Crawley Borough Council has approved an increased budget for the Three Bridges Station Improvement Scheme of £7,970,968, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of this important sustainable transport infrastructure project.
Three Bridges is one of the county’s busiest railway stations with around 3.3 million people using it each year, which is within the top seven per cent of stations in the country. It is the fifth busiest in Sussex, with 40,000 people commuting in each day. The improvements will help improve the pickup and drop off areas of the station, provide new parking areas, and expand pedestrian access. New bus and cycle access lanes will also be added.
The approved budget will enable the scheme to move into the construction and implementation phase, bringing forward long-awaited improvements at Three Bridges Station and helping to support Crawley’s continued growth and development.
The funding package comprises:
- £2,086,192 already approved within the council’s Capital Programme
- £2,049,776 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) strategic infrastructure strand
- £3,835,000 reallocated from West Sussex County Council funding through the Crawley Growth Programme
The budget has increased since the last estimate in March 2020 due to rising construction costs, additional railway compliance and accessibility requirements, operational and design complexities identified during project development, and the inclusion of a contingency to manage ongoing economic uncertainty and market volatility.
Three Bridges Station is an important transport hub serving residents, businesses and visitors. These improvements will help create a more accessible, attractive and efficient station environment for passengers, encourage sustainable travel, and strengthen connectivity for our communities. I am convinced this will result in the improvement of the public realm and whole public transport experience for many residents and commuters in the borough at this key mainline station.
Councillor Michael Jones
Leader
Crawley Borough Council