What New Marske homes are like
New Marske started as housing for the men who worked the ironstone mines in the hills nearby. The remains of those workings are still in Errington Woods, on the slope above the village, and plaques around New Marske mark scenes from 19th century mining life. Longbeck station, on the line to Saltburn, Middlesbrough and Darlington, sits at the bottom of the village.
The village has changed a great deal since. The Longbeck ward, which covers New Marske, has one of the highest shares of detached homes in the borough at 46.6% in the 2021 Census. Semis make up 36.2% and terraces 15.0%, the terraces mostly the older mining streets. Flats are rare at 1.5%.
So there are two quite different kinds of garden here. The original terraces have small back yards, often stepped where the street climbs the hill. The newer detached houses have larger rear gardens, frequently on a slope, with a patio by the house and a lawn either rising or falling away from it. Owners of the newer homes often want a bigger, more usable terrace, sometimes on two levels, to replace a narrow builder's patio.
The newer estates in New Marske were mostly built with a small paved area at the back door, laid by the developer in standard grey slabs. After a few years these often settle, crack at the corners or turn green in the shade. Owners commonly want something larger and smarter, sometimes in porcelain for an easy-clean finish, sometimes in sandstone for warmth. On the old mining terraces, yards are tight and stepped, and a tidy, well-drained surface with a sensible step to the back gate is usually the aim.
Building on a slope over clay
The British Geological Survey maps New Marske on glacial till over Redcar Mudstone. Till is a dense clay with stones in it. It drains slowly, so water running down a hillside garden tends to collect at the bottom of any slope and at the back of any patio cut into it.
On a sloping garden we fix the patio level from the house first, keeping the surface at least 150mm below the damp-proof course with a fall away from the walls. Where the ground rises behind, we cut back and build a retaining wall or step, with drainage behind it so water does not push against the wall. Where it falls away, we either step the patio down or build it up on a properly compacted base, keeping raised edges below 30cm where we can.
Under the slabs, the build-up is the same as anywhere on clay: soft material dug out, a geotextile, and a compacted crushed-stone sub-base. The Environment Agency does not show Flood Zone 3 within 750 metres of the village centre, and the hillside means surface water usually moves on, but it needs somewhere to go at the bottom of the garden.
Planning in New Marske
New Marske has no conservation area, and only one listed building, Fell Briggs Farmhouse on Grewgrass Lane. National permitted development rules therefore cover nearly every home.
A back-garden patio at or near ground level does not need planning permission. A raised terrace more than 30cm above the ground does, which matters on sloping plots, and it is one reason we often prefer steps and retaining walls to building a patio up high. Front gardens over five square metres paved with non-permeable material also need permission.
Things that affect the quote
We visit before quoting. In New Marske the main things that move the price are:
- Slope. Steps, retaining walls and extra excavation.
- Size. Detached gardens often take larger patios.
- Clay. Soft ground replaced with stone.
- Drainage. Run-off from higher ground needs handling.
- Material. Porcelain, sandstone, slabs or resin.
- Access. Narrow terrace yards versus side drives on newer homes.
Places next to New Marske
- Marske-by-the-Sea patio page: North-east: the coastal village and its conservation area.
- Dormanstown patio page: West: garden-village semis on the edge of Redcar.
- Guisborough patio page: South: the market town below the Cleveland Hills.
Useful pages for New Marske gardens: porcelain patios, garden paths and steps, resin patios and paths.
All places we cover: areas page.
Asked about patios in New Marske
Our garden slopes up from the house. Can we still have a flat patio?
Yes. We cut into the slope and build a retaining wall or step behind the patio, with drainage so water does not build up against it.
Would a raised patio need planning permission?
If any part is more than 30cm above the ground, yes. Stepping the patio or retaining the slope usually avoids that.
Can you do a two-level patio?
Yes. Two levels joined by a step suit many sloping New Marske gardens and give separate areas for eating and sitting.
Is there a conservation area in New Marske?
No. Only Fell Briggs Farmhouse is listed, so standard national rules apply to almost every house.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, Longbeck ward (Nomis); Wikipedia: New Marske; Planning Data: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; Planning Portal: paving your front garden.