THE city has been awarded thousands of pounds to develop an area into a Dutch vista.

Westbourne and Wish wards in Hove have been chosen to assess how areas can be made cyclist and pedestrian friendly.

Brighton and Hove City Council has secured almost £80,000 from the Department for Transport (DfT) for its “mini Holland” project.

Mini Holland schemes have been successful in three London boroughs, and incorporate a Dutch-style infrastructure with cyclist-friendly junctions and segregated cycle lanes. The aim is to make them as cycle-friendly as their Dutch equivalents, hence the name.

Councillor Steve Davis, co-chairman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “This funding is great news for Brighton and Hove, and allows us to study and explore active travel improvements in this part of the city.

“While this is only a feasibility study at the moment, this is an area with huge potential for walking and cycling.

The Argus: Steve DavisSteve Davis

“We’re in the midst of a climate emergency and so we need to take every opportunity available to us to find ways in which we can continue to improve our active travel infrastructure.”

The wards were chosen due to their close proximity with transport links, Shoreham harbour, and employment areas.

They also feature in the city council’s “top priority strategic route” included in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Brighton and Hove is one of 19 councils nationwide to be chosen for the trials. The others include Nottinghamshire County Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Following the study’s completion in March 2023, the DfT will decide which of the 19  will be asked to develop the project further.

The city council will compile a study of Westbourne and Wish wards, based on their overall suitability for redesign.

It will assess the benefits of redesigning the areas into a pedestrian and cycle-friendly zone, and consider the case for change as well as the economic impact.