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Tuesday 28 Jan 2014

More improvements announced for Haywards Heath station

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail and its partners have announced plans to build a three-deck car park at Haywards Heath station, in addition to a regeneration scheme unveiled last year.

The improved plans will also include a new station entrance from the car park, opening directly onto the platforms. Both of these enhancements were put forward by residents during the early consultation and have been woven into the scheme.

The project will take the number of station car parking spaces from 670 to around 1,100, and will be delivered in phases to minimise disruption.

An amended planning application is being submitted with the aim of starting construction work in May 2014, ahead of the £20million development of the wider station area being led by Solum Regeneration, the joint venture partnership between Network Rail and Kier Property.

Tim Robinson, Network Rail’s route managing director for Sussex, said: “This is a great example of how the railway industry can work with other partners to attract investment that benefits local economies and our passengers too. The support of local communities is vital to what we do and their enthusiasm and ideas have helped to drive this project forward.”

Train operator Southern’s Head of Project Delivery Pieter Wilke explained: “Haywards Heath is one of our busiest stations, attracting passengers from many of its surrounding villages. The station car park fills up very quickly every morning and this investment will provide opportunities for more people to travel by train.

“There will be some short term disruption during the construction but we are looking to minimise this by building the car park in phases so there will always be car parking spaces available. We are also working with the council to ensure that there are other car parking choices available. Every effort will be made to help ensure our regular users are able to park their cars.”

Last year, Mid Sussex District Council backed plans by Solum Regeneration to provide an improved integrated transport hub and enhanced public realm around the station, incorporating a new 30,000 sq ft Waitrose food store. News of this further investment has been welcomed by the Council.

Cllr Gary Marsh, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Property and Economic Development, said: "This is fantastic news for the town. We are delighted that Network Rail and Southern have listened to the residents of Haywards Heath and responded so positively to local requests to use the regeneration of the station as an opportunity to provide a significant increase in parking spaces and to improve the area around the station. Solum Regeneration's plans are a welcome boost for Haywards Heath.”

Solum Regeneration is re-structuring its works programme to accommodate further development at Haywards Heath. John Robinson, Development Manager with Solum Regeneration, said:

"Network Rail's investment will make a very good scheme even better. We will co-ordinate our construction works with Network Rail to minimise any disruption to neighbouring properties and the travelling public”.