Tarmac & Asphalt suits Southbourne well, given an older village core alongside later estate development; in practice that means hot-rolled asphalt compacted over a prepared sub-base into a single dense, flat surface. What that means on the ground in Southbourne is properties nearest the creek needing real attention to surface-water drainage, and tidal creek proximity toward Chichester Harbour. Where it earns its keep is larger driveways that can achieve a proper fall to a drainage point; the honest caveat is that standard tarmac is impermeable, so the drainage fall has to be built in at construction.
About Tarmac & Asphalt
Tarmac and asphalt driveways are formed from hot-rolled bitumen-bound aggregate, laid in one or two courses over a compacted stone sub-base and rolled while still hot to bond into a single dense, flat surface. It is quick to lay across a large area compared with unit-by-unit systems, copes well with sustained vehicle weight, and gives a classic, understated dark finish that suits both period and modern properties without competing with the architecture. Standard tarmac is not permeable, so correct falls and edge drainage need to be built in at construction rather than added afterward, and a sound, well-compacted sub-base is what actually determines how long the surface lasts rather than the tarmac layer alone.
Best suited to: larger driveways, properties wanting a low-fuss uniform finish, and sites that can achieve proper falls to a drainage point
Less suited to: sites with no viable drainage fall or where a permeable/SuDS-compliant surface is specifically wanted
Ground & property in Southbourne
Southbourne sits toward the tidal creeks of Chichester Harbour east of Emsworth, and properties nearest the creek genuinely need more thought given to surface-water drainage than those further inland. An older village core sits alongside later estate development, with the two following quite different briefs depending on proximity to the water.
Coastal / flood note: tidal creek proximity toward Chichester Harbour