In the heart of the city, construction is due to commence in the second week of January for a new bus hub at Albion Place as well as an urban park at Castle Way. The Albion Place bus hub, funded by the Department for Transport, will feature waiting facilities and travel information, using high quality materials enhancing the setting of the city walls, with an emphasis on passenger safety with improved lighting and CCTV.
The park, which will be positioned on the current Castle Way car park, will create the first public green space within the Old Town for almost 60 years, transforming the car park into a green park that will celebrate Southampton’s rich heritage and past experiences by improving access to the city walls, creating tree-lined lawns and gardens with an art-scape motif that can be viewed from Arundel Tower. The historic city walls around the bus hub and the new urban park will also be repaired as part of Southampton’s heritage investment programme where many of the monuments in Southampton are being restored over the coming years.
Amenities at the new bus hub include:
- New waiting facilities using high quality public realm materials;
- Public seating;
- Improved lighting and CCTV for passenger safety;
- Access to e-mobility (e-scooter and cycle hire); and
- Travel information
For the duration of January, the works will predominantly focus on enabling works, there will be no works on the carriageway. Balfour Beatty will work closely alongside the archaeological team as this area is one of the city’s most important archaeological sites, given its proximity to the city’s historical medieval walls. Any significant artefacts will be carefully collected and archived.
The construction of the Albion Place bus hub and urban park, which is scheduled to open in autumn 2024, follows close engagement with residents; Southampton City Council gave residents the opportunity to providefeedback when the plans were submitted for planning which was approved in September 2023, as well as invited to feedback on the Traffic Regulation Order.
Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport comments:
“This scheme is pivotal for the future of Southampton to maintain its appeal to local people and visitors. We want to create a better-connected transport network and to offer people more travel options, whether that is driving, taking the bus, cycling, scooting, or walking. We need to support a better bus provision for both residents and visitors, as well as a choice of transport options, so that journeys will become easier for all road users.
I would like to thank residents for their patience whilst the works are taking place, we are working with Balfour Beatty Living Places to ensure there is minimal disruption. I can assure everyone that it will be worth waiting for when they see the result of this landmark construction.”
