Overview

West Sussex County Council is working to improve sustainable travel across the county. By making it easier, safer and more attractive to walk, wheel and cycle, we can help reduce congestion on our roads, improve air quality, support healthier lifestyles, and create more pleasant places to live, work and study.

We are seeking your views on proposals to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more convenient along Oaklands Way in Chichester, improving connections between:

• Northgate Gyratory
• Oaklands Park
• College Lane
• University of Chichester
• St Richard’s Hospital

Your feedback will help shape more detailed design work and inform decisions about how the scheme progresses. The consultation is open from Thursday 8 October until 11:55pm on Thursday 19 November 2026, and we encourage everyone with an interest in the area to take part.

Why the improvements are needed

The West Sussex Transport Plan 2022 – 2036 (opens in new window) underpins our approach to improving the transport network within the county. The plan intends to address a number of challenges, including climate change, congestion, public health and road safety.

The plan outlines priorities for the Chichester area, including the improvement of active travel infrastructure, while the Chichester Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) (opens in new window) identifies Oaklands Way as part of a key walking and cycling corridor serving the University of Chichester. However, with no dedicated cycling infrastructure alongside the busy dual carriageway, people cycling must share the road with other traffic and buses. This can feel unsafe and make cycling less attractive for shorter, everyday journeys. The footway is also narrow in some sections, while crossings could be improved to make walking safer and more convenient.

The proposed improvements are designed to:

• Provide a safer and more direct route for walking and cycling
• Reduce conflict between cyclists, buses and general traffic
• Improve access to the University of Chichester and St Richard’s Hospital
• Support healthier, low‑carbon travel choices
• Connect with both existing and proposed active travel routes around Chichester

About the proposals

The scheme would connect into the existing cycle facilities around the A286 Northgate Gyratory, which link to a northern route along the A286 Broyle Road, as well as a radial route around Chichester city centre.

Key features include:

• A dedicated footway and cycleway on the northern side of Oaklands Way, between Northgate Gyratory and College Lane
• Raised tables at junctions to encourage lower vehicle speeds and provide safer, easier crossings that give priority to people walking and cycling
• Upgraded tactile paving to improve accessibility
• Re-laying the existing stone-paved area by the junction of College Lane and Spitalfield Lane
• Removing the Franklin Place bus stop layby and instead providing an on-road bus stop, creating a wider footway for pedestrians

Please refer to the maps of the proposals (opens in new window) for more detail.

Two artist impressions of the scheme have been developed to show what the scheme could look like. These are provided below.

Artist impression of the College Lane junction

Artist impression of the Northgate Car Park access junction

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Previous consultation

An earlier consultation on the scheme took place in late 2023. It sought views on two options for improving walking and cycling facilities along Oaklands Way:

• A shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists
• A dedicated cycle track, separated from the footway and main carriageway

Both options included raised tables at the Northgate car park access road and College Lane, as well as replacing the existing eastbound bus layby with an on-road bus stop.

Feedback showed greater support for the segregated cycle track: 53% of respondents supported this option to some degree, compared with 47% for the shared-use path. These findings have helped shape the current proposals.

Further information is available in the consultation report (opens in new window).

Find out more

Come along to our drop-in event to meet the project team, view the plans and ask questions about the proposals:

Thursday 15 October 2026, 3.30pm – 7.30pm, New Park Centre, Studio Room New Park Road, Chichester, PO19 7XY

There is no need to register in advance.

Have your say

We would love to hear your views on our proposals so please complete our survey, which can be accessed at the bottom of this page. The consultation is open until 11:55pm on Thursday 19 November 2026.

Your feedback will help inform our decision making on how the scheme develops. If you need help completing the survey or require the information in an alternative format, please contact us using the details provided below.

What happens next

After the consultation closes, we will review and analyse all feedback received. This will help us identify any changes that may be needed as more detailed design work continues, and to inform decisions on the future of the scheme, including building a case for funding. We will publish a consultation report summarising the feedback received and explaining how comments have been considered.

Any decision to proceed to construction will depend on the outcome of the consultation, completion of the detailed design process, and the availability of funding.

Accessibility and alternative formats

If you require any of this information in an alternative format, please email activetravel@westsussex.gov.uk (opens in new window) or telephone 01243 642105. You can also visit our Accessibility page (opens in new window) for more information.

We will do our best to provide the information you need in a format that is accessible to you.

Web browser compatibility

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