Update on the Sydney Road area
A package of measures for this Liveable Neighbourhood (LN), based on community feedback, has now been shortlisted for inclusion in the full business case (FBC) for the programme.
The purpose of the FBC is to secure funds to develop and install this LN by March 2027, subject to further engagement and detailed designs.
An experimental through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road is already being trialled under our pilot programme and will progress separately.
Later in the year, when we have formally secured the necessary funds, we will update this page with details of the proposals and how you can share your views.
The New Sydney Place and Sydney Road area is one of the 15 areas in our community-led Liveable Neighbourhoods programme. New Sydney Place and Sydney Road are located approximately 0.6 miles north-east of Bath Spa train station.
About the programme
Liveable Neighbourhoods is a community-led programme that aims to improve residential streets and encourage safe, active and more sustainable forms of travel, such as walking, wheeling and cycling.
Typical improvements suggested by communities are:
- Better crossings, footways and cycle lanes to connect homes with shops, schools and community hubs
- Traffic-calming measures to tackle anti-social driving, speeding and inconsiderate parking
- Pleasant places for people to sit and meet others outside
Find out more about LNs and their benefits
Our approach
Our role is to support communities to develop their own LNs, engaging with them at every stage of development. We want to hear from a diverse range of people to ensure the final designs meet everyone’s needs.
Read more about our approach to developing LNs
Development of this LN
- In Autumn 2020, we asked residents across the district how they felt about LNs, and 48 communities then applied to become a LN, via ward councillors.
- In June 2021, we prioritised 15 areas where development of LNs could start (this included the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road area).
- In December 2021, we asked for your feedback on what was good about the area, what transport-related issues you experience, and what improvements would make the most impact.
- In spring/summer 2022, we held a series of co-design workshops where residents suggested a range of measures to help (see Co-design outcomes below).
- During 2022/23, we shortlisted residents’ suggestions against a range of technical criteria and prepared draft designs to be considered in a full business case from winter 2023/4.
- In Autumn 2023, we announced a proposal to fast-track a through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road ahead of the wider programme (see below).
View our full project development timeline which includes links to the relevant reports.
Please expand the sections below to find out more.
Out of the 1,625 responses submitted as part of our public engagement in December 2021, 119 people commented on the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road area. Below is a summary of what people said:
What is good about the area?
- 75 said 'close to shops and services'
- 57 said 'strong community spirit'
- 38 said 'good accessibility, such as walking, wheeling and cycling'
What issues are experienced?
- 87 said 'through traffic'
- 77 said 'speeding traffic'
- 44 said 'parking'
- 59 said 'HGV traffic'
- 31 said 'space for wheeling, walking or cycling'
- 64 said 'school run traffic'
What measures could improve the area?
- 92 said 'a restriction on through traffic or HGVs'
- 26 said 'better or more residents parking'
- 17 said 'new or wider footways'
- 37 said 'new pedestrian crossings'
- 22 said 'trees and planting'
We held a workshop on 13 July 2022 with residents who expressed an interest during earlier consultations to co-design the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road Liveable Neighbourhood.
At the workshop, attendees took part in a series of exercises to identify what they liked about the area, what could be improved, and what specific measures could help, plotting these on a map of the area.
To see the maps and the longlist of ideas suggested by the community, please view the report below.
In August 2022, attendees were invited back to review the outcomes of the workshop and prioritise their ideas, focusing on the original application area. More information on the outcomes will soon be provided below.
Recommendations for design
We have shortlisted the community’s priorities for the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road area against a range of criteria, including costs and practicalities.
When available, you will be able to read the reports on this web page. This will include the prioritisation workshop report, the recommendation criteria, and the recommended shortlist for the LN area.
Through-traffic restriction trial (Sydney Road)
Due to strong support during consultation and co-design for a through-traffic restriction on Sydney Road (at its junction with New Sydney Place) we are proposing an experimental trial of this measure ahead of the wider programme. The trial would run for a minimum of six months from spring 2024, accompanied by an ongoing public consultation.
At the beginning of February 2024, a decision was taken to proceed with the proposed trials, subject to a call-in period until 9 February. Use the links below to read the decision notice and the related reports.
- Read the single member decision report on the proposal
- Read the press release on the decision to proceed with the trials
Further details on the proposal will be sent directly to residents and businesses in the area in due course.
We have secured the early release of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority specifically to run trials ahead of the wider programme.
Next steps
We are preparing a full business case (FBC) for the wider LN programme to establish funding priorities. This will be submitted to the West of England Combined Authority in spring 2024. We will engage the public on the overall design for this LN once the FBC has been approved.
Meanwhile, due to strong support for tackling through traffic, we are proposing to fast-track a through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road (at its junction with New Sydney Place) ahead of the wider programme.
View the project development timeline
Keep informed
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Contact us
If you would like to talk to an advisor, get involved in the LN programme or be kept up to date on future events, email us at LNs@bathnes.gov.uk, or call 01225 39 40 25 (and request a call-back from a team member)
Please also let us know if you need this information in easy-read or an alternative format.