Brighton & Hove City Council developed a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in partnership with its local bus service operators in 2021. The BSIP was required to set out the vision, objectives and delivery plans of the LTA and its partners at a local level in accordance with the aims of the 2021 National Bus Strategy. This included an in-depth consultation to shape priorities for bus travel in the city and a programme of works to achieve targets around journey times, punctuality, customer satisfaction and patronage growth. The document can be accessed here.
BHCC was awarded £27.9m of funding by the Department for Transport (DfT) for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years to deliver this BSIP programme. To date, a wide range of projects and initiatives have been implemented, including, but not limited to, fare offers (youth fares, £5 daily / £25 weekly citySAVER capping, £1 Short Hops), a new 1X express service, numerous bus priority schemes, enhancement of socially necessary services (e.g. routes 16, 47, 52, 37/37B, 21, 77/78/79, 17, 273), and improving equality of access for all. A BSIP Refresh document will be published later in the year, monitoring the progress against BSIP targets.
In December 2024, it was confirmed that BHCC was awarded a £9.1 million Bus Grant by the DfT to continue delivery against its BSIP targets. This has required that the council develop a new delivery plan, reviewing where existing schemes are appropriate to be continued and identifying new opportunities to deliver improvements to bus passengers within the city.
This delivery plan is attached in Open Document format, which can be opened using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, Open Office.
The proposed plan can be summarised as below:
Capital
• Continue and complete our existing work on bus priority for A23 north (Patcham), A259 Marine Parade westbound and Upper North Street/Dyke Road
• Reinforcement of the carriageway on key high-frequency bus corridors to improve passenger safety, comfort, and reduce future lane closures
• Continuing our programme of making Bus Stops more accessible for all passengers across the city
• Bus detection at signals and reliability schemes on routes struggling with poor on-time performance (23, 24, 26, 27, 46)
• Real time Passenger Information enhancements
• Red routes e.g. Queens Road and Western Road.
• A2010 West Street: Closure to the south of ‘The Clock Tower’ junction – feasibility
• Feasibility studies of junctions at Woodingdean/Falmer Road/Warren Way and Rottingdean/A259
Revenue
• Fares support - continue youth fare support and citySAVER offers. Further measures will be considered subject to funding available.
• Supported buses (a DFT priority) - continue support for 21, Breeze (77, 78, 79), 37/37A, 16, 47, 52, 273, 17 routes
• Funding to kick-off a new express route and further support to expand frequency on the successful 1X express route
• Continue support for expanded customer service contact centre hours for bus operators
• Park & Ride feasibility work
• Other measures including marketing, BetterPoints app, and bus stop maps
• Delivery resourcing and programme monitoring
Due to limited timescales, it is not possible to undertake a full consultation exercise as was possible for the original BSIP in 2021. The Bus Grant Delivery Plan for 2025-26 has been developed by engagement with operators within the Brighton & Hove Enhanced Partnership, Brighton & Hove BusWatch, and council leaders, to ensure continued delivery towards BSIP targets and council priorities. The decision to approve this plan will be taken at the Brighton & Hove City Council Cabinet Meeting on 20 March 2025.
The council is always happy to hear suggestions for projects which could meet BSIP targets of improved journey times, punctuality, customer satisfaction and patronage growth. These can be directed to transport.projects@brighton-hove.gov.uk , to be considered for future programmes. Please include reference to the organisation you represent.