LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS 47 POST-PANDEMIC PAVING
Outdoor space has taken on a fundamental new importance with Covid-19. Chris Hodson of Interpave explains why a fresh approach is needed when designing and selecting paving for housing, to meet a wide range of new requirements.
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part from social distancing measures directly related to Covid- 19 itself, it is now clear that the
pandemic has triggered a fundamental rethink about other aspects of how we live and work. Many longer-term, wider issues – considered important for some time but left on the back burner – are now resurfacing, with the current emergency acting as a catalyst for accelerating action. These issues – including flooding from rainwater runoff, vehicular pollution of watercourses and introduction of green infrastructure – have major implications for the built environment, including the paving for housing projects, whether new or regenerated.
The Government has recently launched ‘active travel’ initiatives, encouraging walking and cycling to reduce obesity, while home working and the growth of on-line shopping have also created debate about new ’15-minute neighbourhoods’ and the reinvention of the suburbs. These ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’ – a reminder of previously adopted ‘home zones’ – highlight a change away from paving for cars, in favour of shared spaces where pedestrians and cyclists feel at home. These initiatives are now starting to be embraced by local authorities in planning policies and masterplans. But for housebuilders and developers, uncertainty about how new requirements will pan out calls for a flexible and adaptable approach to paving.
MODERN METHODS OF PAVING Modular concrete paving systems are ideally placed to meet these challenges, whether on new or retrofitted schemes. Adopting the principles of ‘modern methods of construction’, factory- produced modular concrete paving delivers fast, low-cost installation, with limited intervention that makes it particularly helpful for retrofits. Importantly in these uncertain times, layouts can easily be altered and modular concrete paving taken up and re-used to meet changing demands, providing a long-term, sustainable asset. These principles generally apply to all precast concrete block, flag and kerb products. They are fully engineered and manufac-
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tured under sustainable, controlled conditions – consistently providing accurate sizes, colours and textures, as well as slip/skid resistance and other performance characteristics. The distinct, modular units and designed variations in colour, texture and shape can break up areas visually, giving ‘kerb appeal’ and a human scaled that’s difficult to achieve with monotonous, formless materials. Modular concrete paving delivers a unique combination of predictability, safety and accessibility for all, with scope for endless variety in shape, scale, colour and texture to enrich the urban environ- ment. It offers potential for real ‘places for people’ that are both multifunctional and adaptable to change. In addition, weather-independent ‘dry’ construction methods optimise available working times to fit in with the requirements of residents on regeneration projects. There are no curing delays before the paving can be used, noxious fumes or ‘hot work’, and, as only small
plant and equipment is needed, noise and disturbance is minimised.
SUDS WITHOUT LAND-TAKE Another key consideration today – particularly with climate change – is storm-water flood prevention, and concrete block permeable paving is an essential part of the SuDS toolbox, providing a multifunctional sustainable drainage technique. In addition to paving, it also provides an inherent drainage system that requires no additional land take for water storage, treatment or conveyance. It removes water-borne pollution and provides a gradual flow of clean water at the head of the ‘SuDS management train’ enabling safe, open SuDS features on the surface and enhancing landscape design and biodiversity. Rainwater ‘ponding’ is eliminated,
reducing the risk of ice forming on the surface and preventing splashing from standing water. Permeable paving can
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