Block Paving in Bradwell

Bradwell combines a historic village core, with its old church and the remains of the abbey nearby, with housing built as part of the new city from the 1970s onwards. That means homes here can face very different paving challenges. Cottages in the older streets often have small, irregular frontages, while estate homes may have front drives, parking bays or shared areas in front of garages.

Shared parking areas need extra thought. Before any work begins, it is important to know where your boundary lies and whether part of the space belongs to a neighbour or a management company. We are happy to work with neighbours who want to do the work together, as long as everyone has agreed the layout and who is paying for which part.

The ground beneath much of Milton Keynes is clay, which can swell when wet and shrink in long dry spells. That movement is one reason older drives start to show dips and ridges. For a lasting result, we dig out to a proper depth, lay a well graded stone sub-base in layers and compact each one before the bedding sand goes down.

• Boundaries checked on shared parking areas
• Clay movement allowed for in the base design
• Edging that keeps blocks locked in place

A strong edge is part of every block paving driveway we lay. Without one, the outer rows gradually drift and the joints across the drive start to open. If you are planning a larger area, permeable block paving lets rainwater soak down through the joints. Milton Keynes City Council is the authority to check with if you are unsure whether your plans need permission.

Ironwork is another thing to watch on these estates. Inspection chambers for shared drains often sit in front gardens, and their covers need recessed trays so the blocks run neatly over the top instead of leaving a raised metal lid to trip over.