Waterside decking, Cotswold Water Park

Waterside decking, built for the lakes

A deck that steps down to a lake is one of the best things you can do with a waterside garden, and around the Cotswold Water Park it is work we are asked for often. Done well, a waterside deck draws the garden right to the water and gives you the view, the light and the access that the setting is all about. Done badly, it is the first thing the conditions punish.

The conditions here are demanding

Building beside open water means building for ground and bank conditions that an ordinary garden does not have: a high water table, soft or variable bank ground, and the constant presence of water. We build the substructure to handle damp and protect it from rot, set the structure on footings that suit the bank, and account for the levels and edges with the care a waterside deck needs.

Proximity to water and permits

Work close to a lake or watercourse can bring extra considerations, from Environment Agency matters to landowner or estate consents. We check what applies before we design, so the deck is built right and built lawfully.

Non-slip, and built for the setting

By the water, a slip-resistant board is not optional, so we specify boards and finishes that grip when wet, usually quality composite, and detail the deck to sit with a contemporary lakeside house. Arrange a consultation and we will look at your waterside plot.

• 01

  Composite decking

  Low-maintenance composite decking, including Millboard, laid on a properly ventilated substructure.

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• 02

  Timber decking

  Hardwood and softwood timber decking, built level and detailed to weather well.

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• 03

  Raised decking

  Raised and multi-level decking that turns a sloping or awkward garden into usable space.

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• 01

  Decking

  Composite and timber decking, including raised and waterside decks, built level and built to last.

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• 02

  Composite decking

  Low-maintenance composite decking, including Millboard, laid on a properly ventilated substructure.

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• 03

  Natural swimming ponds

  Chemical-free natural swimming ponds, where a regeneration zone keeps the water clean and clear.

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Source: Gardenscape. Figures as of 2026-06-03.

• What is different about building a deck by the water?

  The conditions. A high water table, soft or variable bank ground and constant damp mean the substructure, the footings and the levels all have to be built for the setting, which is exactly why local waterside experience matters.

• Are there permits for building near a lake?

  There can be. Work close to a lake or watercourse can involve Environment Agency matters and landowner or estate consents. We check what applies before we design, so the deck is built lawfully.

• What decking is best by water?

  A slip-resistant board, usually quality composite, because it grips when wet, resists rot and needs little upkeep in a damp setting. We specify boards and finishes built for the waterside.

• Do you work on the Water Park estates?

  Yes. We are used to the access, timing and conditions of the Cotswold Water Park lakes and lakeside estates, and build waterside decking to suit them.