The estate and its houses
The estate takes its name from an old manor. Newton is first mentioned around 1183 in the Boldon Book, the survey of the Bishop of Durham's lands. The Bowes family held the manor from 1337 to 1565; it later went to the Liddell family, and Sir Henry Liddell, MP for Durham and later Newcastle, had the old Newton Hall restored around 1717 to 1723. Today the name belongs to one of the largest housing estates in the Durham area. The Newton Hall ward had 7,323 people at the 2011 Census.
The estate is overwhelmingly made up of family houses. The 2021 Census for the area records 56.2% semi-detached homes, 27.3% detached, 8.0% flats and 6.0% terraced. Roads such as Blanchland Avenue, Brancepeth Close and Raby Road are lined with semis and detached houses set back behind front gardens, many with drives.
Back gardens are typically rectangular and of a reasonable size, with a lawn and often a basic original patio. Requests are usually for a bigger patio across the back of the house, a patio outside new doors or a conservatory, or a replacement for slabs that have sunk or cracked.
Clay ground
The British Geological Survey records glacial till over the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Till drains slowly and moves a little with the seasons. Original patios on estates like this were often laid on a thin sand bed, and many have settled unevenly.
We lift the old surface, dig out soft clay, lay a geotextile and compact a crushed-stone sub-base in layers. Slabs are bedded on mortar, at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course, with a fall away from the house and clear of air bricks. Where water has nowhere to go, a channel drain along the patio edge carries it away.
The Environment Agency shows no river flood zone within 750 metres. Its surface water map marks a number of low spots, often where gardens meet, which we take into account when setting levels.
Garden layouts
Semi-detached gardens usually have a fence on one side and a side path on the other. A patio across the full width of the house, at least three metres deep, gives room for a table and chairs. A path continuing down the side to a shed or gate keeps the lawn free. Where the back of the house faces north, a second, smaller patio at the end of the garden catches the sun. Raised beds or a low wall can define the edge of the patio and give extra seating.
Planning
Newton Hall has no conservation area, and no listed buildings are recorded near the centre point. A ground-level back-garden patio is usually permitted development. Raised patios over 300 mm need planning permission, and front-garden paving over five square metres must be permeable or drain to a lawn or border.
Choosing paving
Porcelain is a popular choice for the estate's houses, in light grey, buff or charcoal, because it is very hard-wearing and easy to clean. Sandstone gives a warmer, more natural look. Block paving suits paths and patios that also take bins and bikes. We bring samples to the visit so you can compare them against your brick.
Front gardens and drives
Many Newton Hall homes have open front gardens and drives, and some owners ask for paving at the front as well as the back. The rules are different there: new hard surfaces over five square metres must be permeable or drain to a lawn or border unless you have planning permission. Permeable block paving, gravel with a stone edge, or paving that falls into a planted strip all meet the rules. At the back, there are no such limits for a ground-level patio, but we still keep run-off away from neighbouring gardens, as boundaries on the estate are often close together.
Cost considerations in Newton Hall
- Removal. Lifting original slabs or concrete.
- Size. Full-width patios behind semis.
- Clay. A deeper compacted base.
- Drainage. Channel drains where water can't soak away.
- Material. Porcelain, sandstone or block paving.
- Extras. Paths, raised beds or low walls.
Next door to Newton Hall
- Garden patios, Framwellgate Moor: West: a village with terraces on Front Street.
- Garden patios, Belmont: South-east, across the river: a suburb of former pit villages.
- Garden patios, Gilesgate: South: the old street climbing from Durham's centre.
Patio types for Newton Hall homes: porcelain patios, block paved patios, stone patios.
See every area: All areas covered.
Common questions from Newton Hall
Our original patio has sunk. Can you relay it?
Usually we lift it and lay a new patio on a proper base, as old slabs are often thin and uneven.
What paving suits a Newton Hall semi?
Porcelain or sandstone in grey or buff tones sits well with the estate's brick.
Do we need planning permission?
Not for a ground-level patio in the back garden.
Can you lay a path to the shed as well?
Yes. It is efficient to lay both together on the same base.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, MSOA County Durham 022 (Nomis); Wikipedia: Newton Hall, Durham; BGS Geology Viewer; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning.