Kent County Council grant planning permission for Dover Fastrack
Kent County Council has approved plans for Dover Fastrack, a rapid bus transit system connecting Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station.
Dover will be the county’s second Fastrack rapid bus transit service following the success of the scheme in Dartford.
Dover Fastrack aims to help boost the delivery of new homes in Whitfield and at the former Connaught Barracks site, along with commercial development on the White Cliffs Business Park in Whitfield.
The whole project is backed by the government with £16.1m funding from Homes England.
Kent County Council’s planning committee met today (March 17) to consider the application which includes a new 1km road connecting the Whitfield Urban Expansion to the Tesco roundabout at Honeywood Parkway via a new overbridge over the A2, and a new 1.1km road connecting the B&Q roundabout on Honeywood Parkway to Dover Road, near Frith Farm at Guston.
The bridge over the A2 and the junction with Honeywood Parkway at the Tesco roundabout, will be for use by buses, pedestrians, cycles and emergency vehicles only.
The use of the junction with Dover Road will be restricted to use by buses, pedestrians, cycles, emergency vehicles and farm traffic associated with Frith Farm only.
Construction is expected to start in early 2022 with the first buses running from summer 2023.
KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said: “I’m delighted this public transport scheme has been approved under our Fastrack brand, itself already a proven format providing a quality service.
“This project between Kent County Council and Dover District Council shows partnership working at its best.
“This scheme will offer a big opportunity for the way people travel around Dover with buses having priority on the proposed express route as well as encouraging more cycling and walking in the area.”
Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC’s portfolio holder for transport, licensing and community, said: “This is a major step forward for our plans to improve public transport links between Whitfield and Dover town centre.
“Dover Fastrack will provide a real alternative to the car for local journeys with a reliable, high-quality bus service connecting with the town centre and high-speed train services from Dover Priory railway station.
“It will be good for the environment too, helping the Council to meet its ambition to see the district become carbon neutral.”
Posted on 17 March 2021