Block Paving in Buckingham

Buckingham is an old market town set in a loop of the River Great Ouse, with Georgian and earlier buildings in the centre and newer housing on the edges. That mix brings different paving needs. A cottage in the centre may have only a small frontage, while a newer home can have a wide drive for several cars.

Older properties need careful levels. Paving must sit below any damp proof course and fall away from walls so rain does not collect against the brickwork. Where there is no damp proof course, a gravel margin can help the wall stay dry. We check these details before any digging starts.

On newer estates, the challenge is often a drive that has sunk or spread because the original base was thin. Clay soils can swell and shrink with the seasons, so a deeper, well compacted sub-base and firm edging help the blocks stay level.

• Levels planned for older walls
• Deeper base where clay moves
• Firm edging to keep blocks tight

Buckinghamshire Council is the planning authority here. Paving a front garden is usually allowed if it is permeable or drains to your own garden, but larger sealed areas draining to the road may need permission. Parts of the town are in a conservation area, so check before changing walls or boundaries.

The town also has a university and a good number of rented homes, so some of the drives we are asked about belong to landlords who want a surface that stays tidy between tenancies with little upkeep. Block paving suits that well: a dark brindle hides marks, and a damaged block can be swapped out on its own. For family homes on the newer estates around the edges of Buckingham, the request is more often for extra width, so a second or third car fits without parking on the lawn.