Consultation
To develop the Portswood Project the Council has undertaken public consultation which includes:
October – November 2024
The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation runs from 25 October – 15 November 2024. For more details and to comment, click here
October 2024
Third Steering Group meeting.
August 2024
Second Steering Group meeting.
July 2024
Residents were invited to attend workshops to co-design measures to limit the impact of a trial Portswood Rd bus/taxi/cycle-only section on adjacent streets in Highfield and south of the Broadway.
During each workshop, residents worked together in small groups with a facilitator to discuss potential measures to calm and/or discourage traffic travelling through the local area, and improve conditions for walking and wheeling. Discussions focused primarily on Brookvale Road, Abbotts Way, Russell Place, Westridge Road and Belmont Road as these were the main streets of concern for residents at previous consultation regarding potential displaced traffic.
Ideas and suggestions received during the workshops were then reviewed for feasibility within design guidelines, budget and trial timeline and presented to the Portswood Steering Group.
May 2024
First Steering Group meeting.
January 2024
The results and analysis of the phase two consultation of the Portswood Project were published and you can view them here.
The consultation received 1,371 submissions and with 60% of respondents saying that it will make Portswood a more attractive area.
On 16 January 2024 Cabinet agreed to progress the Portswood Project as follows:
- Establish detail design of a viable scheme trial for measures to limit through traffic in the area;
- Limit the amount of through route traffic passing through Portswood Broadway via the use of a bus gate / motor vehicle restriction, accompanied with measures to limit the impact on adjacent streets via an Active Travel Zone. The bus gate / motor vehicle restriction should be part time to allow access for delivery and vehicle access at certain times of day;
- The part time bus gate / motor vehicle restriction is to be 7am to 10am, 4pm to 7pm to allow maximum benefit for bus journey times, during peak commute hours, but still allow access to the Broadway outside of these times for other modes;
- Access for loading HGVs will be retained through Portswood Broadway from south to north, with a loading bay proposed for St Denys Road spur road to allow for loading to happen from St Denys Road; and
- Establish a Steering Group to inform design decisions for Portswood Broadway (including trial). The group is to be made up of representatives from resident associations, retailers / traders, representatives from lobby groups such as elderly / people with disabilities and mobility issues, and local residents.
October 2023
A follow-up business meeting was held in October Books meeting rooms
September 2023
Businesses in and around Portswood Broadway were invited to a “Meet the Leader” event, with the Leader of the Council held in the Civic Centre in September 2023.
A special presentation was given to members of the Accessibility Forum online.
August-October 2023
A second phase public consultation was conducted between 22nd August and 1st October 2023. The full Phase 2 consultation report can be found here: Consultation report (Phase 2)
As requested at the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee in February 2023, additional materials were provided detailing:
- Impact on local roads;
- Impact on the local economy;
- Maintaining access for people with mobility issues and people with disabilities;
- Phased Implementation of the scheme;
- Air Quality and Environmental Benefits;
- Improving Public Transport Services;
- Tackling Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour;
- A335 Thomas Lewis Way Improvements; and
- Emergency Strategy for A335 Thomas Lewis Way
This consultation included an online survey, and drop-in sessions where information and materials were on display and members of the public were able to ask questions of the project team.
October-November 2022
Public consultation online and in-person events providing details of proposed schemes for Portswood. The consultation included drop in events and an online survey to collect feedback.
Phase 1 of the Portswood Project consultation has shown that there is support for the scheme with many people wanting better access to sustainable transport such as walking, cycling and public transport, the introduction of green space and a more attractive high street.
The consultation has also shown there are concerns, and areas where people want additional information about the scheme. In the table below is a summary of the areas of concern and how we are working to address them.
The results and feedback from Phase 1 of the consultation, along with council assessments and additional investigations to address the concerns raised, can be viewed here.
