PROPOSALS to transform an area near Southampton's historic Bargate have taken a major step forward - less than a month after they were unveiled.
The city council has submitted a planning application to turn the Albion Place car park into a bus interchange and the adjoining Castle Way parking area into an urban park.
If the proposals are approved, the park will be the first green space to be created in the Old Town for almost 60 years.
An artist's impression of the proposed bus interchange at Albion Place (Image: Mott Macdonald)
A design and access statement that accompanies the application says the city council has long recognised the need to improve the Albion Place site.
"Its position provides an opportunity to develop and contribute to a modern, attractive, and vibrant city centre core," the statement said.
"In recent years, the area surrounding Albion Place has undergone considerable improvements.
"This has included the acclaimed Watermark West Quay, which won the strongly contested Prix-Versailles World Architecture Award in 2018 following its completion in 2017, and the Bargate redevelopment."
The scheme comprises a bus interchange at Albion Place and a new park at Castle Way (Image: Mott Macdonald)
The statement says the scheme aims to "reconfigure and redevelop" the Albion Place and Castle Way area.
It adds: "The proposals will greatly enhance public space around the historic town walls through the creation of an urban park and a bus hub which will improve public access into and around the city centre."
A transport statement that also accompanies the application confirms the proposed development would reduce the number of short-stay parking spaces in the area.
But it says a parking action plan commissioned by the council in 2017 found there was "significant spare capacity" within the Old Town district during peak times.
The Albion Place/Castle Way area includes several historic buildings, including The Old Courthouse (Image: Newsquest.)
The proposed alterations are expected to reduce traffic flow along Castle Way and cut the number of turning movements currently associated with Albion Place.
The statement says: "Improvements to the pedestrian environment, a reduction in traffic in the area due to the closure of the car parks, and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit would be expected to contribute to a safer environment."
The scheme is one of several government-funded proposals that were unveiled three weeks ago.
East Park Terrace will be closed to all traffic except buses, taxis and bicycles to make it safer for people walking between East Park and Solent University. A similar scheme will be introduced at Portland Terrace to cut bus journey times.
The junction of Devonshire Road and Cumberland Place will be replaced by a small park.
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