Block Paving in Eynesbury

In Eynesbury, the front of a house often has several pieces of hard ground that were laid at different times: a drive from one decade, a path from another, and a side passage that never quite matched either. Block paving is a good way to bring those areas together. One block range, or a pair of complementary ones, can run from the road to the front door and along the side to the garden gate, so the whole frontage reads as one.

Joining areas up means paying attention to levels. Paths and drives often sit at slightly different heights, and the side passage may slope towards the back garden. We work out the falls so water runs away from walls and air bricks, and where a change in level is too steep for a gentle ramp, we can build a step in blocks with a bullnose or contrasting edge so it is easy to see.

Ground near the river and brooks. Eynesbury lies on the south side of St Neots, close to the Great Ouse, and some ground nearby is low and slow to drain. We check how the soil behaves when we dig and set the sub-base depth to suit, adding drainage where water would otherwise sit at the bottom of a slope.

Side passages need special care. They are often narrow, enclosed and used to carry bins, so the surface needs to be even and the edges firm. Restraining the blocks against walls and fences, rather than relying on soil, stops them shifting under repeated wheeled traffic.

If your plans include paving over part of the front garden, Huntingdonshire District Council is the planning authority. A permeable block paving build, or drainage into your own garden, typically avoids the need for permission. Older parts of Eynesbury may have conservation status, so check with the council if you think that applies.