A huge new road scheme which will link the West of Preston to the M55 has been given the go-ahead.

Work to the Preston West Distributor Scheme is set to begin later this year, with the roads expected to be open by 2023.

Plans have already been approved, but in November a public inquiry was held in after objections were raised to a Compulsory Purchase Order to bu the land needed for development.

The Secretary of State has now approved the scheme, allowing Lancashire County Council to assemble the land needed.

The scheme includes two roads to new and existing housing estates in Cottam and North-West Preston and a link road to the motorway.

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A council spokesman said: “The City Deal is an agreement between central government and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, along with Homes England. 

“City Deal will help to deliver new infrastructure, new homes and more jobs over the next ten years.

“It will help to create more than 20,000 new private sector jobs and see over 17,000 new homes built across the area, along with new school places, open green spaces and new health provision to cater for the growing population. “

See the full route of the Western Distributor