Plans to widen a pathway through Southampton Common are making slow progress with a drawn-out approval process.

Southampton City Council submitted an application to its own planning department for Lovers’ Walk in February 2020.

Two years later the proposal to improve the route for cyclists and pedestrians was approved with conditions.

The local authority has now had finer details of the scheme for the path, which runs down the eastern side of the Common, granted.

However, the city council is still waiting for the environment secretary to sign off on the work as it requires common land consent.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Southampton City Council are proposing improvements to Lovers Walk to improve the environment for people walking and cycling.

“This work would see the existing gravel path between Winn Road and Westwood Road tarmacked while the rest of the route through to Burgess Road is to be resurfaced and widened in sections.

"This would allow people to pass each other with adequate space and ease.”

Once complete, Lovers’ Walk will be widened to:

  • 3.5 metres between Burgess Road and the northern end of Highfield Road
  • 2.5 metres between the southern end of Highfield Road and Winn Road
  • 3 metres between Winn Road and Westwood Road

Two previous plans for Lovers’ Walk were submitted in 2015 and 2017, respectively, before being withdrawn by the council.

The scheme being progressed branches off from Southampton Cycle Network route 5, which provides a link between the city centre and Chilworth Roundabout at the northern end of Bassett Avenue.

Discussing the next steps for the Lovers’ Walk project, Cllr Keogh said: “The work would be carried out in phases to minimise impact on path users and local environment and will be funded from Southampton City Council’s local transport fund allocation.

“As this work is on common land the council were also required to apply to the secretary of state for consent.

“The application is in progress, and we are currently awaiting a decision which we hope to receive in the coming months. Until we have received that decision, we are unable to confirm timelines.”

More details about the project can be found online at transport.southampton.gov.uk/tcf/chandlers-ford-to-southampton-corridor/lovers-walk-consultation