Belper School car parks

With the introduction of new sports areas and a sixth-form college, Belper School had very limited parking available. Staff, visitors and students were parking on grassed areas, leaving muddy patches around the grounds and increasing the workload of caretaking staff.

Pugh-Lewis Limited of Chesterfield were awarded the contract to create a gravelled car parking area, replacing the grass. X-Grid was chosen as a permeable, ecologically friendly alternative to concrete or tarmac.

After excavating the identified areas, a compacted hardcore base of MoT type stone provided a strong, stable sub-base. A geotextile membrane over the hardcore reduced the risk of weeds and separated the build-up layers. The X-Grid was laid over a screeded sand blinding layer and filled with a robust decorative gravel.

The result: overcrowded car parks alleviated with no additional drainage infrastructure, thanks to the permeable construction dispersing surface water back to the water table. Mud was dramatically reduced to practically zero, parking areas were available all year round, and the retained gravel cut maintenance to raking and routine upkeep.