The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) recognises that transport and traffic management is and will continue to be, a critical issue for all residents and businesses on the Gosport Peninsula and surrounding area.

SEEDA has appointed MVA Consultancy as transport consultants to work closely alongside the project team and provide specialist advice as plans for the site evolve.  MVA will assess the impact of proposals as they evolve and will identify ways of improving and enhancing access both into and within the site.

Click here to view MVA's methodology statement.

The proposed development at Daedalus will include a comprehensive analysis of transport related issues.  As part of their initial work, MVA Consultancy undertook a baseline study and produced a report and appendices which details the current situation in relation to transport and access in the Lee-on-the-Solent area.  Click here to read an executive summary. 

Further studies about the impact that the scheme will have on local transport networks will be produced once the masterplan evolves and the exact nature of proposed development at the site becomes clearer. 

The Project Team is aware that it is important to ensure that there is the right scale and balance of development at Daedalus. SEEDA will seek to minimise the impact of development at the site on the local and wider transport network.

Green Transport Solutions

One of key objectives for the project is to be sustainable. In terms of transport, this means identifying new and possibly innovative alternatives to car use which will contribute to reducing congestion and associated environmental impacts.  As part of this work, MVA will consider and advise how pedestrian and cycle access could be enhanced as well as how public transport provision could be improved.

	Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Scheme   Hampshire County Council will shortly be implementing a Bus Rapid Transit(BRT) scheme to provide an alternative transport link between Fareham and Gosport. The route will take low emission buses and cyclists from Redlands Road to MilitaryWay along the disused railway corridor. Planning permission was granted in July 2009 and £2 million of funding has been secured. The aims of the plan are to reduce car travel and congestion in the Gosport peninsular, making it easier to get in, around and out of the area. This will eventually be connected to other BRT schemes to become a network of efficient and speedy public transport. More information can be found in the latest BRT newsletter or via the Transport for South Hampshire website.

	Stubbington By-Pass   In view of the congestion experienced in the area, HCC has previously explored the potential to create a Stubbington by-pass.  This scheme is currently on hold as initial studies undertaken by HCC have concluded that a by-pass alone would not significantly relieve the pressure on the existing road network and therefore only work as part of a set of transport improvement measures.  They also noted that a bypass would have a significant impact on the visual appearance of the strategic gap as it would lead to the physical severance of areas of green open space.

Whilst we acknowledge that there are many concerns about transport on the Gosport peninsula and surrounding area, solving all of the problems that current exist is unfortunately beyond the scope of the Daedalus development.  However, the Daedalus Project Team will work closely with the Highway Authority and other Regional Agencies to ensure that proposals for Daedalus are considered at both the local and regional level.

As detailed in the consultation strategy there will be a number of opportunities for local residents and businesses to have their say on issues including transport.