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A multi-million outline design has been agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting this week for the Station Gateway public realm and bus station improvements. This will deliver major improvements to the area around the bus station and along The Martletts which links County Mall to Queens Square.  A more attractive and accessible space for shoppers, travellers and businesses will be created.

Included are better bike and pedestrian access between the bus and train stations, County Mall and The Martletts, landscaping, seating and improvements to the bus station with better traffic flows around Friary Way and onto Station Way.

Nearly £7.5 million from the ºÚÁÏÍøÕ¾ Growth Programme and Towns Fund has been secured for the investment. The Cabinet will ask all members of the council at a meeting on 13 December to approve the financial plan.

There will be three weeks of public consultation, planned to start in January, ahead of a planning application being submitted. A main construction contractor will be selected later that year and works are expected to start on site during spring 2025. Completion of the work is anticipated in late 2026.

This scheme follows granting of planning permission for the Arora Group’s project, working with Network Rail, to upgrade ºÚÁÏÍøÕ¾ railway station and deliver 306 apartments between the railway line and Station Way.

The Station Gateway follows recently completed highway improvements, also as part of the ºÚÁÏÍøÕ¾ Growth Programme, for the town centre Eastern Gateway and in Manor Royal. 

The ºÚÁÏÍøÕ¾ Growth Programme is a major regeneration programme of infrastructure improvements and physical regeneration designed to support significant increases in new homes, business investment and employment growth.

The programme is being delivered by ºÚÁÏÍøÕ¾ Borough Council in partnership with West Sussex County Council, underpinned by £47.5m of public funding and supported by a range of public and private sector organisations including Metrobus, Manor Royal Business Improvement District, the Arora Group, Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway.

Projects completed to date include public regeneration schemes in Queens Square and Queensway, highway improvement schemes in Manor Royal and at the Eastern Gateway to the town centre, new cycle path on Worth Park Avenue and outdoor media in Manor Royal.