Appendix 6: Project Chronology

2020 onwards

The Western Road corridor between Holland Road and Montpelier Road has experienced persistent issues associated with obstructive and antisocial parking, particularly around areas subject to waiting restrictions. The issue of poor parking has had an ongoing negative impact on bus journey times at this key pinch point and throughout the city. The route forms a key transport corridor carrying approximately 80 to 100 bus movements per hour at peak times or around 700 per day, together with significant pedestrian, servicing and general traffic activity. Enforcement activity has remained amongst the highest in the city. There are almost weekly complaints from members of the public to the city’s enforcement line about large numbers of vehicles parked on double yellow lines in the area. In response there were 470 visits from enforcement officers from August 2025 to the end of March 2026 and 705 visits from April 2026 to the beginning of August 2026. During 2025/26, 684 Penalty Charge Notices were issued alongside 2,315 recorded Vehicles Driven Away during the observation period before a Penalty Charge Notice could be issued.

22 June 2021 (Committee)

The Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee under the previous administration considered the Network Management Action Plan. The Action Plan included proposals to introduce experimental Red Routes on strategic routes within the city together with additional traffic management and enforcement measures.

22 July 2021 (Policy and Resources Recovery Sub-Committee)

Committee agrees to the funding of £770,000 for additional staff to work in the Traffic Control Centre from 2022/23. This is to resource a Red Route trial, development of the LTP5 and the 2030 transport vision, CCTV enforcement of Mandatory cycle lanes, upcoming Moving Traffic Regulation powers, CCTV enforcement of Bus Lanes. As well as supporting the enforcement of a wider Ultra Low Emission Zone and Liveable (car free) City Centre. However, not all of these projects were progressed before the end of the term of the previous administration.

March 2022 (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan)

The Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approved the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The LCWIP identified opportunities to improve conditions for walking and cycling across the city and was developed using collision data, traffic data, area studies and consultation evidence. One of the objectives of the Red Route programme is to reduce obstructive parking in cycle lanes and on key transport corridors, improving safety and reducing conflicts between cyclists and parked vehicles. The objectives of the Western Road Red Route are consistent with the wider active travel and network management priorities set out in the LCWIP.

May 2023 (Brighton & Hove City Council election)

New Labour administration majority.

5 December 2023 (Committee)

The Transport & Sustainability Committee considered the outcomes of consultation on the Lewes Road, London Road and Preston Road Red Routes and approved progression to the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order stage for those schemes.

April 2024 (Implementation)

Experimental Red Routes were introduced on Lewes Road, London Road and Preston Road. The schemes were funded through the Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and were introduced primarily to improve bus reliability, reduce congestion and tackle antisocial parking on key transport corridors.

August 2024 (Case Study)

Transport for the Southeast (TfSE) published a case study on Brighton & Hove City Council's Red Route programme through its Centre of Excellence knowledge sharing platform. The case study highlighted the objectives of the scheme, including improving bus reliability, reducing congestion, tackling antisocial parking and supporting the efficient operation of key transport corridors. The publication provided external recognition of the Council's approach and shared lessons learned with transport authorities across the Southeast

April 2024 to March 2025 (ETRO Consultation period)

2025 (Our City Transport Plan 2035)

The Council continued development of Our City Transport Plan 2035, (LTP 5). The draft plan includes objectives to increase public transport use, deliver a safe and integrated transport system, promote active travel, reduce emissions and improve network efficiency. The objectives of the Western Road Red Route align with these wider strategic transport priorities.

20 March 2025 (Cabinet)

Cabinet considered the Red Routes Update report, reviewed monitoring data relating to bus passenger safety, air quality in London and Lewes Road. Cabinet approved the design and implementation of a Red Route on Western Road between Holland Road and Montpelier Road.

4 June 2025 (Brunswick & Adelaide LAT)

The proposed Western Road Red Route was discussed at the Brunswick & Adelaide Local Area Transport Meeting where local issues relating to access, loading, parking and operation of the corridor were considered.

Spring to Autumn 2025

Detailed design work commenced for the Western Road Red Route, including site surveys, traffic management design development, loading bay assessments, disabled parking assessments, engagement with transport operators, engagement with enforcement services, accessibility stakeholder engagement and scheme development.

