Consultation launched on proposed A1023 Brentwood Walking and Cycling Scheme

Scheme would help create improved route between Brentwood and Havering and form first part of future walking and cycling network.

Residents and businesses in Brentwood are being invited to have their say on a proposed walking and cycling scheme to help encourage Safer, Greener and Healthier travel.

The A1023 Brentwood Walking and Cycling Scheme aims to create a safer and much-improved walking and cycling route along the A1023 Brook Street/London Road in Brentwood. The route would run between the Brook Street roundabout (M25 junction 28 roundabout) and Kavanaghs Road.

The proposals include creating a new one mile long shared-use walking and cycling path along the southern side of the A1023. They also include providing new signalised crossings for pedestrians and cyclists at key locations along the route.

Essex County Council is developing the scheme on behalf of National Highways. National Highways is required to provide a walking and cycle route from Brentwood through junction 28 of the M25 and into Havering as part of the consent given for its M25 junction 28 improvements scheme.

Separate schemes to improve the route through the M25 junction 28 and into Havering are being developed and delivered by National Highways and the London Borough of Havering.

The route for the A1023 Brentwood Walking and Cycling Scheme was determined as part of the consent given for the M25 junction 28 improvements scheme in 2022.

Essex County Council is now running a public consultation asking for people’s views on its specific proposals.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said: “We want to support more people of all ages and abilities to cycle more safely and more often, particularly for shorter journeys.

“The proposed A1023 Brentwood Walking and Cycling Scheme would provide a much-improved route for people walking or cycling between Brentwood and Havering, and help encourage Safer, Greener and Healthier travel.

“The planned new route would also form the first part of a proposed wider walking and cycling network in Brentwood, linking in with planned new routes we hope to create in the future.

“We are still developing our designs for the Brentwood section of the route and would welcome everyone’s feedback through our public consultation.”

The public consultation was launched today (Thursday 3 October 2024) and will run for six weeks until Wednesday 13 November 2024.

People can share their views by completing an online survey and submitting comments on specific elements of the scheme via a map tool on the consultation webpage.

To find out more about the scheme and to have your say, visit the A1203 Brentwood walking and cycling scheme webpage.

Printed copies of the consultation materials, including large-format design drawings, are available at Brentwood Library. They can also be requested by emailing: activetravel@essexhighways.org.

The council is also running a drop-in consultation event to provide an opportunity to meet the project team and ask questions about the scheme. The event is taking place from 10am to 1pm on Thursday 10 October 2024 in the area outside Marks and Spencer, 43-45 High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4RH.

Based on the current programme and subject to agreeing funding with National Highways, construction of the scheme is expected to start in autumn 2025. Construction will take approximately 12 months.