Centurion Way Extension Project – Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s happening on the Centurion Way?
The Centurion Way has been extended to an 11km (6.8 mile) cycling and walking path between Chichester, Lavant and West Dean. It follows the old, dismantled Chichester to Midhurst railway line, which was fully closed by 1991.
Following the previous upgrade in 2015 as part of a project led by the National Park Authority, work is currently under way to extend the Centurion Way by 5km (just over 3 miles) from West Dean to Cocking which was consented in late 2019.
The first sections of the extended route from West Dean opened in August 2025.
- What is the new Centurion Way extension?
The Centurion Way has been extended by just under 2km from West Dean to Cucumber Farm, Singleton. Education boards along the extension tell the history of the railway line and and halt signage at each connection point direct people to nearby local amenities, such as West Dean Gardens, Weald and Downland Living Museum and Singleton village.
The newly constructed shared-use path is accessed via a new ramp and starts at West Dean Chalk Stone Halt, opposite the West Dean College entrance on the A286 and passes northwards through the former Singleton Station and terminates at the Milk Halt near to Cucumber Farm, Singleton. Significant safety and restoration works were undertaken at Singleton Station in partnership with the West Dean Estate to stabilize the former station platforms and adjacent structures to ensure the area is safe and can be enjoyed by the public. The restored station site and the extended path can also be accessed from Station Approach, opposite the West Dean Gardens entrance on the A286.
The Centurion Way passes Hat Hill Bridge Halt where there is a footpath connection to Singleton village for pedestrians only and terminates near to Cucumber Farm. At the Milk Halt terminus wheeled users need to turn round and return along Centurion Way to Singleton Station, as the extended path currently only connects with a footpath for pedestrians only to continue northwards. Please note, there is no public access through Cucumber Farm to the A286.
Centurion Way is being extended through the Drovers Estate (National Trust) and it is hoped the onward connection for pedestrians and wheeled users will be open in summer 2026.
- How do I access the new extension?
The new extension is sited approximately 750m north of the previously upgraded section that ends at West Dean Village Halt by West Dean School. To reach the new extension path users must descend the ramp and turn right onto the public road and pass the school. At the A286 junction (in front of the Selsey Arms) turn left onto the improved footway or road and travel northwards.
After 200m pedestrians can join a new Permissive Path kindly provided by the West Dean Estate and meander through the woodland to connect directly with the Centurion Way extension at the West Dean Chalk Stone Halt. The link path is unsurfaced and includes some steps so is not ideal for wheeled-users but they are permitted to use it.
SDNPA are working with the West Dean Estate to develop a planning application for the Permissive Path route and intend to construct a surfaced shared-use path which connects from the West Dean Village Halt to the Chalk Stone Trail Halt.
Users can also access the new extension at Singleton Station is also accessible from Station Approach, opposite the West Dean Gardens entrance on the A286.
Pedestrians only can also join the extension at Hat Hill Bridge Halt from Singleton village via a public footpath.
Please note: There is no public access through Cucumber Farm to Centurion Way.
- Which routes will be closed during 2026?
Work on sections 5 and 6 of the route began in April 2026, with completion expected by September this year.
To protect public safety while civil engineering works are carried out in the vicinity, Centurion Way will be closed between the Station Site and the Milk Halt during the working week (8am–5pm, Monday–Friday).
The route will be open from 5pm each day, and at weekends and on public holidays.
These restrictions came into effect on 13 April 2026 and will remain in place for up to three months, or until it is safe to reopen the path.
Any queries about this restriction can be directed to info@southdowns.gov.uk.
To protect public safety while civil engineering works are carried out in the vicinity, two local footpaths No444 and No3013 will be closed.
These restrictions came into effect on 1 April 2026 and will remain in place for up to six months, or until it is safe to reopen the footpath.
Any queries about the footpaths should be directed to the Public Rights of Way Team at West Sussex County Council on 01243 777620 or email prow@westsussex.gov.uk.
You can see a map of the routes affected here.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank people for their patience as we deliver this important, strategic route that will significantly improve access for walkers and cyclists to the National Park.
- Why are you doing the work?
Once completed the route will provide a fantastic way for walkers and cyclists to travel from Chichester right into the heart of the South Downs National Park, experiencing wonderful views along the way. The route will link with the 100-mile-long South Downs Way at Cocking, providing further opportunities for people to explore the National Park.
The project is in tandem with the National Park’s goal of creating more opportunities for people to access nature, as well as encouraging sustainable transport as a positive step towards climate action.
- Do you have a timeline of the work and when it will be completed?
