it's going to take some years to grow sufficiently. Grapes like a sunny spot, not sure they'd be successful in that location.

I think a sail shade that can be taken down in winter (to avoid snow loads and to stop it getting covered in mildew) will be a nice option.

https://www.primrose.co.uk/rectangle-c-85_13960.html

(no connection to this company)