What is the Runnymede Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan?
The Runnymede Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a ten-year plan to improve walking and cycling across the borough. It shows where investment should be focused and sets out early ideas for making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle.
LCWIPs are the national best-practice way to plan walking and cycling improvements. The Runnymede LCWIP has been developed following the Department for Transport guidance. For more information about LCWIPs and how they have been developed across Surrey, please visit our plans to improve cycling and walking page.
The LCWIP focuses on major routes and connections across the borough. Its aim is to create a joined-up network for walking and cycling. Smaller improvements at neighbourhood and street level are not included in the LCWIP and will be delivered through separate projects.
For example, we plan to develop 'Liveable Neighbourhood' schemes. These projects will make residential streets safer, more comfortable and easier to use for walking and cycling. They recognise that streets are places for people, not just routes for vehicles. 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' will create attractive local areas that link into the wider LCWIP network, making walking and cycling easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
For more information about our plans for walking and cycling in local streets and neighbourhoods, please see the Local Transport Plan policies on Planning for Place and for Active Travel and Personal Mobility.
If you would like a copy of the full Runnymede LCWIP report, please email surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk to request a copy.
Executive summary
The main proposals in the Runnymede LCWIP are a series of cycling routes and walking zones. Together, these will form a borough-wide network for walking and cycling.
All routes and zones have been placed into one of three phases. This helps us decide the order in which improvements should be delivered over the ten-year life of the plan:
- Phase 1 – improvements we hope to deliver in the short term.
- Phase 2 – improvements planned for the medium term.
- Phase 3 – improvements for the longer term.
Routes and zones have been prioritised using several factors, including:
- Current and future demand, supported by local feedback, road collision data and expected levels of use.
- The improvement in quality compared with existing facilities.
- How well the route or zone improves access to key destinations, such as schools, GP surgeries, hospitals, railway stations, bus stations, town centres and parks.
The full LCWIP report includes maps showing all proposed cycling routes and walking zones. It also provides early design ideas for Phase 1 schemes and explains how all routes and zones have been prioritised.
The LCWIP covers the whole borough, with a focus on key destinations that attract trips and encourage more people to choose walking and cycling for everyday journeys.
Cycling network
Phase 1 cycling routes
Thorpe Road / Chertsey to Egham
This route serves both Chertsey and Egham town centres, upgrading current provision in the town centres as well as connecting the areas with each other and local residential areas.
Egham and Chertsey are within ideal cycling distance of each other, with only slight gradients on the route between them. Data analysis shows a very high potential for cycling between these locations. The route has a number of alternative alignments which will be explored further during feasibility. The approximate length of the route is 8 kilometres.
Weybridge Road
Running from Chertsey to Weybridge town centre, northeast of Addlestone, this route serves a large number of destinations including Saint George's College and Bourne and Weybridge Business Parks. This approximate length of this route is 3 kilometres.
The route looks to upgrade existing low-quality cycle facilities and implement new ones where possible, enabling safer travel to Weybridge station which has frequent connections to London and other destinations in Surrey. Two potential alignments are proposed via existing facilities or off-carriageway paths, these will be explored further as part of the feasibility study.
Egham to Virginia Water via the A30
This route connects Egham to Virginia Water via the A30, linking to key employment centres such as Royal Holloway University and Egham International School. The route is approximately 8.5km in length, with one-way or two-way segregated cycle tracks proposed along the entire route.
This route records a high number of cycle trips and shows high potential for a further increase of cycling by up to 5 times the current usage.
Thorpe Lea Road / Thorpe Road
This route extends from Staines Bridge to Thorpe Lea Road, where, at present, cycle provision is narrow and inconsistent. The route seeks to provide a safe connection through a mixture of land uses including: schools, local shops and residential areas.
It is an important local corridor linking Thorpe Industrial Estate to Staines Railway Station, which has frequent connections to London and therefore has a high potential for an increase of cyclists.
Phase 1 Cycling Routes map
The below map image shows the extent of the four cycling routes that have been prioritised in the Runnymede LCWIP (Chertsey to Egham, Weybridge Road, Egham to Virginia Water and Thorpe Lea Road).
Phase 2 and 3 cycling routes
- Chertsey Bridge. This route links Chertsey town centre with a number of residential areas. Approximate length: 2 kilometres.
- Guildford Road/A320. This route looks to improve the connection between Chertsey, St Peter's Hospital, Ottershaw and Woking. Approximate length: 5 kilometres.
- Woodham Lane/B385. This route will serve the Broadway Shopping Centre and the Animal and Plant Health Agency with potential for links to Byfleet and New Haw and West Byfleet Railway Stations. Approximate length: 3 kilometres.
- New Haw Road/A318. This route will link Addlestone town centre with Byfleet and New Haw Railway Station as an alternative to Weybridge Road. Approximate length: 4 kilometres.
- Woodhatch to East Surrey Hospital. The route connects the residential area on the southern side of Reigate to East Surrey Hospital, via Three Arch Road.
- Norlands Lane/Christchurch Road. This route provides an east-west connection between Chertsey Lane and Virginia Water Lake. It is an alternative, flat alignment to the A30 via quiet residential streets.
