History of the scheme

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What is the scheme’s history and when did it get planning permission?

In June 1994, the County Council’s Highways and Transportation Committee approved 4 route options for the Eastside Distributor Road (as the Newhaven Port Access Road was then known) for consultation. These options comprised:

  • an eastern alignment
  • a central alignment
  • 2 locations for a link between the distributor road and Beach Road

Following public consultation in December 1994, the Committee resolved to approve the eastern alignment as the route for the Eastside Distributor Road. It should be noted that the northern and southern links to Beach Road were proposed in addition to the Eastside Distributor Road, not as an alternative to it.

Planning permission for the Newhaven Port Access Road was:

  • first granted in 1996
  • renewed in 2002 and 2007, when construction started but was not completed

Delivery timeline

  • 2020 – Construction complete
  • January 2019 – Main construction commenced
  • Summer 2018 – Funding decision
  • Spring 2018 – Advance translocation of species
  • Spring 2018 – Submission of business case to the Department of Transport (DfT)
  • February 2018 – Advance vegetation clearance completed
  • Autumn 2017 – Detailed Design completed, construction works tendered
  • April 2017 – Newhaven Enterprise Zone established
  • Summer 2016 – Lewes District Council Joint Core Strategy adopted by Lewes District Council and South Downs National Park
  • Spring 2016 – East Sussex County Council Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan published
  • Late 2015 – Construction of Phase 1 completed by developer
  • Autumn 2014 – Local Growth Fund monies provisionally awarded to the scheme through Coast 2 Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP’s) Strategic Economic Plan
  • 2012 to 2013 – Scheme details reviewed and funding allocated from East Sussex County Council Capital programme
  • 2007 – Planning permission renewed and construction started but was not completed
  • 2002 – Planning permission renewed
  • 1996 – Original planning permission given for the Newhaven Port Access Road

Panoramic progress photographs

See a selection of panoramic progress photographs taken in 2019 and 2020.