Resin Bound Driveways in Newport Pagnell

Newport Pagnell is an old market town sitting where the River Ouzel meets the Great Ouse, and its long High Street keeps a strong historic character. Away from the centre, Victorian and interwar streets give way to post war semis and more recent estates on the edges of town. Drives here range from narrow entrances squeezed beside older houses to wide frontages on family homes, and many have reached the point where cracked concrete or faded tarmac needs replacing.

A resin bound surface is a popular choice for that upgrade because it is smooth, joint free and permeable. How it is built depends on what is there now. A sound, stable tarmac or concrete drive can often be cleaned and primed as the base. One that has broken up, sunk where the car sits or been patched repeatedly needs lifting and a new permeable base laying. We look closely at the existing surface and explain which route makes sense for your home.

With two rivers meeting here, parts of the town are low lying, and the ground near the water meadows can stay wet through the winter. That makes drainage worth thinking about on any new drive. Resin bound on a permeable base lets rainwater filter down through the stone, which helps reduce run off towards the road and standing water against garage doors.

• Narrow entrances beside older houses
• Wide frontages on later homes
• Drainage considered near the river meadows

Planning is handled by Milton Keynes City Council. Under national guidance, a permeable surface, or one draining onto your own lawn or beds, does not normally need permission for a front garden, while a non-permeable surface over five square metres draining to the road normally does. The town centre is a conservation area, so homeowners in the older streets should check with the council before making changes to the front of the property.