Shaftsbury Road Paving
Client: Oxford City Council
Budget: £74,000
Department: Highways and Engineering
Completed: November 2025
Summary
ODS Highways was tasked with enhancing and improving the safety of a former garage site in Shaftsbury Road. The concrete bases had been used as parking spaces but were stepped and at various levels, posing trip hazards. The team removed the concrete bases and replaced them with Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) block paving over numerous levels of stone and geotextiles.
Requirements
The main requirement was to remove the original concrete and replace it with SUDS block paving.
The concrete was excavated and taken to a registered recycling tip where it is crushed and redistributed as recycled aggregates. In its place graded layers of clean aggregates were placed and compacted on top of a layer of geotextiles and topped with permeable block paving.
Challenges
Space on site was very limited. Once the concrete had been dug out, the road width made vehicle movements challenging. This made it difficult to dispose of waste and bring materials to site.
The existing wall footing offered little support for the new surface. This posed a risk that required additional structural solutions.
The area the team were working on provided the only car parking for residents which added time pressure.
Solutions
Using their expertise and experience, the team carefully planned the project schedule. Plant and vehicles were kept to a minimum and a banksman was always used whenever a vehicle was being operated.
The team recognised that a new higher kerb, built against the foot of the wall and backfilled with concrete, would provide additional support, both for the wall and the new surface. Doing this meant the levels of the new paving could be adjusted, resulting in a smoother, more even surface.
The team delivered the project on time ensuring the time residents were without parking was kept to the agreed minimum.
Results
The end result was new paving that was built to the specification, both on time and to budget. The residents are very happy with the quality of the work and the extra parking spaces now provided. The area is now much safer to use for pedestrians as all trip hazards have been removed. The paving is also porous and SUDS compliant which makes the area safer and more usable irrespective of weather. The improved drainage also provides an environmental benefit as it reduces the risk of flooding.
Before
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