Concrete block paving was introduced into the UK around 40 years ago, while concrete kerbs have been in use for over 70 years and concrete flag paving for even longer. Precast concrete paving follows a millennia-long tradition of distinct units laid to create hard surfaces. But unlike other materials, precast concrete products are fully engineered and factory-manufactured under controlled conditions. This ensures accurate sizes, colours, textures, slip/skid resistance and other performance characteristics.
Long-life and re-usable, precast concrete paving is demonstrably sustainable – in every sense. As well as having low environmental impact, products are locally manufactured with local materials and localised product supply. Adopting the principles of ‘modern methods of construction’, modular concrete paving enables fast installation with limited intervention techniques, modest equipment and low energy use. Original products can simply be re-used for reinstatement following below-ground work or layout changes, or for different areas, optimising their embodied carbon and meeting ‘circular economy’ criteria.
Concrete block permeable paving enhances this sustainability as a well-established, multifunctional, nature-based SuDS technique. It simply combines inherently self-drained, safe and attractive surfaces with attenuation, storage, pollution treatment and conveyance of rainwater runoff. It provides a controlled flow of clean water for street trees, biodiversity, amenity and safe use within other open SuDS features – linked to various multifunctional benefits.
In terms of placemaking, segmental precast concrete products with designed variations in colour, texture and shape can break up areas to give visual interest and a human scale not possible with monotonous, formless materials. The latest pigment technologies allow a much wider choice of colours, ranging from vibrant to muted tones, as well as variable colour mixes. Surface treatments can also be applied to give different textures – some exposing their inherent aggregates – and new manufacturing techniques continue to be developed.
So, modular concrete paving delivers a unique combination of predictability, sustainability and accessibility, with scope for real design freedom to enrich the urban environment and create ‘places for people’. It is also worth remembering that all these benefits of precast concrete paving are available at an economic cost – in both initial and whole-of-life terms.