The construction of the extension from West Dean to Cocking is a challenging undertaking that requires careful ecological planning, considerable resources and co-ordination with many landowners and stakeholders and will take several years to achieve. To manage this complexity, the route is being completed in sections as shown in the map below:
Following extensive works over the past few years, the first section of the Centurion Way opened in August 2025.
Ecological and tree assessments on the next section northwards, through Rooks Wood / Wellhanger Copse to Littlewood Farm are ongoing prior to construction works, which are hoped to commence in Winter 2025.
Construction will continue through 2025/26/27 to extend the route northwards to Cocking Hill and the South Downs Way and it is hoped the whole route will be completed in 2027. This schedule is subject to landowner consent, other agencies’ approval and securing the necessary funding.
The future route remains closed to the public. In the interest of public safety and landowner relationships, the South Downs National Park Authority, Edward James Foundation (West Dean Estate), National Trust (Drovers Estate) and Cowdray urge the public to not trespass onto private land and not place themselves at unnecessary risk until the route is open.
- Do you have before and after shots of the work?
Yes.
Before:
After:
- Will the tunnels along the old railway line be used?
There are three tunnels along the route: West Dean, Singleton, and Cocking and the approved route deviates to avoid them. The route around West Dean Tunnel utilises a section of the A286 where the footway has been widened for pedestrians. The path will pass through scenic woodland to deviate around Singleton Tunnel and, a ramp will connect the path from the cutting to avoid Cocking Tunnel, to connect with Hoefield Lane Bridleway, above the tunnel and onwards to the South Downs Way.
We are actively exploring a possible new connection route with stakeholders that bypasses both West Dean Tunnel and the road.
Currently, there is no consent to use any of the tunnels and there is no intention of going through them.
- Will cyclists and walkers have to use the road at all?
Because of the current restrictions of the West Dean Tunnel, we have reinstated the footway along the A286 to 1.5m width to provide a continuous link for pedestrians, the less able and children (under 10 years old) cycling.
- Who will be eligible to use the extension?
As the open sections of Centurion Way, pedestrians and wheeled-users including the less able (including wheelchair and mobility scooter users) and cyclists. A ramp, similar to the ramp next to the school in West Dean has been installed to give ‘at grade’, step free access to the new extension. There will also be ‘at grade’ access for path users to Singleton Station via the approach road, opposite the entrance to West Dean Gardens.
There will be no access for equestrians on the new extension between West Dean and Singleton. Private access for the West Dean Livery Stables remains in place for a short distance (approx. 250m) of the southern section south of the school in West Dean. This allows for access for the horses from the stables to the east side of the A286 to the west, using Centurion Way.
- How has the route been chosen?
The route follows the disused railway line from Chichester to Cocking which provides a liner route suitable for repurposing as a multiuser trail. The route design follows current best practice design principles that networks and routes should be Coherent; Direct; Safe; Comfortable and Attractive. Consent for the route was secured in 2019, following a full consultation and public planning application over a several year period. As required due to the passing of time, time sensitive habitat assessments (in consultation with the Sussex Bat Group), ecological, and arboricultural surveys are being undertaken to assess the current status and changes of each, to inform designs, mitigations, construction and ecological management plans.
- Have you had to remove trees as part of the construction?
Some trees have had to be removed to enable the path construction. Unfortunately, many additional Ash trees suffering from Ash Dieback also needed to be removed. All the work has been carefully overseen by professional ecologists to minimise impact, and a significant number of new trees are being planted along the route to help nature thrive. The new restocking of the route, which is a condition of planning and felling licences aim to improve the resilience and diversity of the habitat along the route. An extensive ten-year Landscape and Ecological Management Plan details all of the planting, mitigation measures and management duties that will be undertaken by SDNPA and appointed contractors.
- Are there any plans to join the Centurion Way to nearby villages with access tracks?
The SDNPA are actively looking to improve community links to the Centurion Way and support communities wishing to improve Public Rights of Way connections. A group of stakeholders supported by SDNPA are exploring the potential to provide a direct connection from Singleton village to the Centurion Way for wheeled-users who currently are unable to use the existing public footpath.
- Who is funding the work?
The work is being funded from a number of sources, including Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 funding and South Downs National Park Trust donations.
- When the route is completed, who will maintain it?
The SDNPA will be responsible for the ongoing management and maintenance of the extended route. West Sussex County Council remain responsible for adjoining Public Rights of Way and the A286 highway.
- How can I be kept updated on progress?
This page will be updated as and when there are updates to share.
