Tarmac Driveways in Newport Pagnell

Newport Pagnell sits where the Ouse and the Lovat meet, and parts of the town are low and fairly flat, with gardens that can stay wet for days after heavy rain. On a flat plot, water has no natural route off a sealed surface, so a tarmac drive here has to be designed for drainage from the start rather than as an afterthought.

Falls are the first tool. A gentle slope of the finished surface, away from the house and towards a planted area or drain, keeps puddles from forming. On very level ground we create falls in the sub-base so the finished tarmac follows them evenly.

In older parts of the town, drives may also share an entrance with a neighbour, and the falls then have to work for both properties.

Collecting water comes next. A channel drain across the entrance or in front of the garage catches run-off, and it can be connected to an existing surface water drain if one is available or to a soakaway sized for the area. Where the ground is heavy and slow to soak, we may suggest a crate soakaway or directing water to a larger lawn.

Porous asphalt is a further option. It is laid on an open graded stone base that stores and releases water slowly. It costs more than standard tarmac and needs the right ground conditions, but it can be a good answer where a traditional soakaway would struggle.

On planning, Milton Keynes City Council looks at front surfaces of over 5 square metres. A permeable surface, or a sealed one that sheds water into your own garden, generally needs no application, whereas a sealed surface draining onto the road usually does. Confirm the position with the council for your address.

The rest of the build follows standard practice: firm excavation, compacted stone, binder and surface courses, and kerbs to hold the edges.