Upgrading Agricultural Access at Bellows Equestrian Centre, West Sussex

Project Overview

SGS Surfacing recently completed a large-scale surfacing project at Bellows Equestrian Centre in Henfield, West Sussex. The project focused on delivering a robust, hard-wearing tarmac surface for a long agricultural access lane, designed to withstand heavy, regular use while maintaining a smooth and durable finish suitable for farm operations.

Key Highlights:

A smooth, durable 865 m × 3.2 m access lane, ready for daily farm and vehicle use
Reliable drainage and consistent surface levels along the entire lane
A functional block-paved area integrated seamlessly with the tarmac surface
Efficient delivery with minimal disruption and responsible on-site waste management

The Finished Project

Narrow rural road lined with hedges and leafless trees on the left, open fields on the right under a cloudy sky.

Winding wet rural road through a hedged, leafless trees landscape on a cloudy day.

Paved country lane flanked by bare trees and hedges, brick gate posts at the far end on an overcast day.

Wet, narrow rural road leading to houses, flanked by hedges and leafless trees on a cloudy day, with puddles on the asphalt.

Narrow country road curves away between hedges and green fields under a cloudy sky, leading toward distant hills.

Scope of Works

The project involved surfacing an 865 m × 3.2 m access lane, alongside a small block paving area, with works including:

Existing base retained in situ, reducing waste and improving efficiency
Scraping and shaping the lane to achieve correct falls and consistent laying depths
Regulation using primary grade Type 1 aggregate where required
Machine-laying AC20 dense binder at 60 mm, installing approximately 399 tonnes of tarmac
Block paving area of 21 m² (paddle court), using customer-supplied blocks
All waste materials managed and lost on site responsibly

Challenges & Solutions

Maintaining correct falls and depth: Careful scraping and shaping ensured proper drainage and a smooth, even surface.
Durability for agricultural traffic: Machine-laid AC20 dense binder at 60 mm provides a strong, long-lasting surface capable of handling heavy vehicles.
Efficient use of existing base: Retaining the existing base reduced disruption, material use, and project time while still achieving a reliable finished surface.

Team & Expertise

The SGS Surfacing team applied specialist skills in agricultural and estate surfacing, combining careful preparation, precise machine-laying, and expert sub-base regulation to deliver a high-quality finish across both tarmac and block-paved areas.

Outcome

The Bellows Equestrian Centre project demonstrates SGS Surfacing’s ability to deliver durable, practical surfacing solutions for agricultural and estate environments. By balancing efficiency, precision, and long-term performance, we provided a surface that meets the demanding needs of farm operations and estate traffic.

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