Tandridge District Council says it is seeking funding for highway upgrades as part of its 4000-home South Godstone Garden Village proposal
A £30m
funding proposal to upgrade the area on the A22 (around Junction 6 of the M25) could be submitted to the
Government in March.
Tandridge District Council (TDC) said it
is working with Homes England, the Highways Agency and Surrey and West Sussex
county councils to draw up a "detailed business case" for the
idea. The road improvements would be needed to support the authority's
controversial proposal for a 4000-home garden community in South Godstone.
Feasibility studies are currently being carried out and a £30m funding bid is
expected to be submitted to central government's Housing infrastructure fund.
In Felbridge, the council is focusing on how more
vehicles can use the southbound A22. TDC has not provided further details about
plans for the junction with the M25; however it is thought this could be to
improve the area around Junction 6 at Godstone, where the A22, A25 and M25
intersect.
A TDC spokesman said:
"Upgrades to the two respective junctions refer to works planned to increase capacity at these locations. Feasibility work is currently being
undertaken on both junctions to find the best and most cost effective solution. "In Felbridge
the study is looking at how capacity can be increased to the A22
southbound to East Grinstead (junction with the A264). It is anticipated that both studies will be available around March."
The Local
Plan refers to improvements and "mitigation" to junctions right along the
A22 from the M25 down to Felbridge being "implemented where
needed". It also says the
building of an internal spine road to minimise the number of vehicles on the
South Godstone stretch of the A22 should be explored.
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Proposed upgrade to Godstone Station
Network Rail have confirmed they have had meetings with Tandridge District Council regarding a proposed upgrade to Godstone station as part of proposed transport improvements in connection with plans for the 4000 home Garden Community in South Godstone.
Discussions have taken place regarding rail capacity, service frequency, strategic improvements on the rail network and upgrades to station facilities.
