Resin Driveway & Curved Path for a Period Cottage in Southowram

Project Brief:

The owners of this beautiful period cottage in a Southowram, Calderdale were looking to replace their old, tired driveway with something that was easy to maintain, but also suited the character of the property, drained well, and defined a gentle, curved pedestrian route from the house to the garage. The finished surface needed to sit comfortably alongside Yorkshire stone and the surrounding landscape.

Resin Driveway Installation In Rural West Yorkshire 2

Objectives

Preserve the cottage’s heritage look and feel.
Improve drainage and long-term stability.
Create a clearly defined, curved path from the house to the garage.
Use colours and materials that blend with local stonework.

Project Facts

Location: Southowram, Calderdale, West Yorkshire
Property: Period cottage
Scope: Full excavation and replacement; new sub-base and base; natural stone edged path; resin bound finish in two colours
Build-up: MOT Type 3 sub-base; open-grade tarmac; UV-stable resin bound finish
Edging: Locally quarried natural stone blocks
Surface Area: 115 m²

The Installation Process

1. Careful Excavation & Removal

We excavated and removed the existing driveway, protecting adjacent garden areas and stonework. This created the depth needed for a robust, long-lasting build-up.

2. Free-Draining Sub-Base

We installed an MOT Type 3 sub-base, compacted in layers.

We chose MOT Type 3 as it has reduced fines. This means that water can pass through more freely than dense aggregates. This supports the permeability of the final resin bound surface and helps reduce standing water in a rural setting where there is a higher risk of freeze-thaw damage.

3. Open-Grade Tarmac Base

We laid an open-grade tarmac layer over the sub-base.

Open-grade tarmac provides a stable, even platform while maintaining porosity through the build-up. This base helps the finished resin surface to stay smooth and resist rutting, while supporting the drainage strategy.

4. Natural Stone Edgings

We sourced natural stone edging blocks from a local quarry and installed them in a smooth curve from the patio to the garage to define the path.

We opted to use locally sourced stone in order to match the tones and texture of surrounding Yorkshire stonework and provide traditional edge that feels at home with the cottage architecture.

5. UV-Stable Resin Bound Surface in Two Heritage Blends

We mixed and laid a UV-stable resin bound finish in two complementary heritage blends. A lighter blend was used to define the pathway, improving visibility and gently leading the eye along the route, with a darker blend for the main driveway, to sit discretely amongst the Yorkshire stone and natural surroundings.

Result

A character-appropriate driveway that belongs to the cottage and its surroundings.
Defined pedestrian movement via a curved, lighter-toned path without introducing modern, intrusive edging.
A permeable, free-draining build-up from sub-base to surface, well-suited to a semi-rural location.
Neat, durable detailing around transitions and edges for a tidy finish.