The Sixways Interchange

This scheme was completed in 2010.

Why were the works carried out?

The second Worcestershire Local Transport Plan (LTP2) identified the need for a strategic interchange facility adjacent to Worcester Rugby Club, and promoted it as a scheme for delivery during the LTP2 plan period. The scheme was developed to address a number of issues:

• Poor coach interchange facilities - Worcester had previously been poorly served by scheduled coach services, with many services operating along the M5 bypassing Worcester altogether.
• Expansion of Worcester Rugby Club - The Club proposed to expand in order to meet Premiership Requirements through the provision of a spectator capacity of at least 12,000. Significant accessibility enhancements were required to ensure that the Rugby Club could meet its growth aspirations.
• Shortage of Parking Capacity at Worcestershire Royal Hospital - The Worcestershire Royal Hospital, partly because of its out-of-town location, was suffering from serious shortage of parking availability, which was causing congestion and the designation of an Air Quality Management Area outside the hospital. The hospital trust could not afford to expand the car park on site because of the significant construction and maintenance costs.
• Increasing demand to access Worcester City Centre - Parking in Worcester City Centre is finite, so there is a need to continue to improve access to the city by other means, to ensure that the local economy of the city continues to be vibrant in future. However, it was recognised that in order for a Park and Ride facility at this location to be attractive, significant priority measures would be required along the route from the site to the City Centre.

Although separately financed, this scheme forms part of the Worcester Transport Strategy.

How was the scheme financed?

The scheme was financed using the following resources:

• £3,411,000 contributed by Worcestershire County Council from its Local Transport Plan 2 funds.
• £2,739,000 contributed by Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency.

What has been achieved?

The Sixways Interchange provides a range of valuable functions, with clear scope for further enhancement:

• A Strategic Coachway Facility - Sixways Interchange is ideally located near Junction 6 of the M5. Agreements with National Express now mean that the majority of strategic coach services operating along the M5 now call at Sixways, enhancing local access to the these services.
• A Major Park and Ride Site - Sixways Interchange boasts approximately 650 dedicated parking spaces, together with a high quality terminal building which provides waiting and toilet facilities. The site also benefits from CCTV and secure car park management system. This facility is currently used by Worcestershire Royal Hospital to provide additional parking capacity (aligned to a shuttle bus service to the hospital every 15 minutes). On matchdays, the site provides additional parking capacity, enabling Worcester Sixways Rugby Club to make the most of its major expansion, and in particular by improving access and facilities for coach services to the site.

However, whilst the Sixways Interchange is now complete, significant works are underway across the city to enable it to provide an enhanced Park and Ride function. In the future, this site will be linked to a new Park and Ride site in the west of Worcester, providing a direct service between here, the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the City Centre, via Newtown Road and Bromyard Road.

Then and now

The following pictures show some 'before and after' photographs of the scheme: