A new-build property only gets one chance to make a good first impression from the road. When the site includes a dropped kerb, a block paving driveway, and boundary fencing, the quality of each element depends on how well they are planned together. Drop kerbs must meet the Dorset County Council Highways specification. Driveway sub-bases must be engineered to the site’s ground conditions. Fencing must be installed to a height and specification that works with the surfacing around it.
On a new-build plot at Hilltop Lodge, Lytchett Matravers, those three elements needed to be managed as a single scope of works; not handed to separate contractors and hoped to align. When any part of the process is handled in isolation, the cracks start to show.
About the Project
The ground conditions on site required careful sub-base preparation before surfacing could begin. The existing material was stripped and removed to approximately 360mm depth across the driveway area of around 47m², creating a clean formation ready for a properly engineered foundation.
As the property had no existing vehicular access from the public road, a dropped kerb crossing also had to be constructed before the driveway could be used. This required an application to Dorset County Council Highways for the appropriate licence, followed by construction to the council’s own specification using taper kerbs and flat kerbs.
Driveway Foundation & Block Paving
Once the formation was prepared, a three-layer sub-base was constructed to give the surface the structural depth it needed:
- 150mm of 20/63mm clean stone as the primary load-bearing layer.
- 100mm of Type 3 stone to provide a stable, well-compacted intermediate layer.
- 50mm of 2–6mm clean stone as a bedding course for the block paving.
Precast concrete edgings (150mm x 50mm) were haunched with concrete around the full perimeter to lock the blocks in position and prevent any lateral spread over time. The block paving itself was Brett Omega Flow (200mm x 100mm x 60mm), supplied by the client and laid in a herringbone pattern across the driveway and footpath area. The footpath runs alongside the building, connecting the main driveway to the rear of the property.
A geotextile membrane was installed beneath the gravel areas adjacent to the driveway. Approximately 15m² of 20mm clean gravel was then laid over the membrane, providing a low-maintenance surface that drains freely and keeps those areas neat between the block paving and the boundary planting.
Dropped Kerb Crossing
Fletchamoore managed the licence application to Dorset County Council Highways on behalf of the client, covering all correspondence and compliance requirements. The crossing was constructed using taper kerbs and flat kerbs to the council’s specification, creating a legal, highway-standard vehicular access point from the road. All works were carried out under the appropriate licence.
Closeboard Fencing
To complete the boundary, 2.0m high closeboard fencing was supplied and installed along the site perimeter. Timber posts and timber gravel boards were used throughout, providing the fence with the durability the property needed and a solid, consistent finish alongside the block-paving edgings.
The End Result
The finished driveway provides the property with a proper, functional entrance, a clean kerb transition from the road, and a block-paved surface that handles regular vehicle use without issue. The herringbone pattern and consistent charcoal colouring of the Brett Omega Flow blocks complement the contemporary timber cladding of the building.
The footpath alongside the building provides practical access to the rear without crossing the planted areas, while the gravel sections keep the soft landscaping zones tidy and free-draining. The closeboard fencing clearly defines the boundary and provides the occupants with the privacy the plot requires.
With the dropped kerb in place and all works completed to Dorset County Council Highways specification, the client received a finished site — surfacing, access, and boundary — built to last and compliant from day one.
Residential Surfacing & Groundworks Across Dorset
Projects like this one require more than the ability to lay block paving. Managing a Highways licence application, working to council specification, and coordinating surfacing and fencing across a new-build site all demand experience across different trades and a working knowledge of what local authorities require.
Fletchamoore has been delivering block paving driveways, dropped kerb installations, tarmac driveways, and gates and fencing across Dorset, Poole, Bournemouth, and the surrounding area for over 60 years. The company is family-run, Street Works-qualified, and local council-accredited for dropped kerb works.
Call 01202 624900 or complete our online contact form for a no-obligation quote for your driveway, dropped kerb, or fencing project.
