Mixed Paving and Grass Car Park: OCITY PAV65 & NGR65 in Action at a Retail Site
Nidaplast supplied the cellular paving grid system for a 70-space mixed-surface car park at a Carrefour supermarket in Touques, near Deauville (Normandy, France).The project combines two complementary panels from the OCITY range — the PAV65 grid for load-bearing sett paving zones and the NGR65 grid for natural grass zones — delivering a fully permeable, mixed-finish car park that meets both structural performance and planning compliance requirements.
70
parking spaces
2 systems
PAV65 / NGR65
11
accessible & family bays
Project Background: Permeable Car Park for a Busy Retail Site
As part of a full refurbishment of the supermarket car park, the developer’s brief centred on restoring ground permeability across the entire surface. The key requirements were:
- Removing impermeable surfacing and reinstating natural ground infiltration
- Enabling rainwater to drain directly into the ground at source
- Reducing peak runoff load on the local drainage network
- Delivering a load-bearing, visually cohesive surface suited to high-turnover retail use
The engineering consultancy also specified accessible and family parking bays, alongside a surface finish durable enough for regular light vehicle traffic.
Client Brief: 100% Permeable, Load-Bearing and Fully Accessible
The project specification required:
- A fully permeable car park surface (100% infiltration rate)
- A mixed paving and grass finish combining structural performance with landscaped integration
- Compliance with French surface permeability legislation governing new and refurbished car parks
- A stable, long-lasting structure resistant to compaction and freeze-thaw cycling
- Fast installation to minimise disruption to shoppers and retail operations
The Solution: OCITY PAV65 and NGR65 Cellular Paving Grids
The surface was built using two complementary panels from the Nidaplast OCITY range.
PAV65 — Cellular Grid for Sett Paving
- Holds 9 load-bearing concrete setts (150 × 150 × 60 mm) per panel
- High mechanical resistance for regular light vehicle traffic and retail rotation
- Ensures perfect sett alignment and long-term surface stability
- Designed for driveways, car parks and any vehicular surface requiring a paved finish
NGR65 — Cellular Grid for Natural Grass or Gravel
- Deep cells encourage vertical and lateral root development
- Open structure promotes airflow, water movement and nutrient circulation
- Enables direct rainwater infiltration at the point of impact
- Can be filled with gravel as an alternative to grass, depending on project requirements
Clip-Together Compatibility: Seamless Mixed-Surface Installation
The PAV65 and NGR65 panels are fully compatible and clip directly together, maintaining structural continuity across the transition between paved and grassed zones — no gap, no edge detail, no separate fixing required.
Technical Specification: PAV65 and NGR65 Grid Panels
Panel dimensions:
500 x 500 mm.
Panel depth:
65 mm.
Permeability:
100% — fully compliant with French urban planning surface permeability requirements
Material:
100% recycled and recyclable polyethylene
Slab PAV65
The Ocity PAV65 slab is specifically designed for installing 15 × 15 × 6 cm pavers. Its structure ensures perfect alignment and excellent mechanical strength. Ideal for car parks, driveways, and trafficable areas, it facilitates the creation of durable and permeable surfaces.
View product sheet
Slab NGR65
The Ocity slab stabilizes both gravel and grassed surfaces while preserving soil permeability. Its honeycomb structure provides excellent mechanical strength and ensures a stable, driveable surface as well as deep grass rooting. Ideal for urban landscaping, it combines functionality, drainage, and long-lasting aesthetics.
View product sheetInstallation: Step-by-Step Laying Process
Ground preparation
Excavation to formation level, grading of the sub-base and installation of a free-draining bedding layer.
2. Laying the OCITY panels
PAV65 and NGR65 panels are laid and clipped together across the mixed paving and grass zones, maintaining a continuous, unified structure throughout.
3. Filling and finishing
PAV65 panels: each grid is filled with 9 load-bearing concrete setts (60 mm depth).
NGR65 panels: growing medium is placed and grass seed or turf is installed. Adequate irrigation is maintained during establishment. Grassed zones become fully traffickable once root establishment is complete — typically within a few weeks.
Results: Permeable, Compliant and Low-Maintenance
- Fully permeable car park surface — rainwater infiltrates directly at source
- Significant reduction in surface runoff and peak load on local drainage infrastructure
- Mixed paving and grass finish — visually cohesive and well integrated into the surrounding landscape
- Full compliance with French surface permeability legislation for car parks
- Durable, stable surface requiring only routine maintenance
- 11 accessible and family parking bays delivered to specification
Nidaplast Case Study — Mixed Paving and Grass Car Park, Carrefour Retail Site, Touques, Normandy (France)
Nidaplast supplied the cellular paving grid system for a 70-space mixed-surface car park at a Carrefour supermarket in Touques, near Deauville (Calvados, France). The project combined two complementary panels from the OCITY range: the PAV65 grid for load-bearing sett paving zones, and the NGR65 grid for natural grass zones, creating a fully permeable mixed surface throughout.
Products: OCITY PAV65 (9-sett panel, 150×150×60 mm setts, compressive resistance up to 800 t/m²) and NGR65 (deep cells for root growth, grass or gravel fill) — both 500×500 mm, 65 mm depth, 100% recycled and recyclable polyethylene. The two panels clip together for seamless surface continuity across paved and grassed zones.
Project objectives: restoring ground permeability, natural stormwater infiltration at source, reducing peak runoff load on drainage networks, compliance with French surface permeability legislation, light vehicle load-bearing performance for high-turnover retail use, 11 accessible and family parking bays.
Outcome: fully permeable car park, mixed paving and grass finish, planning-compliant, durable, low-maintenance, fully accessible.
Manufacturer: Nidaplast, French manufacturer of recycled polypropylene cellular structures, founded 1984, Fresnes-sur-Escaut, Hauts-de-France. Certified ISO 9001/14001/45001. Labelled French Fab, Coq Bleu, Coq Vert, EcoVadis Bronze, MoRe. www.nidaplast.com
