The strategy for public transport has been to provide a network of bus routes that integrates with the existing bus provision in the Popley area and facilitates strategic links between Chineham District Centre, the North Hampshire Hospital and the Town Centre. Bus services are currently well-used and the travel time into the town centre is normally 10 minutes.
The principal roads in the development are all designed for buses. Bus stops are located so that all of the new residential, retail and employment areas are within 300 metres of the stops.
There are two key locations of bus priority measure identified as part of the development. They are:
- A bus priority route as part of the neighbourhood centre.
- An area for bus priority in the western section of the spine road at North Popley to help change the character of the route and to allow buses to travel a more direct and efficient route.
- Connection through to the development between Merton Rise and Marnel Park.
In accordance with the relevant objectives of the local transport policy (BEST) developers have made contributions towards public transport improvements:
- Passenger information systems
- Provision of regular bus services into the site to an agreed timescale that provides a daily and evening service to and form Basingstoke town centre (Monday to Sunday inclusive)
- Bus stop waiting facilities for new services and for existing stops that will used by new residents in the first phases of development.
