MOTORISTS in Bromsgrove are set to benefit from a whopping £6.7m boost aimed at cutting the town's traffic problems.

The planned improvement works are a result of proposals by Catesby Estates and Miller Homes, as part of plans for 505 new homes off Whitford Road.

Improvements will include a new roundabout with two lane entries on all approaches at the junction of Fox Lane and Rock Hill.

It is hoped this will reduce the queueing that already occurs at certain periods in the morning peak by both allowing traffic coming down Fox Lane and turning into Rock Hill to flow more easily while increasing the capacity of the junction to cope with existing and new traffic volumes.

New traffic signals will be installed at the Kidderminster Road and Whitford Road junction, again to ease queueing during peak hours.

Significant financial contributions will also be made towards improvement works to St John’s Street, Market Street, Hanover Street junction, the A38 improvement schemes whilst further investment in the public transport, pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure will also be made by the developers.

Chief executive of Catesby Estates, Paul Brocklehurst, said: “It is well recognised that at certain times of the day there are traffic issues currently within Bromsgrove and we have adapted our proposals to help address these.

"With councils’ budgets constrained funds are limited to address existing highways issues which projected traffic growth, even without new development, will only make worse. This is where new development can help.”

He added: “Our £6.7 million highways infrastructure delivery and contributions package will bring real benefits to alleviate existing traffic issues in Bromsgrove and surrounding areas for all residents.”