Over £200,000 has been allocated to a scheme that will see a cycle route built along Coventry Road in Warwick.

The new route will go from the Spinney Hill roundabout, where it will connect to the National Cycle Network Route 52 to Kenilworth, and the St Johns junction on the edge of Warwick town centre. 

Construction is expected to start in 2023, with the latest funding secured from the government's Cycle Rail Routes to Station Fund.

Coventry Road was identified as high priority for a cycle route by Warwickshire County Council in 2018, with design work starting in 2020.

Since then the council has continued to work with Sustrans to improve the design and residents will be given the chance to voice their opinions before construction begins.

A report signed off by the council's deputy leader on Friday (October 14) said: "The Coventry Road scheme connects with Warwick station as well as linking residential areas in north Warwick and the town centre and improving connections to the wider town cycle network."

It added: "The Coventry Road cycle scheme will provide cycling infrastructure which will enable more journeys to be made by bicycle, thereby contributing to reduced carbon emissions as well as lower levels of congestion and improved air quality. 

"The Cycle Rail funding will enhance the quality of the Coventry Road cycle route and maximise the environmental benefits of the scheme by attracting a higher volume of users and encouraging more people to make local journeys by bicycle in preference to private cars."

In total the project is expected to cost £715,000.

As well as the £204,500 approved on Friday, the cost will be split across a number of other council budgets.