Valley Gardens is finished: final phase opens at the Old Steine

The third and final phase of Valley Gardens was officially opened on Friday 16 October, when the Victoria Fountain in the Old Steine was switched on. That completes the scheme, which runs from St Peter’s Church down to the Old Steine and the seafront.

For people walking, the council says the phase has brought wider, less cluttered pavements and more direct crossings. A new public space sits between the Royal Pavilion and the War Memorial, and there is new lighting around the Old Steine.

Cyclists get 500 metres of separated cycle lane, which joins the first two phases to the seafront. A new junction replaces the Aquarium roundabout, controlled by traffic lights according to the BBC, with new crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.

Drivers and bus passengers have a new road layout, resurfaced roads and new bus stops. The council says the layout should help traffic flow.

There are 35 more trees, eight of them still to be planted this autumn, along with new landscaping, 25 new benches and fittings for outdoor events. The Steine Gardens have been relandscaped.

Phase 3 had a total budget of £12.8m. The former Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership put in £6m, the Department for Transport £2.3m and developers £0.5m. The council borrowed the remaining £4m.

The Coast to Capital money was agreed in October 2019. Councillors approved the detailed design in January 2022 and gave the go-ahead for work in January 2024 after a review of the plans. Construction started in November 2024 at Castle Square.

Council leader Bella Sankey said: “Walking down from St Peter’s Church all the way to the seafront is a delight.” Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, said the phase “replaces a tired and shabby part of the city with new roads, pavements, cycle lanes and open spaces”.