Regeneration of Farnham Town Centre - Charcon Hard Landscaping - Part of Holcim UK
Charcon Hard Landscaping - part of Holcim UK, has supplied a full suite of hard landscaping products to transform the public realm at Brightwells Yard, a major regeneration project in the heart of Farnham, Surrey. Led by developer Crest Nicholson, the scheme has revitalised a previously underused area with new homes, retail, leisure and green space. All centred around a vibrant new town square.
Working in collaboration with landscape architects Murdoch Wickham and contractor De-Ath Bros, Charcon provided paving solution to support the creation of a welcoming and contemporary public space. A total of 1,179.86m² of paving was laid, with 217 tonnes of material used. Charcon’s Stonefleck block paving, Stonefleck Infilta permeable paving and UrbanPave block paving were chosen to echo the blend of modern and traditional architecture found across the development.
To meet the project’s sustainability and surface water drainage requirements, Charcon recommended its Stonefleck Infilta permeable paving, which features a dropped nib design to maintain clear, visible joints for water infiltration. This ensures compliance with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and helps reduce flood risk by managing runoff at the surface level. Infilta paving also simplifies construction and maintenance, while supporting wider pollution control and water management goals.
The main square combines both Stonefleck and UrbanPave ranges, selected in a palette of grey tones to deliver a clean, modern aesthetic. These paving systems were designed not only for visual impact but for long-term durability in high-footfall areas such as walkways and commercial zones.
Charcon’s Aqua-etching technology, used to finish UrbanPave, offers a sustainable alternative to traditional shot-blasting methods. The process produces less waste, recycles water on-site and reuses the minimal dust created as a by-product, contributing to the project’s 40% cement replacement rate and reinforcing the circular approach to resource use.
With a fixed completion deadline to align with the official opening, the Charcon team worked closely with De-Ath Bros and Crest Nicholson to ensure on-time delivery and project readiness. Through consistent communication and logistical support, Holcim UK helped ensure that the new public square opened on schedule, making a positive, lasting impact on the local community.