A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme: February - March 2023

Overview

Latest update

Thank you to everyone who shared their views on our proposals to improve the A27 between Worthing and Lancing. Our project team have reviewed all the feedback and compiled this report summarising the responses and details of how the consultation took place.

Using this information and other assessments we will announce our preferred route later this year.

You can continue to look at the consultation materials, alongside news and information on the scheme by visiting the scheme’s webpage or signing up for updates directly to your inbox.

Project information

The A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme is approximately six miles long (10km) consisting of dual and single carriageway roads that serve a growing population and a number of businesses. Congestion and queues occur daily along this stretch of the A27, particularly during peak travel times and seasonal periods.

An Options consultation is an important step towards delivering the scheme and will focus on the opportunity to improve a combination of four key junctions, from Offington Corner Roundabout (A24), Grove Lodge Roundabout (A24), through to Lyons Way / Sompting Road and Busticle Lane Junction.

This consultation ran for six weeks, opening on the 6th February 2023 and closing at 11:59pm on Sunday 19 March 2023. 

Investing in your roads

At National Highways, we believe in a connected country and our network makes these connections happen. We strive to improve our major roads and motorways – engineering the future to keep people moving today and moving better tomorrow. We want to make sure all of our major roads are more dependable, durable, and most importantly, safe.

As well as delivering improvements to our road network we’re also aligning with the Transport for the South East's (TfSE) latest Strategic Investment Plan, which they consulted on in 2022. This includes a strategy for potential longer-term improvements and integrated transport for rail and road.

About the scheme

The A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme is part of our road investment in the south-east region. It aims to improve journeys whilst providing benefits for the local and regional economy. The improvements to the A27 will help to deliver the performance needed to support the region as well as improvements to local roads. It will also provide integrated transport solutions for the local area, while also supporting local authority transport plans.

The stretch of the A27 between Worthing and Lancing consists of dual and single carriageway roads from Durrington Hill in Worthing to Grinstead Lane in Lancing and borders the South Downs National Park to the north. The scheme primarily focusses on four key junctions at Offington Corner Roundabout (A24), Grove Lodge Roundabout (A24), Lyons Way / Sompting Road and Busticle Lane Junction.

The options proposed are: 

1. Offington Corner and Grove Lodge Roundabouts

Access to Offington Corner Roundabout will be widened and new traffic lights installed to control traffic flow and facilitate safe movement of pedestrians. Traffic that currently uses Goodwood Road will access the A27 using Offington Lane instead. Grove Lodge Roundabout and accesses will be widened, with upgraded traffic lights and a new pedestrian crossing.

2. Offington Corner and Grove Lodge Roundabouts, Lyons Way Junction, and Upper Brighton Road

Access to Offington Corner Roundabout will be widened and new traffic lights installed to control traffic flow and facilitate safe movement of pedestrians. Traffic that currently uses Goodwood Road will access the A27 using Offington Lane instead. Upgraded traffic lights will be installed at Grove Lodge Roundabout and re-phased to improve traffic flow.

The eastbound A27 will be widened at Lyons Way, with a new westbound lane for those turning into Sompting Road, which will be converted into a one-way northbound road. Access to the A27 from Hadley Avenue will be closed, with Sompting Road to be used instead. Upper Brighton Road will be converted into a one-way eastbound road.  

3. Offington Corner and Grove Lodge Roundabouts, Busticle Lane Junction, and Upper Brighton Road

Access to Offington Corner Roundabout will be widened and new traffic lights installed to control traffic flow and facilitate safe movement of pedestrians. Traffic that currently uses Goodwood Road will access the A27 using Offington Lane instead. Upgraded traffic lights will be installed at Grove Lodge Roundabout and re-phased to improve traffic flow.

The A27 at Busticle Lane will be widened in the eastbound direction, with three lanes accommodated in both directions. Access onto the A27 from Hillbarn Parade will be closed, with Halewick Lane used instead. Upper Brighton Road will be converted into a one-way eastbound road.

Why your views matter

Road infrastructure improvements affect everyone. They define how we move around our country and connect with one another. Public consultation plays an important role in how we effectively improve both the development and delivery of our road investment projects. It’s essential that we understand the views of those with an interest in what we do so we can ensure we deliver the right projects.

Find out more 

Now that the consultation has closed, another way to find out more about our proposals is to visit our Virtual Consultation Space.

Our virtual exhibition includes all the materials that you would be able to find at a public exhibition, such as maps and environmental information.

A27 Worthing and Lancing Improvements Virtual Consultation Space

If you require help accessing the Virtual Consultation Space, email A27WorthingandLancingImprovements@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

There are many documents available as part of this public consultation, of which the following can be found below. In addition to the Consultation brochure which provides a comprehensive summary of the overall scheme and it's options, we have also produced an Environmental Assessment Report (EAR). This describes the environmental setting and anticipated impacts of the proposed scheme.

The Staged Overview of Assessment Report (SOAR) details the technical and policy analysis (including traffic, economic, safety, operational, technology, maintenance and both environmental assessment and appraisal) providing the basis for deciding which options should be included in the Options consultation.

Where to get an accessible version of the Consultation brochure

If you require accessible versions of materials, or would like materials posted to your home, please get in touch with our project team by emailing: A27WorthingandLancingImprovements@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

Data Protection and You: Your Data, Your Rights

In line with UK Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR), National Highways is required to explain to you – consultees, stakeholders and customers – how your personal data will be used and stored.

National Highways adheres to the government’s consultation principles, the Planning Act 2008 and the Highways Act 1980 as required and may collect personal data to help shape development of highways schemes.

Personal data collected by the project team will be shared with appointed contractors Mott McDonald and T47 Communications to analyse the consultation responses and will be processed and retained by National Highways and its appointed contractors until the scheme is complete.

Please note, this list of contractors may be subject to change. If you provide personal details as part of your response, they will be handled following National Highways General Data Protection Regulation policy. 

In some instances consultation responses may also be sent to the Planning Inspectorate. To view the Planning Inspectorate’s information relating to Data Protection at Examination events please visit: Privacy | National Infrastructure Planning (planninginspectorate.gov.uk) under the UK GDPR you have the following rights:

• Right of access to the data (Subject Access Request)
• Right for the rectification of errors
• Right to erasure of personal data – this is not an absolute right under the legislation
• Right to restrict processing or to object to processing
• Right to data portability

If, at any point, National Highways plans to process the personal data we hold for a purpose other than that for which it was originally collected, we will tell you what that other purpose is. We will do this prior to any further processing taking place and we will include any relevant additional information, including your right to object to that further processing.

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority, the Information Commissioners Office. If you’d like more information about how we manage data or a copy of our privacy notice, contact:  DataProtectionAdvice@nationalhighways.co.uk. 

If you need help accessing any National Highways information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

What happens next

Your feedback will help us to:

• Ensure potential impacts on the community and environment have been fully considered
• Refine the option designs, incorporating the comments received where possible and complete our assessment work

Our recommendation for the preferred option will be announced later this year.

This option will be taken through to the next stage of design development. This is when we’ll develop the scheme in more detail and complete the next stages of environmental assessments, which looks at the steps we can take to reduce any environmental impacts.