Claines Driveways: Block Paving, Resin and Repairs

Claines lies on the northern edge of Worcester, close to the River Severn, with a long-established village centre and a mix of period homes and later family housing. Gardens vary in size, so we adapt each design to the plot rather than using a standard layout. We handle groundwork, drainage, laying and finishing ourselves, whether the job is a new drive or the repair of an old one.

Fitting parking, drainage and planting together

Where a driveway and front garden need to work together, we plan parking, drainage and planting as one scheme. That might mean a block paved parking bay with a planted border along the boundary, or a resin surface that flows around a retained tree. Deciding where the water goes first makes every other choice easier.

Surface water is the issue people often forget until a puddle appears by the front door. We set falls so water runs towards a border, soakaway or channel rather than towards the house or the pavement, which is simply good practice on any frontage.

• Block paving in patterns that suit the age of the house
• Resin bound surfaces for a smooth, modern finish
• Borders left for planting so the frontage stays green
• Repairs to sunken, cracked or stained drives

Period frontages and newer family homes

A Victorian or Edwardian front calls for restraint: softer colours, modest patterns and edging that follows the line of the boundary. Later family housing usually has more room to turn and more freedom over colour, but still benefits from a drive that matches the house rather than shouts at it.

If you are paving a large part of a front garden, check with your local council about planning, because the rules depend on whether the surface is permeable or drains to a border or lawn within the property. A dropped kerb is a separate consent from the highway authority. As Claines is effectively on our doorstep, we can usually arrange a visit quickly to measure up and talk through surfaces, falls and edges before you decide anything.