Central Bedfordshire Council has today learnt that it has been successful in securing £32.7 million in Government funding from the Department for Transport for a new road linking the M1 to the A6.

Construction of the new 2.75-mile road link between Junction 11a of the M1 and the A6, will begin in early 2022. The road layout will have a mix of single and dual carriageways with a 50mph speed limit; there will be a junction at the new Rail Freight Interchange at Sundon as well as at proposed new housing developments.

The project will also encourage active travel by including a three-metre-wide foot and cycle path on the south side of the link road.

The project is being led by the Council and South-East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) with support from the Department for Transport.

Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Councillor Richard Wenham said: “We are delighted to have secured funding from the Department for Transport for this key link road, which will deliver improved east west connectivity across Central Bedfordshire and the wider area and facilitate the delivery of up to 3,600 new homes and a Rail Freight Interchange which are important in meeting a wider housing need and strengthening our economic offer.”

Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Kevin Collins said: “The funding provides us with a welcome opportunity to improve connectivity between towns in Central Bedfordshire, especially east-west linkages, whilst also easing congestion in the villages and areas north of Luton. It will also facilitate the delivery of growth envisaged in our adopted Local Plan and will provide homes, jobs and necessary supporting infrastructure for Central Bedfordshire and the wider area.”

Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive at SEMLEP added: “This major infrastructure project will facilitate economic growth in Central Bedfordshire and improve East-West connectivity within the South East Midlands and wider Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

“We look forward to the link road opening up employment land to support new job opportunities, enabling new homes to be built for the benefit of local people and alleviating congestion locally."