Garden landscaping is designing and building an outdoor space as a whole, combining hard landscaping such as patios, paths, walls and steps with soft landscaping such as lawns, planting and beds, plus drainage and lighting, so the garden works for how you live.
Looking for garden landscaping in Northumberland? We organise the whole job, bringing in the trades it needs under one agreement, and you have a single contact. We cover Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington and Bedlington, along with villages and suburbs nearby. The rules in England decide what consents are needed, and our guide range of £5,400–£13,500 including VAT gives you a realistic starting point for a budget.
- Guide price
- £5,400–£13,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–4 weeks on site, depending on scope
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 10% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 4
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Garden landscaping prices in Northumberland
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for garden landscaping in Northumberland. Because rates in the North East are about 10% below the national guide, the overall guide comes to £5,400–£13,500, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Northumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Garden refresh | Clearance, new turf, edging, bark or gravel and some planting. | £1,350–£4,500 |
| Typical garden makeover | A new patio, lawn, borders, paths and planting in a typical rear garden. | £5,400–£13,500 |
| Full redesign | Levels, retaining walls, large patios, lighting and drainage for larger or sloping gardens. | £13,500–£31,500 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Garden size, access and the amount of clearance needed
- Ratio of hard landscaping to lawn and planting
- Drainage, soil quality and ground conditions
- Materials chosen for paving, walls and features
Scope of the work
- Survey of size, levels, soil, drainage and access
- Site clearance and removal of old features and waste
- Groundworks, levelling and drainage
- Patios, paths, steps and edging laid on proper bases
- Raised beds, low walls or sleepers built to the agreed design
- Planting, bark or gravel finishing and outdoor lighting where included
Homes in Northumberland
Stone dominates rural Northumberland, from sandstone farmhouses and villages to fortified bastle houses in the uplands. Alnwick, Hexham and Morpeth have historic stone centres, Berwick has Georgian streets, and south-east towns such as Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington have colliery terraces. Cramlington grew from the 1960s with planned estates.
Stone homes often need lime pointing, roof slating and breathable render. Colliery terraces suit loft conversions and rear extensions, and estate homes commonly take garage conversions and window upgrades.
The coast is exposed to cold North Sea winds, and the Cheviots and higher moorland see snow and hard frosts in winter.
Planning and building rules in Northumberland
The notes below cover England, which is where Northumberland sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
Most garden landscaping in England needs no planning permission. Trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order, or trees in a conservation area, need the council’s consent or notice before work; outbuildings and raised platforms have their own limits.
Building Regulations rarely apply to landscaping, though new drainage and garden electrics must comply.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Free site survey
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about garden landscaping.
Written quote
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Booking the work
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
On site to finish
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
How much does garden landscaping cost?
Landscaping a typical 50–60m² rear garden with a patio, lawn, borders and planting costs £5,400–£13,500. As a guide, allow roughly £90–£220 per square metre of garden plus fixed costs for clearance and set-up, with gardens that are mostly lawn and planting at the lower end and those with large patios, walls and lighting at the top. Slopes and poor access add cost. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Which postcodes in Northumberland do you cover?
We cover NE23, NE23, NE62 and NE22, along with the rest of Northumberland. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Do I need planning permission for landscaping?
Most garden landscaping does not need planning permission, but it depends on the work, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Raised decking or patios, high walls and front garden paving can need permission, as can work affecting protected trees. We check the rules for your garden before quoting.
How long does a garden makeover take?
A typical garden makeover takes around one to four weeks on site, depending on size and scope. Clearance and groundworks come first, then drainage, patios, paths and walls, followed by turf and planting. Larger or sloping gardens with retaining walls take longer. Weather can affect timings, especially for groundworks and laying turf. We give you a programme with your quote.
Towns in Northumberland
Homes in all of the following Northumberland towns can get a written quote for garden landscaping. Open a town page to see prices and the postcodes we cover.