10 September 2025

A Western Road Red Route map workshop was held with Local Area Transport representatives to review loading arrangements, parking provision, traffic management proposals and operational aspects of the proposed scheme.

24 November 2025 to 4 January 2026

A public consultation on the proposed Western Road Red Route was undertaken through the Council's Your Voice platform. More than 4,700 consultation leaflets were distributed to properties within the scheme area and surrounding streets. Your Voice Consultation on the proposal received 1,032 responses.

Headline figures

50% of respondents felt it would make the area safer

53% felt it would speed up bus journey times

56% felt it would keep traffic moving

January to May 2026

Consultation responses were reviewed and taken into account in the final scheme design. Further engagement took place with Brighton & Hove Buses, Stagecoach, Sussex Police, NSL, Cycling UK, Bricycles, Local Area Transport groups, ward councillors, businesses and residents.

24 April 2026 (Press release on existing Lewes & London Road Red Routes)

Following 2 years of implementation of the existing Red Routes a review was undertaken of the data available to assess the impact of the Lewes and London Road red route schemes. This identified improvements in bus reliability, reductions in bus passenger injury incidents, reductions in collisions, improvements in air quality indicators and increased footfall within monitored locations.

12 June 2026

The Cabinet Member for Transport & City Infrastructure considered the report Permission to Proceed with Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for Western Road Red Route. The decision considered the consultation results, reviewed the completed scheme design, considered the Equality Impact Assessment and approved implementation of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order.

Summer 2026

Implementation planning commenced for the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, including Traffic Order preparation, signage and lining design, enforcement arrangements, communications planning and coordination with the planned Western Road resurfacing and reconstruction programme.

July to August 2026

Detailed planning commenced for the Western Road resurfacing and reconstruction scheme covering the section of Western Road between Holland Road and Montpelier Road. The project formed part of the Council's planned highway maintenance programme and involved substantially more extensive works than a standard resurfacing scheme due to the condition of the carriageway and the extent of reconstruction required.

August 2026

Trial holes, ground investigations and structural testing were undertaken to better understand the construction of the road and the load-bearing capacity of the underlying carriageway structure.

August 2026 (Construction Methodology)

A preferred traffic management approach based on a full road closures was identified as the safest and most efficient construction methodology for undertaking the reconstruction works.

August 2026 (Bus Diversions)

Planning commenced for bus diversion routes and wider traffic management arrangements associated with the resurfacing programme. Proposed diversion routes were developed in partnership with bus operators and transport stakeholders.

August 2026 (Business Engagement)

Initial engagement commenced with businesses regarding the resurfacing programme, including deliveries and servicing, loading arrangements, access to premises, customer access and measures to mitigate the impact of construction activity on businesses.

28 September 2026 to approximately 12 November 2026 (Planned)

Subject to weather conditions and unforeseen construction issues, the Western Road reconstruction and resurfacing programme is scheduled to commence on 28 September 2026 and continue for approximately 45 days. The works are expected to include utility investigations, carriageway reconstruction, drainage repairs, resurfacing, ironwork adjustment and temporary traffic management arrangements.

Autumn 2026 (Anticipated)

Subject to completion of all necessary legal and operational requirements, the Western Road Experimental Traffic Regulation Order is anticipated to be implemented. The programme is expected to include installation of road markings and signage, camera enforcement arrangements, an initial warning period before full enforcement commences, monitoring of loading bay usage, disabled parking provision and traffic flow, together with ongoing engagement with businesses, residents and accessibility groups throughout the experimental period.

Additional Meetings Featuring Red Route Agenda Items

Disabled Car User Advisory Group

The meetings listed below included either dedicated Red Route discussions or Red Route updates as part of the wider agenda. See report for details.

 

·         4 June 2025

·         26 September 2025

·         7 October 2025

·         22 October 2025

·         17 December 2025

·         4 February 2026

·         25 March 2026

·         17 June 2026

·         12 August 2026

 

Bus network operation meetings

Attended meetings where Red Routes were discussed, and updates given.

·         6 March 2025

·         3 April 2025

·         1 May 2025

·         5 June 2025

·         4 September 2025

·         2 October 2025

·         13 November 2025

·         4 December 2025

·         8 January 2026

·         5 February 2026

·         5 March 2026

·         2 April 2026

·         7 May 2026

·         4 June 2026

·         6 August 2026