Park & Ride for Brighton & Hove is edging closer to becoming a reality.
Plans are currently being developed to launch a scheme as early as next summer.
These include a Park & Ride on at least one site to establish a new, innovative approach, including signage and the latest technology. This can then be expanded to several sites across the city.
A report setting out this approach will be presented to councillors for approval early next year.
The first site will use existing car park space for motorists to park, who will then take the bus into the city centre and out again.
Options for the site of the initial Park & Ride scheme are being worked on. If approved by Cabinet, it would begin in the summer of 2025.
We’re currently in discussion with several private companies about the possibility of using their car parks and are reviewing council parking space as well, in order to drive this forward.
We are also calling on existing car park owners in or around the city to come forward if they think they could offer a suitable location. This might be businesses, for example, that have a large car park available on weekends or other times in the week.
They can contact us via transport.policy@brighton-hove.gov.uk
A report, originally due to be presented to Cabinet later this month, will now come before Cabinet in January to allow for further discussions with private sector operators on the development of site options.
The initial site would be the first step in a long-term plan for Park & Ride to serve the city. We recently secured £50,000 funding from Transport for the South East to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case.
We’ve also had useful discussions with other local authorities that already operate successful Park & Ride schemes about how they were developed and how they work.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm, said: “A Park & Ride scheme for Brighton & Hove is something that’s been discussed for well over two decades, but we’re determined to now make it a reality.
“We’re having very useful conversations with private companies about potentially using their car parks as part of the scheme. We’d love to hear from any others who think they may be able to offer a viable solution.
“Setting up our first Park & Ride site will also provide us with valuable data and learning as we develop our new scheme. This approach has been a useful starting point for several other local authorities. For example, Oxford has a very successful Park & Ride scheme that began with a small trial.
“We’ll continue to develop options and I’ll be very happy to share our new approach with Cabinet in January. We want a Park & Ride scheme that will give residents and visitors a reliable and sustainable way to visit and travel around the city.”
