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Footpaths, Pedestrian Routes and Paving Services
Specialist paving services and footpath installation for developments, estates, and public realm projects requiring compliance
Every development needs pedestrian infrastructure that meets accessibility standards and gets adopted without defect disputes.
But poorly installed footpaths? They create trip hazards, drainage failures, accessibility complaints. Worse, they trigger defect backlogs that delay Section 38 adoption by months, tying up your capital and preventing scheme handover.
Get pedestrian routes installed right, signed off without delays
You need paving services and footpaths that meet BS8300 accessibility standards, handle surface water properly, and come with documentation ready for highway authority approval.
We deliver this across South West England, South Wales, and the Thames Valley. From initial design and drainage integration through to tactile paving installation and adoption sign-off, with full NHSS accreditation ensuring every detail meets adoptable standards.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why footpaths fail adoption, and why it delays your handover
The real-world impact...
There's a way to prevent all of this...
Footpaths installed to adoptable standards, first time. One partner for everything
Everything integrated from the start:
Footpath design, drainage, tactile paving, dropped kerbs, and edging. You're not managing interface risks between four separate trades.
Accessibility compliance built in:
BS8300 gradients, Inclusive Mobility tactile specs, proper colour contrast, correct kerb heights. Zero risk of discrimination claims or adoption refusal.
Adoption documentation ready:
As-built drawings, material certifications, drainage records, accessibility compliance certificates. Everything the highway authority needs for Section 38 sign-off.
Material options for every budget:
Asphalt at £13-£20 per square metre through to premium block paving at £30-£75 per square metre. SuDS-compliant permeable options? We've got those too.
Emergency repairs within 48 hours:
Trip hazards, surface failures, drainage emergencies during your defects period. We're there fast, stopping complaints before they escalate.
Drainage that actually works:
Surface water management designed in, not bodged as an afterthought. Linear channels, SuDS integration, proper falls preventing pooling.
Why developers and main contractors choose Highways Plus
Tight adoption programmes. Fixed liability periods. You need pedestrian infrastructure that passes highway authority inspection first time, not defect lists that drag on for months.
Highways Plus is different:
NHSS-accredited footpath specialists:
Proven compliance with adoptable highway standards. We speak the same language as highway inspectors and know exactly what they’re checking.
Accessibility compliance as standard:
Every gradient, tactile installation, kerb drop meets BS8300 and Inclusive Mobility guidance. Never had an accessibility-related adoption refusal? That’s our record.
Drainage integrated, not added later:
Surface water management designed in from the start. No retrospective drainage failures delaying adoption or triggering enforcement.
One team, one invoice, one liability:
We handle footpath, tactile, kerbs, drainage, and repairs. You’re not coordinating multiple contractors or dealing with finger-pointing over defects.
Rapid defect resolution:
Emergency repairs within 48 hours during your liability period. Trip hazards sorted before residents complain or councils issue notices.
Section 38 documentation sorted:
As-builts, material certs, compliance records provided in format highway authorities expect. Your adoption submission goes in complete and gets signed off.
A clear, structured process that keeps your site running
Professional footpath installation needs proper ground prep, precise levelling, accessibility compliance, drainage integration. And documentation at every stage.
What you get...
Most projects run through phased delivery. Ground prep and drainage first, then surface installation and tactile paving once levels are confirmed.
Typical timelines? 4-8 weeks for residential development footpaths, 8-12 weeks for large commercial or public realm schemes, 2-4 weeks for smaller industrial access routes.
Design review and compliance check:
We assess your footpath layouts against BS8300 accessibility standards, confirm gradients, review drainage requirements, and identify tactile paving locations. You know it'll pass adoption before we start.
Ground preparation and drainage installation:
Excavation to correct depths, sub-base installation and compaction, drainage channel positioning, utility protection. Solid foundations preventing settlement and surface failures.
Surface installation and levelling:
Asphalt laying or block paving installation to precise falls and levels, kerb and edging installation, joint finishing. Professional installation delivering 20+ year durability.
Tactile paving and accessibility features:
Dropped kerbs to 6mm maximum upstand, correctly oriented blister paving at crossing points, colour contrast verification. Full Inclusive Mobility compliance.
Final inspection and documentation:
Quality checks, surface testing, photographic records, as-built drawings prepared. Complete adoption documentation package ready for highway authority submission.
Paving Services CASE STUDY
Mixed-use residential development, Bath
The Challenge:
- Developer faced Section 38 adoption delays on a 180-home scheme. The problem? Footpath defects identified during highway authority inspection.
- The original contractor's work showed multiple non-compliances: tactile paving incorrectly oriented, kerb upstands exceeding 6mm specification, surface water pooling due to inadequate drainage, trip hazards from differential settlement.
- Highway authority issued a defect list requiring complete remediation before adoption sign-off. Development completion stalled, capital remained tied up, residents complained about access issues.
