West Sussex County Council Approves £42.7m Highways Improvement Plan

West Sussex County Council has approved a £42.7 million programme of highways maintenance and transport improvements, covering 420 projects across the county. The funding will primarily come from the government, with additional contributions from the council and developers.

The Highways, Transport and Planning Delivery Programme for 2025/26 includes a range of projects, from resurfacing roads and rebuilding footpaths to improving road safety and public rights of way. Notable schemes include an £823,500 replacement footbridge over the River Adur at Bramber Castle in Steyning and £700 for school crossing patrol road markings in Sea Lane, Ferring. The majority of the funding—£31.11 million—will be provided by the Department for Transport, with £10.7 million coming from the council and £934,000 from developer contributions.

A council spokesperson emphasised the importance of the works, stating they aim to maintain road safety and improve transport infrastructure for all users. The programme is subject to external factors such as weather and material availability, but the council intends to complete all planned projects within the year. The Department for Transport has also introduced an incentive system, requiring local authorities to meet specific criteria to access certain funds.