First images of Isle of Wight's proposed Ryde Esplanade Station revealed

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Stephen Emerson

The proposed new Ryde Esplanade train and bus station

Plans to refurbish key areas of Ryde Esplanade Station are edging closer to reality.

The first CGI images — submitted to the Isle of Wight Council's planning team this week as part of a formal planning application — reveal the changes intended to create a modern integrated transport hub for Ryde and the Island.

It comes as Wightlink announce the appointment of Knight Brown to reinstate the disused tramway pier into a dedicated pedestrian walkway, linking Ryde Esplanade, the pierhead and, via Fastcat, Portsmouth Harbour Station.

Plans show improvements to Ryde Esplanade Station to create an attractive central concourse providing direct access to the new pedestrian boardwalk as well as upgraded facilities.

These include fully-accessible public toilets, café concession, retail space and a new ticket office.

The building will include extensive glazing to the western elevation, a new entrance way feature and a resurfaced and extended concourse, all helping to create a more welcoming and passenger friendly environment.

Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said: "The new station, coupled with the wider Ryde Interchange improvements which are now well underway, and reinstated tramway boardwalk, will provide a much more fitting gateway to Ryde and the Isle of Wight."

The station redevelopment and boardwalk are part of the wider £10 million Ryde Transport Interchange project to provide better travel connectivity as well as a much improve public space.

The project is primarily funded by a government grant from the Transforming Cities Fund following a successful bid for £55.6 million by the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council — together as South East Hampshire Rapid Transport.

Wightlink chief executive, Keith Greenfield, said: "Surveys of the steelwork have already started on our part of the project.

"We look forward to the start of construction and eventually opening the walkway so people can stroll along to Ryde Pier Head, take in the sea breezes and speed across the waves to Portsmouth by FastCat."

To minimise disruption the works will be delivered in a number of phases taking into account the major events including Tour of Britain, Ryde Carnival and the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally.

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.