Concrete block permeable paving was used to break the
existing formal road alignment and introduce a ‘piazza’
within the Bridget Joyce Square.
The scheme also connected the Randolph Beresford Early
Years Centre to an adjacent play area and generated
a social hub for parents and children. Local residents
were keen to retain memories of the low wall in front of
the school, used as a balance beam in their youth. From
this the thematic ‘Wiggly Wall’ was born and became
part of a ‘ribbon’ motif that united the linear spaces and
symbolised the bringing together of the community.
Innovative Sustainable Drainage
The SuDS landscape, designed in conjunction with
McCloy Consulting, celebrates roof water collection with
sculptural gutters, downpipes and twisted steel halyards
bringing water into planted raingardens. Some roof
water, together with car park runoff, flows along sett
channels and through stainless steel letterboxes into
planted basins. The concrete block permeable paving
overlay simply replaces a tarmac road surface over
the original road base. The same blocks and 2-6mm
grit bedding layer and jointing material as used in
permeable pavements generally are here installed over
a geo-composite conveyance sheet that transports water
horizontally, on an impermeable membrane covering the
road base. Water is attenuated and treated within the
paving, then released horizontally via the stainless-steel
letterbox slots into the planted basins.
Finally, two flow control chambers on outlets from the
basins protect the combined sewer. Thus, rainfall remains
within the SuDS landscape until storms have passed
and the sewer can deal with water again. A case study
exploring this project has recently been published by
Interpave, available from its website: www.paving.org.uk
Interpave’s new website provides an essential resource
covering all aspects of design with precast concrete
paving, including permeable paving for SuDS. It features
an inspirational project gallery and case studies,
supported by background information for early design
stages, as well as for CPD. A comprehensive series
of technical documents covering all types of precast
concrete paving products provide the definitive source
of guidance for designers and contractors – including
detailing, construction and maintenance.
Tel: 0116 232 5170
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.paving.org.uk