Chippenham Road Project Sets New Standard for Low-Carbon Infrastructure

Chippenham, 30 May 2025 — A street once infamous for its potholes and cracks has become a national pioneer in sustainable infrastructure. Ladyfield Road, previously dubbed the “worst road in Chippenham,” is now one of the first in the UK to be resurfaced to net zero carbon standards.

The transformation, which came as a relief to local residents long plagued by damage and disruption, began with resurfacing work in October. However, it has only now come to light that the resurfacing project was part of a revolutionary collaboration between council contractors and academic researchers aiming to develop a road surface with minimal environmental impact.

At the heart of this low carbon innovation is biochar, a carbon rich byproduct of the biomass industry. In this case, the biochar was derived from agricultural straw waste that had already been used to heat industrial greenhouses. The material underwent a process of pyrolysis, being superheated in a vacuum, which locks in carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Biochar now makes up about seven percent of the newly laid road material. Combined with the use of UK produced steel slag, a byproduct of steel manufacturing, instead of virgin aggregates, the project significantly reduces the environmental footprint of road construction.

Importantly, this shift also curbs the need for imported aggregates, further lowering transport related emissions and supporting a more circular, localised economy.

The road's surface was completed using Milepave, a next generation asphalt alternative that is produced at significantly lower temperatures than conventional tarmac. Not only does this reduce the energy required during mixing, but it also cuts down on the use of bitumen, a petroleum-based binder, aligning the project more closely with net zero targets.

Local councils and engineers involved in the trial believe this could signal a step change in the way roads are built across the UK. While trials like the one in Chippenham are still in early stages, the early results suggest that decarbonising road infrastructure is not only possible but practical.

The project also showcases the potential for collaborative innovation between public bodies, academia and industry, particularly in the race to meet the UK’s climate goals.

For Chippenham’s residents, the transformation is already being felt, not just in the smoother drive, but in the knowledge that their once crumbling street now leads the way toward a more sustainable future.