Hailsham, Polegate, Eastbourne Movement and Access Transport scheme

The Hailsham, Polegate, Eastbourne Movement & Access Corridor is one of the most congested hotspots in the Eastbourne and South Wealden area, and with significant levels of planned housing and commercial development coming forward in the near future combined with high levels of predicted traffic growth, this will place increased demand on both the strategic and local highway network. Therefore a package of measures to improve access and movement along the key local corridor connecting Hailsham and Eastbourne is a critical element in supporting sustainable economic growth. This scheme will maximise the opportunities to improve junction capacity and deliver and enable greater access to high quality integrated sustainable transport infrastructure.

Delivered in 5 phases

The package has been divided into five distinct phases, these are as follows:-

1.  Willingdon
2. Kings Drive
3. Old Town
4. Polegate
5. Hailsham

The 5 phases will include a combination of the following measures:-

1. Bus stop infrastructure and Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI)
2. Bus lanes, junction improvements and Advance Vehicle Detection infrastructure
3. Cycling Infrastructure Improvements – Cuckoo Trail – Hailsham – Polegate and Polegate – Cross Levels Way, Eastbourne
4. Walking Infrastructure Improvements – corridor length

Outcomes

The package of measures for this corridor will focus on delivering the key outcomes of:

• releasing growth, (including the housing and jobs/commercial space outputs set out in sections 2.4 and 3.2),
• enabling and encouraging inward investment, by the business community in the Eastbourne and South Wealden area,
• reducing congestion,
• improving journey times and journey comfort,
• providing a step change in the provision of sustainable transport choices, between Hailsham, Polegate and Eastbourne,
• improving accessibility to jobs, training, education and leisure services, and
• contributing to local health and wellbeing.

£579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock

In total the SELEP Growth Deal with Government has brought £579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock. Over the lifetime of the Growth Deal (2015-2021) we aim to deliver 78,000 jobs and 29,000 homes across the SELEP area, with the Deal set to attract a further £960m of investment into the South East over the six year period.

Find out more here