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Portswood Project – Latest Update

Posted by on Jul 24, 2026 in News | 0 comments
  • Portswood Project Latest Update

https://transport.southampton.gov.uk/portswood

The long-running project for Portswood and surrounding area including the Highfield ATZ has reached the next phase. The results from the ATZ Consultation, which ran early in the year, have been analysed. Information is now available on the SCC Website but here are some extracts:

“Since the conclusion of the [Bus-gate] trial, traffic volumes have returned closer to previous levels, but longstanding issues with this level of through traffic have been raised by local residents in the Highfield and surrounding area. Now, with remaining funding the council is seeking fresh input on how the area can be made safer.

Three priority areas have emerged from recent feedback and will each be consulted on separately, with further proposals likely to follow. These are:

1. Highfield Active Travel Zone (ATZ) measures with initial focus on Brookvale Road

2. Safer Routes to School – Highfield Infant School

3. Extension of 20mph zone on residential roads”

  • A Summary of the Consultation Responses

Full analysis of the ATZ Consultation can be found here:

https://transport.southampton.gov.uk/media/4219/highfield-atz-survey-webpage.pdf

  • A letter from Councillor Jacqui Rayment, the Cabinet Lead for Transport

Since the Local Elections in May, Cabinet positions have been shuffled round, Councillor Jacqui Rayment is now the Cabinet Lead for Transport. On 10 July she wrote individual letters to HRA Officers with an update and the next steps.

Her letter can be read here in full (with permission to share):

Letter from Councillor Jacqui Rayment 10 July 2026

Councillor Rayment informed HRA that decisions had been made following that ATZ Consultation.

In summary these are:

  • To address driver behaviour on local roads, the council is developing plans to install speed calming cushions and raised table on Brookvale Road, Russell Place and Abbotts Way to encourage safer driving and make a more comfortable environment for people walking, wheeling or cycling. The current buildouts will be removed. This will require a formal Traffic Regulation Order Consultation in early autumn.
  • Helping families travel safely to school. The Council is working with Highfield Primary School to make daily journeys to school safer and easier for children and their families through our Safer Routes to School programme. The early designs for this project include speed cushions and improving existing crossing points, focusing on Church Lane and Highfield Lane, to help children travel more safely and independently.

Again local people will be able to comment through a TRO consultation process once the design is completed.

Safer Routes to School Highfield C of E Infant School
  • Extending the 20mph zone – the TRO consultation for this took place in April and is now closed. This is a link to the roads that have been included:

Extension of 20mph limit in Highfield and Portswood

  • Developing Cycle Quietways in Lawn Road and Priory Road routing around The Broadway
  • Short term improvements to Portswood Broadway aiming to make a more welcoming, attractive, inclusive and safer place to visit. This will help support local businesses and the wider community by enhancing the character and sense of place of the Broadway and making it a more pleasant place for everyone to spend time.

Councillor Rayment also gave absolute confirmation that these proposals do not include traffic restrictions such as the previous Bus Gate.
“We are also confirming the remaining decisions from the previous trial as follows:

  • The build-outs on Brookvale Road and Belmont Road will be removed. The related double yellow lines will be retained until the buildouts are removed
  • The Broadway and St Denys spur road (next to Trago Lounge) will be retained as is for now. This includes the ‘no right turn’ at the spur road excluding HGV’s and buses, the mandatory cycle lane on the spur road and cycle stand on the Broadway. These will be discussed further as part of the consultation on the Broadway outlined above
  • Modal filters trialled on Brookvale Road and Russell Place will not return.”
  • HRA Chair reply to Councillor Rayment

The letter from Councillor Rayment was discussed at the HRA Committee Meeting on 14 July. A copy of the reply from Prof. Roger Brown, Chair HRA can be found here (with permission to share):

Reply from Prof Roger Brown, Chair HRA