Areas of concern and requests for further information |
What we are doing to address concerns |
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Impact on local roads: concerns the scheme will have a detrimental impact on local roads. |
Many people raised the concern about additional traffic using local roads to get through the area should a bus gate be introduced. To further assess this, additional traffic modelling and counts were commissioned in April 2023*. It is also proposed that an Active Travel Zone be introduced in the Highfield area (to be designed with the local community) to minimise any impact from the proposals, while maintaining access for residents. *Correction: traffic counts were carried out in March 2023 but were processed by officers in April 2023. |
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Impact on the local economy: concerns the scheme would have a detrimental impact on local businesses |
People have expressed concern that the proposals could harm local businesses. To further investigate the scheme’s impact and address concerns, Southampton City Council has commissioned an independent Economic Impact Assessment. The first stage of the report focuses on the potential effects of the scheme on the Portswood Business district, the second phase will focus on providing advice and guidance on how businesses can get the full benefit of the scheme should it go ahead. |
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Maintaining access for the elderly and disabled: concerns that this has not been fully considered |
Access for people with mobility issues, especially those that have no alternative but to use their car, will be maintained. While some people may need to make longer journeys around the bus gate, we commit to:
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Phased implementation of the scheme |
The Council is currently investigating a possible phased introduction of the scheme should it proceed, to ensure mitigation measures are in place before significant works are carried out. |
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Air quality and environmental benefits |
Southampton City Council adopted its Green City Plan in 2020, establishing a vision and a set of commitments that seek to achieve improvements in the city environment. This includes actions to improve air quality, the natural environment and establishes a 2030 net zero target for emissions from its own operations and services. With nearly a third of the city’s carbon emissions coming from the transport sector, reducing motor vehicle emissions and providing reliable and safe alternative modes of travel is a key part of meeting our targets and improving our air quality. A key way we are doing this is by improving our public transport network, along with making our roads safer for people to access other more sustainable modes of travel such as walking and cycling. The Council is also committed to seeing a continual improvement in air quality across the city under its Air Quality Action Plan and reducing impact from vehicle emissions through measures set out in the Local Transport Plan. |
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Improving public transport services |
Traffic and congestion can cause significant delay to our bus and taxi services. The existing congestion through Portswood Broadway is currently causing delays to journeys across the area for those wanting to use public transport. |
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Bias in the consultation and questionnaire |
All efforts are made by council officers to keep consultation materials factually based and question natural. Based on previous concerns we have taken extra steps to assess the materials and questions to ensure greater impartiality. The consultation questionnaire and materials have been submitted to the council’s Insights Data Team who have reviewed them. This team is separate from the Transport department and have provided us with advice about how to better frame questions to maintain neutrality. |
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Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour |
Crime and antisocial behaviour is a key concern raised in phase 1 of the consultation. Local street drinking, assaults, theft and other crimes are something we all take very seriously. We are working in partnership with the police and local businesses to improve surveillance and raise awareness of how to report crimes. Further information can be found under the Reducing Crime section on this site. |
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A335 Thomas Lewis way improvements |
These proposals would mean that significant levels of traffic would shift away from Portswood Broadway and on to Thomas Lewis way. The improvements to A335 Thomas Lewis Way focus on its key junctions, with signal technology being upgraded, pinch points being removed and crossing facilities being upgraded at its junction with St Denys Road. These works are to improve journey times and capacity, in order to facilitate the additional traffic. With the majority of these works now complete we have seen an improvement in journey times along the corridor. |
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Emergency strategy for A335 Thomas Lewis Way |
If the decision is made to proceed with these proposals, it will be important to maintain an alternative route for people who chose to drive, should A335 Thomas Lewis Way become inaccessible. We have developed an emergency strategy to ensure the flow of traffic is not interrupted, which includes the potential to temporarily suspend the bus gate for local journeys. |
September-October 2021
On-street customer survey to gain insights into behaviours of people visiting the Portswood Broadway area.
October-November 2020
Online perceptions survey to gain people’s experiences / thoughts on the current conditions and aspirations for the Portswood Broadway area.
Through October and early November 2020, we conducted an initial perceptions survey to understand how people travel through the local area and what transport infrastructure improvements people would like to see.
You can view the perception survey results here
Following this in early December 2020 and, on 28 January 2021, we presented our findings and started to discuss some of the solutions we could bring forward. A recording of this presentation is available on the council’s YouTube channel, and the presentation can be viewed here.
Autumn to Winter 2020
Through October and early November 2020, we conducted an initial perceptions survey to understand how people travel through the local area and what transport infrastructure improvements people would like to see.
You can view the perception survey results here
Following this in early December 2020 and, on 28 January 2021, we presented our findings and started to discuss some of the solutions we could bring forward. A recording of this presentation is available on the council’s YouTube channel, and the presentation can be viewed here.
If you have any further questions, check out the FAQ link on the right of the page. If the answer isn't there you can email us at portswoodcorridor@southampton.gov.uk and we'll respond to your specific question.