Major refurb of car parking facilities at a historic estate has seen a high strength, sustainable surface applied.
Fully made from recycled materials, Terram Bodpave 40 was used as part of broader visitor enhancement works carried out in 2022 at the Grade-listed Tudor estate in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, set within 180 acres of landscaped deer park, where a key upgrade to unsurfaced car parks was required.
The project aimed to deliver a durable, all-weather parking surface capable of supporting more visitors while staying sensitive to the estate’s historic character and surroundings.
Before the refurb, the estate’s gravel car parks were increasingly unable to cope with the rising visitor traffic and seasonal weather conditions. During wetter months, surface erosion, standing water and reduced parking capacity created operational inefficiencies and safety concerns, particularly at peak times.

High performance solution
To address these issues, the project team sought a permeable, high-performance surface solution that could stabilise the gravel, resist rutting and lateral movement and withstand frequent vehicle traffic — all while preserving the natural aesthetic of the parkland setting.
After consultation with the project engineers, Terram Bodpave 40 was selected as the preferred solution – a gravel-filled system said to offer technical and practical advantages over other surfacing options.
It features a joint connection strength of 7 kN/m and compressive strength of up to 250 te/m2 when filled with angular aggregate. An integrated anchoring system, with nearly 100 ground spikes per square metre, gives long-term stability under frequent car and van traffic.
Supplied in pre-clipped units, the system allowed installation teams to cover up to 600 m2/d, speeding the build programme and minimising disruption to the estate’s daily operations.

Fully SuDS compliant
Terram’s Bodpave 40 is fully compliant with sustainable drainage system (SuDS) regulations, offering opportunities for water reuse, enhancing water quality by filtering out pollutants, promoting local biodiversity and helping mitigate flood risks by slowing and storing surface runoff.
“The upgraded car parks can now deliver year-round durability, improved visitor access and easier maintenance to outperform conventional gravel solutions in both functionality and environmental impact,” a Terram spokesperson said.
Terram is a manufacturer of non-woven geosynthetic solutions with more than 50 yearS’ industry expertise. The company developed the world’s first patented geosynthetic system and has maintained a strong focus on research, development and quality manufacturing ever since.
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