Transformation of bus station to ‘landmark’ location moves nearer
£5m to be spent on grand plans
MORE than £5m will be spent on transforming Gosport's bus station – with hopes that work could begin before the end of next year.
Plans have been in motion since 2012 to rebuild the station from the ground up, creating a ‘landmark’ waterfront location including retail, leisure and residential units.
Now, the plans have taken a step forward thanks to Portsmouth City Council and Gosport Borough Council securing a £56 million investment from central government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
More than £5 million of this funding will go towards the plan to redevelop the bus station and taxi rank, opening up the site for future regeneration, according to Gosport Borough Council leader Mark Hook.
Cllr Hook said: ‘We would be adding a little bit towards it, so it would be in excess of £5 million.
‘We would be looking to put the new bus interchange where the taxi ranks are.
‘We’ve been patiently waiting for funding and we can now start moving on to the first phase of moving the bus interchange and that
gives us the entire bus station site for redevelopment in the future.’
He added: ‘I would like to think we would be in a posi
tion early next year to have planning permissions in place. We would be looking to start the work as soon as we have the planning permission in place.’
Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said that the public transport site was ‘in desperate need’ of being redeveloped.
‘I know that this will be welcome news for many local residents who want to see our local transport networks improved. It is fantastic to see over £55 million being invested in our local region.’
Improvements provided by the rest of the funding will include better pedestrian access through Portsmouth city centre, and cycle routes along Fratton Road and Goldsmith Avenue.
Last year Department for Transport (DfT) awarded Portsmouth City Council and Gosport Borough Council £4m from the fund. A total of £2.6m was spent on improving three junctions in Portsmouth, and real time information displays at bus stops across Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville.
We’ve been patiently waiting for funding and we can now start moving on. Councillor Mark Hook