In message , The Medway
Handyman writes
Last October the rules changed and any 'deck' more than 30cm above the
'ground' needs planning permission.
Ho ********, I *wish* you hadn't posted that.

I've been communicating with my local authority, who clearly don't
understand the (prolly badly drawn) legislation.

Very common situation with new builds or extensions is that the patio doors
opening onto the garden are say 45cm above the garden level, therefore
pretty much unusable.

What I'm after is the definition of a 'deck' and 'ground'.

If I were to build a step 15cm high leading onto a deck, how big or little
would that step have to be before it became a 'deck'?

If I built a deck over 30 cm high and built a raised bed level with the
edge, how big does that have to be to be classified as 'ground'?

Few examples at http://www.medwayhandyman.co.uk/decking_pictures.htm

Shaun & Clares deck for example, the garden slopes from left to right, one
end is 30cm above ground, the other end is higher.

Joe & Terri's deck is 15cm off the ground on one side but a lot more above
the grassed area - but would the top off the wall count as 'ground'?

Typical govmint legislation. badly thought out.



--
Clint Sharp