Premium Decking in Greenwich

Decking in Greenwich: Period Townhouses, Courtyard Gardens and the River

Greenwich gardens are often small and shaded: Georgian townhouses and Victorian cottages around Greenwich Park, Point Hill and the Ashburnham Triangle, plus newer riverside developments. A deck here usually has to fit a tight plot and look right beside period brickwork, and it is often an elevated view deck or a shaded courtyard rather than a wide lawn terrace.

Greenwich sits on impermeable London Clay capped by gravel terraces, with pockets of Thanet Sand nearer the park. The clay holds water rather than draining it away, so drainage under the subframe matters more here than the finish on top.

Located just 10 minutes east in Woolwich SE18, Billy and Vincent provide rapid site surveys and dedicated on-site supervision throughout West Greenwich, East Greenwich, and the SE10 riverside.

Which Decking Suits Greenwich Gardens?

Period homes and courtyard gardens suit hardwood, or composite in muted wood-look tones that sit comfortably beside historic brickwork; our Greenwich composite finishes include heritage-style colours such as Millboard Weathered Oak. Because many Greenwich gardens are overlooked, how the deck looks from the house and from neighbouring windows matters as much as how it performs.

Shaded courtyards stay damp for longer, which favours boards that need no oiling and resist rot, laid on a ventilated subframe. Our decking maintenance and winter care guide explains what that routine looks like once the deck is down.

What Our Greenwich Site Survey Looks At

Every Greenwich garden is different, so the free survey checks the things that decide how the deck should be built:

• Ground: clay under gravel terraces, and how well water can leave the area beneath the deck.
• Heritage and planning: whether your street is in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, or near the World Heritage Site buffer zone.
• Light and shade: how much sun the garden gets, which affects algae, drying time and the choice of board colour.
• Levels and thresholds: the step down from the house, and whether a raised view deck would pass 30cm.
• Flood risk: whether a garden close to the river sits behind tidal defences in Flood Zone 3.

Whatever the board, every deck is built on a C24 strength-graded timber subframe over a breathable membrane, with joists at 400mm centres (300mm for diagonal layouts) and airflow underneath.

Planning, World Heritage and Conservation: What to Check Before Building a Deck in Greenwich

Greenwich is in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Under the Planning Portal rules, garden decking is normally permitted development if it is no more than 30cm above the ground, covers no more than 50% of the garden together with any extensions and outbuildings, and is not forward of the front wall of the house. A raised deck above 30cm, or any decking within the grounds of a listed building, needs planning permission. On designated land such as conservation areas, decking at the side of the house is not permitted development either. The Royal Borough has 23 conservation areas, and Article 4 directions apply in several of them, including Ashburnham Triangle, East Greenwich and West Greenwich, which remove some permitted development rights. Check before assuming a deck is allowed.

Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its buffer zone is formed by the East Greenwich, West Greenwich and Blackheath conservation areas. Where a property lies inside a World Heritage Site, the Planning Portal limits decking more than 20 metres from the house to 10 square metres, so homes near Greenwich Park deserve a council check before any design work.

Where Greenwich meets the river, land lies in Flood Zone 3 behind tidal defences. Check the Environment Agency flood map for your address; a raised, ventilated subframe suits ground that can get wet. In a conservation area you must give the council six weeks' written notice before cutting or pruning a tree, and the council can respond with a Tree Preservation Order, so a deck layout has to work around mature trees rather than assume they can come out. This is general guidance, not planning advice; always confirm with your local council before building. Our full guide to planning permission for decking in London covers every rule in detail. Once your deck is built, our decking maintenance and winter care guide and our guide to choosing a decking oil, stain or paint cover looking after it.

Balau Hardwood Decking

A recent Balau hardwood decking installation by The Tree Amigos Landscaping, South East London — showcasing the rich natural grain and warm tones of premium hardwood timber.

Quality Craftsmanship & Proof of Work

Every decking project is built by our permanent, in-house carpentry team under the direct supervision of Billy Maddox and Vincent O'Connell.

Frequently Asked Questions: Greenwich Decking

Schedule Your Greenwich Decking Survey

Speak directly with founders Billy and Vincent for expert advice and a free on-site survey across Greenwich SE10.