A £3m funding bid for new roundabout on the A590 near Ulverston has been successful.

Plans to upgrade of the existing junction at Cross-a-Moor, Swarthmoor, into a four arm roundabout took a major step forward today with the announcement from Highways England that Cumbria has been successful in its bid for £3m funding.

For the past two years Cumbria County Council has been working closely with Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership and South Lakeland District Council to develop the plans and the funding bid.

The new roundabout is required to support the delivery of more than 1,000 new homes at the south of Ulverston.

The total cost of the improvement is estimated at £5m. With £3m now secured from the Highways England Growth and Housing Funding, the remainder will come from £1.7m of developer contributions, and £300,000 from South Lakeland District Council.

Detailed design work will now begin and, as part of this, dialogue with local landowners will be undertaken.

Councillor Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“I’m delighted with this announcement. In the past week the council has secured £4.67m of national investment in our highways infrastructure and that is fantastic news. We’ve worked closely with the LEP, South Lakeland District Council and Highways England on this bid and it’s encouraging to see that paying off. If the county is to meet the demands of a growing population we need our vital infrastructure to be able to cope, this new roundabout will make big difference as this new housing is developed.”

Councillor Janet Willis, county councillor for Low Furness and cabinet member for customers, transformation and fire and rescue, said: "I'm delighted with this announcement. I have been campaigning for improvements to this junction for many years and it’s great to see that paying off. This should significantly reduce the number accidents at this spot, and the disruption caused to local people when the road has to be closed as a result. I look forward to works getting underway."

Councillor Graham Vincent, South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for economy and assets, said: “The council’s contribution to the junction improvements demonstrates our commitment to support growth in the local economy, deliver new employment opportunities and improve the lives of people living in this area.

“We have a key council commitment to help create 1,000 new affordable homes for rent in South Lakeland by 2025. The housing being planned for that area of Ulverston represents about 20 per cent of all the new homes to be built in the entire district.

“The improvements at Cross-a-Moor will be a critical component, improving accessibility and helping SLDC to support and deliver its wider plans and ambitions.”

Graham Haywood, director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“This is an important investment which will help enable and accelerate the delivery of 1,000 new homes. It's also another key milestone in the development and improvement of the A590 and is part of our overall transport infrastructure strategy for the area. Road improvements like this are crucial for safety and for keeping key routes between business and employment hubs fit for purpose. The A590 is of major importance to employers like BAE Systems and GSK Ulverston to ensure better strategic connectivity to the M6 corridor, attract new investment and support business growth.”

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: "It is great to get the funding for Cross-A-Moor roundabout locked down, well done everyone involved. Our long-neglected road and rail arteries are in urgent need of improvement and Cross-A-Moor is an important part of the investment we are seeking."

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Transport investment is crucial to a strong and resilient economy – that’s why we are making the biggest investment in roads in a generation, spending £23 billion across the country to improve journeys for motorists.

"These upgrades from Highways England will benefit the regions, giving a boost to businesses and better access to the jobs and homes that people want."

This designated fund is part of Highways England’s award-winning “The Road to Growth” strategic economic growth plan. The plan received national recognition from the Institute of Economic Development for having the “greatest economic impact” at their 2017 annual awards ceremony.