Our Solution:
- We took a systematic approach. Started with drainage improvements to eliminate pooling, then tackled surface repairs addressing settlement and trip hazards.
- Complete replacement of non-compliant tactile paving with correctly oriented installations meeting BS8300 colour contrast requirements. Dropped kerbs? Ground down to specification 6mm upstands.
- Comprehensive photographic record and as-built documentation prepared in the format required for Section 38 submission. Works completed in phases to maintain pedestrian access throughout.
The Outcome:
- Defect remediation completed in eight weeks against 12-week estimate
- Highway authority re-inspection passed with zero further defects identified
- Section 38 adoption signed off within four weeks of completion
- Developer released from maintenance liability six months earlier than projected, accelerating ROI
Proven delivery of footpaths and paving across diverse sectors
Housing developments. Public infrastructure. Commercial estates. Whatever you’re managing, you need pedestrian routes that meet accessibility standards and stay defect-free.
Sectors that rely on us:
Residential developments:
Housing developers requiring Section 38-compliant footpaths, tactile paving at road crossings, accessible pedestrian routes throughout estates. Adoption-ready from day one.
Commercial and retail:
Business parks, shopping centres, leisure facilities needing accessible pedestrian infrastructure, decorative paving, trip-hazard-free surfaces. Professional finish maintaining brand standards.
Industrial and logistics:
Warehouse facilities requiring segregated pedestrian routes around loading areas, heavy-duty edging, clear demarcation between vehicle and foot traffic. Safety-focused delivery.
Public sector and councils:
Local authorities maintaining highway footways, repairing potholes and trip hazards, upgrading accessibility at crossing points. Compliant, documented, defensible against claims.
Healthcare and education:
Hospitals, care homes, schools requiring fully accessible pedestrian infrastructure, inclusive design, safe surfaces for vulnerable users. DDA and Equalities Act compliance assured.
Leisure and hospitality:
Holiday parks, caravan sites, hotels needing attractive but durable footpaths, accessible routes to facilities, low-maintenance surfaces. Aesthetic appeal with practical performance.
Your Paving Services questions, answered...
What's the difference between pedestrian-only and light-vehicle footways?
It’s about construction depth and loading. Pedestrian-only routes use thinner construction (20mm surface over 50mm binder for asphalt) because they’re separated from vehicles by barriers or wide verges. Light-vehicle footways need reinforced construction to handle occasional loading from delivery vehicles or parking overruns, typically requiring deeper sub-base layers.
Which material should I choose for my footpaths?
Depends on your budget and what you’re after. Asphalt costs £13-£20 per square metre and gives you 15-20 year lifespan—great for large-scale installations. Block paving runs £30-£75 per square metre but delivers 20-30+ years with high repairability and design flexibility. We’ll recommend based on your budget, aesthetic requirements, and expected loading.
What makes tactile paving compliant?
BS8300 requires correct orientation (blisters parallel to kerb edge at controlled crossings), proper colour contrast between tactile and surrounding paving, and 5mm-high blisters in specific patterns. Wrong orientation or insufficient contrast fails accessibility standards and blocks adoption.
How do you prevent surface water pooling?
Design-stage drainage planning. We build in correct cross-falls (typically 1:40 or 2.5% gradient), linear drainage channels at low points, SuDS integration where required by planning. Surface water management isn’t an add-on—it’s designed in from the start.
Can you work on occupied sites?
Yes. We phase installations to maintain pedestrian access throughout, coordinate with your operations, work around business hours if needed. Chapter 8 traffic management keeps routes safe during construction.
What if footpaths fail during the defects period?
We provide emergency repairs within 48 hours for trip hazards or surface failures during your liability period. Fast response means residents’ complaints don’t escalate, and you stay compliant with Section 38 maintenance obligations.
Do you handle Section 38 adoption paperwork?
Yes. We provide as-built drawings, material certifications, drainage records, accessibility compliance certificates, photographic records, all in the format highway authorities expect. Your adoption submission goes in complete.
How quickly can you repair trip hazards?
Emergency response within 48 hours for serious trip hazards. Temporary repairs same-day if needed to eliminate immediate risk, permanent reinstatement scheduled based on your programme requirements.
Can you upgrade existing footpaths to meet accessibility standards?
Yes. We assess existing installations against current BS8300 and Inclusive Mobility guidance, identify non-compliances, recommend cost-effective upgrades. Common upgrades include tactile paving installation, kerb drop modifications, drainage improvements.
Need pedestrian infrastructure that'll pass adoption first time?
Book a Free, No-Obligation Paving Services Assessment
We’ll review your footpath requirements, assess accessibility compliance needs, identify drainage integration opportunities, and provide written recommendations with transparent pricing.
No obligation. No sales pressure. Just expert advice from NHSS-accredited specialists who’ve delivered compliant footpath installations across hundreds of development and public realm projects.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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