Devon County Council has given the green light to put a major new road scheme in Exmouth out to tender.

On Wednesday, December 13, councillors accepted recommendations to approve the scheme layout for a new road which would ‘complete’ Dinan Way and link it to the A376.

Once built, the road is expected to reduce congestion on the A376 and make it easier to access the northern and eastern areas of Exmouth, such as the communities of Brixington and Littleham, from that road.

Currently, the most commonly used routes between the A376 and north and east Exmouth are via Gipsy Lane, past ECC via Summer Lane, a narrow rural road or via the Rivermead Estate.

The Dinan Way Extension scheme would be approximately 830 metres in length, run parallel to Summer Lane, and include the construction of two roundabouts.

The first roundabout would join with the top of Dinan Way, Hulham Road and the eastern end the new road; and the second roundabout would be constructed near Courtlands Cross and intersect with the A376 (Exeter Road) and western end of the new road.

As part of the plan Summer Lane would be closed to through traffic and a new shared use pedestrian and cycle path would be built along the southern side of the Dinan Way Extension.

The multi-use trail will allow pedestrians and cyclists from the northeast of Exmouth to access the A376 more easily, with bus stops provided for future routes and footpaths around the Wotton Valley area.

The scheme follows a successful bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Round 2 fund - £15.766m was awarded to the Dinan Way scheme and the Exmouth Gateway improvement scheme.

Contributions from Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council total £1.752m.

Councillor Andrea Davis, cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said: “Securing Levelling Up Funding for Exmouth was a significant step towards making transformational transport improvements to the town.

“A key part of this is the delivery of the Dinan Way Extension which will improve connectivity for people living and working in the northern and eastern parts of Exmouth with the rest of Devon and remove large volumes of traffic from unsuitable residential roads and country lanes.

“It will also improve walking and cycling connectivity in the area through improved links to the Exe Estuary Trail and encourage Active Travel which will further reduce carbon emissions. “This scheme supports the objectives of the Devon Carbon Plan as well as the Devon Strategic Plan.”

The scheme is subject to land assembly agreements being completed. Negotiations with affected landowners are ongoing.