Egrets Way Phase 6 Construction - AWARD

South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) invites tenders for the construction of a traffic-free shared use path between Rise Farm (Iford Estate) and Rodmell in East Sussex. The purpose of the works is to provide a comfortable, direct and safe path for pedestrian and cycle activity. Egrets Way is Delivery Action AN3.1 within the SDNPA Cycling and Walking Strategy and was identified in the SDNPA Corporate Plan 2020-21. Phase 6 of Egrets Way, is approximately 4.1 kilometres in length between Rise Farm (Iford Estate) and Rodmell, and is an Access Team Priority for 2022/23 and identified within the emerging East Sussex Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). Egrets Way is a shared use path intended to provide safe, sustainable access between the towns of Lewes and Newhaven (approx. 6 miles / 10km), linking the villages of the Lower Ouse Valley. The greenfield route will also link to the broader access network including the South Downs Way National Trail and link the Sustrans National Cycle Network NCN2 with RCR90 (Brighton-Lewes-Eastbourne) cycle route and connect the port of Newhaven for long distance touring cyclists. Land surveys and ecological studies have been undertaken to inform path designs and stakeholder consultations have been undertaken with the Environment Agency, ESCC, Parish and private landowner negotiations. SDNPA has supported and been working with the Egrets Way Project (formerly Ouse Valley Cycle Network) and Sustrans (appointed consultants) for ten years or more and has delivered four phases to date, with Phase 5 partially complete.