A multi-million-pound road project will be able to progress to the next stage after receiving government approval.

Kent County Council (KCC) submitted the first of its business cases to the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this year for upgrades to junctions either end of Blue Bell Hill, between Maidstone and Medway.

The intention of the £199 million scheme is to revamp the roundabouts on the A229 at the M2 junction 3 and M20 junction 6 to improve journey time and safety.

It will allow the road to accommodate an increase in traffic expected due to the Lower Thames Crossing and other proposed housing developments.

Although still in the early phases of development, the first step to secure funding has been approved meaning KCC can continue with the project.

Following a meeting with Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, and Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, roads minister Richard Holden confirmed the DfT had approved the strategic outline business case.

In a letter, he added: “This represents approval to the first of three business case stages that the scheme will need to pass through.

“It enables the council to progress to the second stage, outline business case, and submit a preferred option to the department.

“Officials in the department will continue to work with the council as they develop the business case.

“As for all schemes, the government will need to complete its assessments and be assured of the scheme's value for money before committing to finally fund it.

“However, this is a significant step forward in the scheme's progress.”

KCC will need to submit more detailed developments of the design and establish a preferred proposal, come to an agreement on funding and secure planning consent.

Since being announced in September 2020, a public consultation has been held asking for feedback on three design options and following this one was dropped from the proposals.

The first design includes upgrading the Lord Lees and Taddington roundabouts at the M2 junction and removing the link between the Bridgewood and Lord Lees roundabouts.

A direct slip road between the A229 and the M2 towards London is proposed, a through lane from the coastbound M2 to the A229 as well as creating a separate left-turn lane from the M2 to the A229 and widening the link road to four lanes.

Changes have also been proposed at the Maidstone end including a two-lane slip road to join the coastbound M20, widening the Running Horse roundabout and adding traffic lights.

The second option proposes less work to the Lord Lees and Taddington roundabouts – but keeping the new London-bound slip road from the A229 and left-turn lane from the M2 – and a proposal to extend the Bridgewood roundabout and Rochester Road junction with a new slip road from the M2 which would continue straight onto the A229.

It would also see the southbound slip road on the A229 to the Lord Lees roundabout closed with a new merge road creating access to the roundabout.

At the Maidstone end, option two would be the same as the proposals under option one.

The project is expected to cost up to £199m, with 85% of the total hopefully funded by the DfT Major Road Network programme.

The remainder will be covered by developer contributions and other government funding opportunities.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027.