Public open space (POS) plays an important role in modern housing developments. From landscaped areas and play spaces to green corridors and routes between different parts of an estate, these spaces help create developments that are attractive, accessible and enjoyable to live in.
The footpaths running through them may appear to be a relatively small part of the overall scheme, but choosing the right surfacing system can have a significant impact on how well that space performs.
For many housing developers, POS footpaths need to balance durability, drainage, accessibility, appearance and long-term maintenance – while also supporting the wider planning, landscaping and sustainable drainage strategy for the development.
So, what should developers and contractors consider when specifying a surface for POS footpaths?
1. Durability for long-term use
POS footpaths can experience considerable pedestrian traffic over their lifetime. Depending on the development, they may also need to accommodate pushchairs, bicycles, mobility aids and occasional maintenance access.
The surfacing therefore needs to withstand regular use and changing weather conditions without quickly deteriorating.
The quality of the finished surface is only one part of this. A suitable and correctly prepared base is fundamental to the performance of any surfacing system.
For resin bound paving, the substrate should be structurally sound, stable and suitable for the intended use. Getting the complete build-up right from the outset can help reduce the risk of movement, cracking and premature failure.
For developers, this means considering the footpath construction as a complete system rather than simply selecting the final decorative finish.
2. Drainage and SuDS should be considered from the beginning
Surface water management is an increasingly important consideration when designing new housing developments.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed to manage rainfall closer to where it falls, rather than simply moving surface water as quickly as possible into conventional drainage systems.
The National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems in England state that surface water management should be considered at the earliest stages of site appraisal, planning and design and integrated with elements including roads, buildings, public open spaces, green infrastructure and landscaping.
The standards also establish a hierarchy for dealing with runoff and prioritise approaches including reuse and infiltration before discharge into piped drainage systems. This makes the choice of hard landscaping particularly relevant.
How can permeable footpaths support a SuDS strategy?
When installed as part of a correctly designed permeable construction, resin bound surfacing can allow rainfall to pass through the surface into the layers beneath, rather than immediately becoming surface runoff.
However, it is important to distinguish between a permeable surface and a complete SuDS solution.
Installing permeable resin bound paving over an impermeable base does not automatically make the overall construction permeable. The complete build-up – including the surface, base and sub-base – needs to be designed appropriately for the site’s drainage requirements.
Used correctly, permeable paving can form one element within a wider SuDS management train alongside features such as:
- swales and rain gardens
- attenuation areas
- permeable hard landscaping
- tree pits and planted areas
- infiltration systems
- ponds and other surface water features
The 2025 National SuDS Standards emphasise this integrated approach, with drainage features incorporated throughout the development and landscape to provide benefits extending beyond water management.
3. Why does SuDS matter to housing developers?
SuDS is not simply a drainage engineering consideration. It is closely connected with planning, flood resilience, placemaking, landscaping and the long-term performance of a development.
Current national guidance in England promotes the integration of sustainable drainage into development design and expects developers to demonstrate how relevant SuDS standards have been addressed.
Considering drainage early can therefore help developers create a more coordinated approach between highways, landscaping, public open space and drainage design. There are several potential advantages, including:
Supporting planning requirements
Surface water management forms part of the planning process for new developments. Designing SuDS into the site layout from the outset can help demonstrate how runoff and flood risk have been considered rather than trying to retrofit drainage solutions later in the project.
Reducing pressure on drainage infrastructure
As housing developments introduce roofs, roads, driveways and other hard surfaces, the way rainfall moves across a site changes. SuDS aims to slow, store, infiltrate and manage this water more naturally, helping to reduce the speed and volume at which runoff reaches conventional drainage systems.
Creating multifunctional spaces
Good SuDS design doesn’t have to mean sacrificing usable public space. The National SuDS Standards actively encourage multifunctional solutions where drainage works alongside landscaping, recreation, biodiversity and public amenity.
A footpath, for example, can provide pedestrian access through a landscaped area while its permeable construction contributes to the wider surface water strategy.
Building resilience into new developments
Drainage strategies also need to consider extreme rainfall and climate change. Integrating SuDS throughout a development can help manage both everyday rainfall and more significant storm events, while reducing the risk of development increasing flood risk elsewhere. For housing developers, that makes drainage part of the long-term resilience of the scheme rather than simply an infrastructure requirement.
4. Accessibility and comfortable pedestrian movement
A public footpath needs to work for the people using it. Routes through POS areas may be used by residents of all ages and abilities, including wheelchair and mobility scooter users and families with pushchairs.
A smooth, consistent surface can provide comfortable pedestrian movement while reducing unnecessary changes in level or uneven areas. Path widths, gradients, transitions, edging and connections with other surfaces should all form part of the overall design.
Drainage features should also be carefully integrated so that they don’t unnecessarily interrupt pedestrian routes. The Government’s 2026 Building for a Healthy Life guidance specifically highlights the importance of combining SuDS, landscaping and pedestrian routes without disrupting direct pedestrian movement.
5. A finish that complements the landscaping
POS areas are highly visible parts of a housing development and can contribute significantly to its overall character. Footpath surfacing therefore needs to do more than perform technically.
Resin bound surfacing is available in a wide variety of natural aggregate blends, allowing developers and landscape architects to choose finishes that complement:
- surrounding properties
- planting schemes
- edging materials
- play areas
- street furniture
- existing landscape features.
Natural aggregate colours can help pathways sit comfortably within landscaped environments rather than appearing as a purely functional element. The result can be a clear pedestrian route that visually connects different areas of the development.
6. Integration with landscaping and green infrastructure
Successful POS design considers paths, planting, drainage and amenity together rather than treating them as separate elements. This is particularly relevant to current SuDS guidance, which encourages drainage systems to contribute positively to placemaking, green infrastructure and environmental enhancement.
Footpaths can be designed to follow natural movement routes through landscaped spaces, connect homes with recreational areas and work alongside planting, trees and drainage features.
For housing developments, this creates an opportunity to make infrastructure work harder: the same area can support movement, drainage, landscaping, biodiversity and amenity.
7. Long-term maintenance matters
The responsibility for a POS area doesn’t end when construction is complete. Depending on the development, public open spaces may ultimately be managed by a local authority, management company or another adopting organisation.
The surface therefore needs to be practical to maintain over the long term. For resin bound footpaths, routine maintenance can include:
- regular sweeping to remove leaves and debris
- removing organic growth before it becomes established
- appropriate periodic cleaning
- quickly dealing with spillages or contamination
- inspecting the surface for localised damage
Keeping permeable surfaces clear is particularly important where permeability forms part of the drainage strategy, as accumulated debris can gradually restrict the movement of water through the surface.
The National SuDS Standards also require consideration of management and maintenance throughout the lifetime of the drainage system. Designing with future maintenance in mind from the beginning can therefore help developers avoid creating unnecessarily complicated or costly management requirements.
Choosing surfacing for POS footpaths
There isn’t one surface that’s right for every public open space. Site conditions, expected use, planning requirements, drainage strategy, landscape design, budget and long-term maintenance all need to be considered.
For many housing developments, resin bound surfacing can provide an effective combination of appearance, durability and permeability, particularly where the entire construction has been designed to work as part of the wider drainage and landscaping strategy.
The key is considering the footpath early rather than treating the surface as one of the final decisions on the project.
At HMS Decorative Surfacing, we work with housing developers, groundworkers and contractors to install resin surfacing for public open spaces, footpaths, driveways and wider residential development schemes.
Planning POS footpaths for an upcoming housing development?
Talk to the HMS team about your surfacing requirements and we can help you identify a solution suited to the site, programme and intended use.
