Arun District Council has finished a £12,795 study examining whether a walking and cycling path connecting Pagham and Bersted could be built in the future.

The initiative aligns with major housing schemes planned for the region, specifically at Regis Park near Pagham and the area to the west of Bersted, which combined will deliver more than 2,400 residences. The investigation aimed to determine the viability of linking these two locations.

The assessment puts forward a preferred alignment that avoids vehicle traffic for the most part. It would begin at Sefter Road, heading eastwards across farmland, incorporating a toucan crossing to the north of Hewart’s Lane roundabout before joining up with the walking and cycling infrastructure proposed as part of the Land West of Bersted development.

The suggested route would bring several benefits, such as better connections between the housing schemes, expanded possibilities for pedestrians, cyclists and those using wheelchairs, less dependence on car travel and broader ecological advantages.

Implementing the plan would require partnership working between Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council in its capacity as the highways authority and the companies building the residential developments.

Actual construction would depend on various elements including finalised engineering plans, required official permissions and secured funding. Nonetheless, the scheme remains in the early investigation phase with no financial commitment currently in place and a public consultation still ahead.

The council’s planning policy committee is set to consider the findings at its gathering on September 3.