Shopwyke Lakes, Chichester

Client
Location

Chichester

REMIT

Devise an Access Strategy for a large mixed use strategic development site including 500 dwellings and commercial space that would secure support from the Highways Agency at West Sussex County Council.

BACKGROUND

RGP’s familiarity with the A27 Trunk Road coupled with a good understanding of Highways England (formerly the Highway Agency) imperatives for improving safety and capacity, enabled RGP to devise an Access Strategy that would deliver substantive improvement to the A27, far beyond the implications of a ‘do-nothing’ scenario; which given lack of public funding was the only likely prospect. The Access Strategy needed to deliver improvement to the area at nil-detriment to local roads, whilst also overcoming the severance effect potentially caused by the A27 and enhance sustainable connectivity with Chichester and surrounding settlements.

RGP’S APPROACH

Early assessment identified an opportunity to assist all stakeholders, in particular Highways England by creating an opportunity to rationalise access at the A27 and improve its junctions generally. A safer and more free-flowing section of A27 would thereby be created in a problematic area. Improvements to bus connectivity with Chichester’s city centre and local settlements were made by diversions and changes to bus times. Non-vehicle travel by bicycle and walking was also improved by creating controlled crossings over the A27 and two footbridges.

The development mix proposed was also planned with a view of minimising movement by car, particularly from and to the site from the A27 and beyond.

On 01 May 2013, Chichester District Council resolved to approve the application, subject to Section 106 Agreement.