Tarmac Driveways in Stony Stratford

Stony Stratford has a long, historic High Street and a conservation area covering much of the older town, with later housing spreading out around it. Plain black tarmac can look a little stark in front of an old stone or brick house, which is why many owners here ask about softer finishes. Further from the centre, several roads were built in the 1970s and 1980s with drives now ready for a refresh, and there a standard tarmac drive is a common and sensible choice.

Whatever the finish, the structure underneath is the same. We excavate to a depth that suits the ground and the vehicles, lay a compacted stone sub-base, then a binder course and a surface course. On a period property we take extra care near old walls and steps, keeping levels below any damp course and leaving a gap or channel so water cannot pond against masonry.

Resurfacing an older drive is possible where the existing tarmac is firm. Many drives in the area were patched over the years, so we look closely at those repairs; a mix of old patches can show through a thin new layer, and sometimes planing off the top or rebuilding a section gives a better result.

Low edges and kerbs keep the surface intact. On a more traditional property, a row of setts or reclaimed style blocks can act as the restraint and the visual border at once.

Many older plots also have a shared entrance or a carriage arch leading to a rear yard, and tarmac can be carried through these with a neat edge where it meets cobbles or a stone threshold.

On permission: homes within the conservation area may face extra controls on frontage changes, and Milton Keynes City Council can confirm what applies to your address. Beyond that, the usual national rule is that a sealed surface above five square metres draining to the street needs planning consent, while one draining into the garden or built from porous asphalt normally does not.