- Green Lane/Hardwick Lane. This route provides a connection between Addlestone and the extension of Chertsey Lane – Staines Road. It also connects to new development Chertsey Bittams and St Peter's Hospital.
- Staines Road/A320. This route is the main north-south corridor used by cyclists in the Borough and improvements are needed to make this a safe connection for all.
- St Ann's Road. This route is a key link between Staines Road and Chertsey town centre. It offers a quieter, parallel alignment to the A317.
- St Jude's Road. This route looks to improve the connection between the A30 and Windsor Road via Englefield Green, linking to Royal Holloway University and development sites in the area.
- Spinny Hill/Church Road. This route would serve Addlestone town centre as well as providing access to Addlestone Railway Station for the residential areas west of the M25.
- Middle Hill. This is the most direct route between Englefield Green and Egham and acts as an important commuter corridor for Englefield Green residents, for those working in Egham, or travelling to other destinations via Egham Railway Station.
- Windsor Road. This route can serve both commuter and leisure trips along Runnymede Meadows, parallel to the River Thames. It links Runnymede with Windsor and Maidenhead Borough.
- Longcross Road/Holloway Hill. This route will link to secondary schools in Chertsey, St Peter's Hospital, and business parks in Addlestone and Chertsey. It will also serve future commuter trips created by the Longcross Garden Village development.
- Egham/Station Road. This route extends south of Egham Town Centre and links the commercial area, the railway station, Manorcroft Primary School and the leisure centre on Vicarage Road.
- Stroude Road/Longcross. This route will serve future and existing commuter trips between Longcross Garden Village development, Virginia Water and Egham, linking the railway stations, Royal Holloway University, secondary schools and the college.
Walking network
Phase 1 core walking zones
Egham Core Walking Zone
This zone extends around the commercial centre of Egham Town and aims to improve access to key destinations such as Strode's College and Egham Railway Station. It will also serve trips between the residential areas and the schools in Thorpe and Egham Town.
Egham-by-Pass, Egham Hill and Vicarage Road were selected as supplementary walking corridors to improve hostile pedestrian environments.
Chertsey Core Walking Zone
This zone extends between Staines Road, the M3, St Peter's Way, and the M25. It has a mix of land uses: commercial activity, residential areas, a business park, green spaces, railway station, and schools and the zone improvements aim to improve access to these.
Proposals include new and upgraded crossings, footway widening and resurfacing and new wayfinding signage.
Addlestone Core Walking Zone
This zone includes the commercial and residential areas of Addlestone and seeks to improve connections to local shops, schools, and the railway station. Proposals include widening the footways on Station Road, upgrading, and adding new crossings and adding wayfinding signage.
A supplementary walking corridor is proposed to link Addlestone town centre to the Business Parks, which continues to Weybridge town centre. This will serve both towns and link them together via quiet roads parallel to the busy Weybridge Road.
Phase 1 Core Walking Zones map
The below map image shows the extent of the three core walking zones that have been prioritised in the Runnymede LCWIP (Egham, Chertsey and Addlestone).
Phase 2 and 3 Walking Zones
- Englefield Green core walking zone. This extends along St Jude's Road and serves the residential area, local schools and the university.
- Staines core walking zone. This zone runs along The Causeway, Thorpe Road and towards Staines. Additional walking corridors are proposed to connect the zone with the business parks and Egham Town.
- Thorpe Lea core walking zone. This zone extends on Thorpe Lea Road and Pooley Green Road, in an area that includes two schools, a commercial area and residential streets.
- Virginia Water core walking zone. This extends along the commercial area in Virginia Water, close to the railway station and looks to tackle the significant number of short car trips in the area.
- Ottershaw core walking zone. This zone extends around the Guildford Road/Chobham Road roundabout. Both of these roads currently create a barrier for pedestrians.
- Woodham/New Haw core walking zone. There are a high number of short car trips in this area so this zone looks to connect the commercial centre with residential areas, Byfleet and New Haw railway station and areas of employment.
- Royal Holloway core walking zone. Egham Hill is the key corridor in this zone with the main entrances to the university and student accommodation located there. It also extends to Egham Town and Englefield Green, helping with short trips to the commercial areas, Egham Railway Station and residential areas.
Next steps
The Runnymede report should be used to support the case for further stages of design, assessment, and stakeholder engagement, and to secure funding to progress improvements for the routes identified by the report. Because the LCWIP is intended to facilitate a long-term approach to developing active travel proposals, over a period of approximately 10 years, all of the corridors identified within the active travel network maps are recommended for further consideration at an appropriate time.
The next stage of implementing the Runnymede will be to further develop the design concepts for the Phase 1 cycling and walking routes into a feasibility level of design and assessment. This will include full public consultation, allowing residents and other local stakeholders to have their say on the individual scheme proposals.
The LCWIP will be reviewed and updated periodically, particularly in response to significant changes in local circumstances such as the publication of new policies or strategies.
If you wish to view the full Runnymede LCWIP report, please email surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk requesting a copy.