WILTSHIRE Council has successfully bid for more than £8.5m from the Government to support the construction of the Yarnbrook West Ashton Relief Road which will help deliver 2,600 new homes in the area.

The funding will pay for the additional ecological protection, design and construction costs.

This includes improvements to the A350 road layout adjacent to the site. The funding will enable the delivery of the strategic housing allocation at Ashton Park on the edge of Trowbridge.

It is part of an £866 million Government investment announced this week, which will help unlock up to 200,000 new homes delivered nationally through local housing projects.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding which will help support the delivery of one of our strategic allocations and new road infrastructure. It is important we are able to provide homes for local people, while protecting the environment.”

Improving journey times along the A350 is a strategic priority as it will support economic growth. This scheme is one of a number along this important route that will help achieve that.

Subject to planning permission, construction on the relief road is expected to start in 2019/20.