City councillors will be recommended to give the go ahead to a package of measures to improve the area around Brighton Station at a meeting next week (April 30).
Members of the council’s Transport Committee will be recommended to approve detailed design work to get underway on the £1.5 million project to improve the area around the city’s busiest transport hub.
Work is expected to start later this year on the project, known as the Brighton Station Gateway, subject to this approval.
The aim is to improve the area for everyone approaching and departing from the station including pedestrians, cyclists, bus and taxi passengers, along with local residents and businesses.
The package of measures for the area around the southern station entrance includes:
• A simplified road layout to improve safety, enhance traffic flow and improve pedestrian crossings
• Wider pavements to provide better facilities for pedestrians, and businesses and residents in Queens Road and Surrey Street
• An improved bus area in front of the station
• A contraflow cycle lane in Queen’s Road to improve access for cyclists
• A taxi drop off point with improved facilities for accessible cabs
• Improved loading facilities for local businesses
The proposals form part of a wider programme of investment in the station area. Complementary work includes Southern Railway’s £4.5m investment in improvements within the station; and local developments including the work on the final stages of New England Quarter, and the redevelopment of the former casino in Queen’s Road.
Next week’s Transport Committee decision will follow three years of development work on the Station Gateway project during which the council worked closely with transport companies, residents, visitors and businesses.
Councillor Ian Davey, chair of the council’s Transport Committee, said:
“Brighton station is one of the country’s busiest stations and this project is designed to bring about really great improvements and provide a much better welcome to people arriving in the city. As well as benefiting residents and visitors using the station, it will also enhance the environment for the many people who live and work in this area.
“This is a major project for the city; we have consulted widely and we are grateful to everyone who has given their views and worked with us in developing and shaping the scheme.”
While most aspects of the proposals have gained public support, residents and businesses in the North Laine raised concerns about the suggested relocation of the station’s taxi rank to Frederick Place. As a result the committee will be recommended to agree that the improvements should go ahead with the rank remaining in its current location in front of the station, with Southern Railway working with the council to ensure the rank is well managed.
Cllr Davey added:
“It is important we get the scheme right for local residents living in the vicinity of the station as well as for the city as a whole. We’ve listened to people’s views about relocating the taxi rank and carried out further traffic studies and, because of concerns about the impact on the North Laine, the recommendation is that the rank should stay in its current location.”
The council is also working closely with Southern Railway to deliver a cycle parking hub to the north of the station and a new pedestrian entrance to the North Laine.
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