Future of Portswood Project revealed

Following the decision to suspend the Portswood Project trial earlier this year, Southampton City Council has confirmed that the scheme with a bus gate on Portswood Broadway will not be moving ahead

In May, independent monitoring of the traffic impacts of the trial Portswood Project showed reduced vehicle traffic and increased pedestrian activity on Portswood Broadway. However, the same assessment also identified a significant rise in traffic along nearby residential streets which led to local residents raising concerns around road safety and congestion and ultimately this is why the Portswood Project trial will not be continuing in its current form.

Through our Local Transport Plan we will continue to take steps to make Southampton a greener, healthier and more equal city by increasing the travel options available to local people and reducing congestion. We remain committed to enhancing our bus network and working with our partners to deliver bus priority measures as well as providing new services such as the Southampton Weekend Park & Ride, increased frequency on services, and the introduction of additional night bus services across the city.

The Transforming Cities funding that was allocated to the Portswood Project will instead be made available to deliver other improvements along the Eastleigh to Southampton corridor. These will need to provide sustainable transport enhancements in line with the Transforming Cities Fund objectives, and we will be seeking feedback from local people and businesses on potential options in due course.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“I’d like to thank local people, businesses and community groups as well as the project steering group, for their time and consideration in taking part in the various consultations and co-design workshops and their commitment to improving Portswood.

“We are dedicated to using the remaining Transforming Cities funding to deliver travel improvements in the Eastleigh to Southampton corridor and are committed to engaging with local people and community groups on what opportunities could do the most good.”