Southampton City Council and its highways partners Balfour Beatty Living Places have started work on a package of transport and greening improvements for Bedford Place and Carlton Place in the city.

On Carlton Place there will be defined areas for hospitality providers to offer outdoor tables and seating, enhanced with an open, piazza-style area in the centre of the junction of Carlton Place and Lower Bannister Street. The open space will be suitable for pop up events and markets, with a level surface throughout to make the area more accessible for everyone, upgraded CCTV and lighting to improve night-time visibility.

Bedford Place will have a widened, curved pavement area at the junction with Carlton Place. This will become an attractive, accessible public area, with the addition of trellis structures for climbing plants, and seating. The temporary hospitality area on Bedford Place, outside Beards and Boards, will be replaced with a permanent buildout, and designated areas for loading and parking for people with disabilities will be provided. Areas of the carriageway along Bedford Place will be narrowed to slow vehicles and improve safety along the road. This will complement the recently introduced 20mph speed limit now in place across the Polygon area.

Councillor Keogh, Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration commented: “Our transport and public realm officers have been working closely with Bedford Place and Carlton Place residents and businesses to develop plans for improving the area. In the recent public consultation on the proposed designs, over 89% of respondents agreed they will make the area feel safer, benefit the local environment and make it more accessible for disabled people and people with mobility issues. I am sure that local businesses, residents and visitors to this unique area will benefit enormously from the investment.”

(Picture – Southampton Council)