Teddington Lawn Tennis Club

The Challenge

The club required a long-term solution that would improve the appearance, usability and durability of the car park while increasing the quality of access routes throughout the site.

During construction, significant unforeseen ground conditions were encountered.

Following investigation works, it became apparent that the existing asphalt section did not contain a suitable binder course and was not structurally sound enough to support conventional planing operations.

Further challenges arose within the shingle area where exceptionally soft ground conditions were discovered. Despite excavating between 600mm and 800mm below ground level, suitable bearing strata could not be located, creating a significant risk of future settlement and structural failure.

In addition, the conversion of the shingle area to a non-permeable asphalt surface required a comprehensive drainage solution to manage surface water runoff.

Our Solution

Smart Surfacing Solutions developed an engineered solution to overcome the challenging site conditions while maintaining the project programme.

Works included:

• Reconstruction and resurfacing of 930m² of existing car parking areas.
• Excavation and full reconstruction of a 420m² former shingle parking area.
• Installation of new edging details to define parking areas.
• Formation of new falls across the site to direct surface water effectively.
• Construction of a large French drain soakaway system to accommodate the new impermeable surface.
• Resurfacing of pedestrian pathways providing access to the tennis courts.

To address the poor ground conditions within the reconstructed area, a reinforced pavement structure was designed incorporating:

• Geotextile separation membrane.
• Structural ground reinforcement grid.
• 6F5 capping layer.
• MOT Type 1 sub-base.
• AC-20 binder course.
• SMA10 surface course.

This solution successfully stabilised the ground and created a robust construction capable of supporting vehicle loading over the long term.

The Results

The completed project transformed the functionality and appearance of the club’s parking facilities.

Key outcomes included:

• Full resurfacing of 930m² of existing parking areas.
• Reconstruction of 420m² of previously unusable shingle parking.
• Installation of a new engineered pavement structure over challenging ground conditions.
• Improved site drainage through the introduction of new falls and a French drain soakaway system.
• Enhanced pedestrian access routes to the tennis courts.
• Long-term structural stability despite difficult subgrade conditions.

The project was successfully completed within a seven-day programme and delivered a durable, high-quality surface that will serve the club and its members for many years to come.

Client Outcome

By combining practical experience with engineered construction solutions, Smart Surfacing Solutions successfully overcame significant unforeseen ground conditions to deliver a robust and visually impressive finished scheme.

The completed works have significantly improved parking capacity, drainage performance and overall site presentation while providing the client with a long-term surfacing solution designed for durability and reliability.