A £5m pilot scheme by the government will see money being distributed to help towards a major highways project.

The Berkshire-wide Business Rates Pilot (BRPRP 2) aims to help fund the eastern gateway section of the South Wokingham Distributor Road.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) will get to retain a percentage of the businesses rates paid by businesses in the Borough.

A percentage of the money will be provided to the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for infrastructure projects.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: "We are working hard to ensure that we have the right infrastructure in place to support our growing borough with new homes, schools, sports facilities, community centres, parks and open spaces.

"Alongside this we are building strategic new roads to improve the network and reduce congestion for our residents and local businesses through our £124m Major Highways Project.

Detailed design work is currently being carried out with building work due to take place this spring; the new road is scheduled to open towards the end of 2020.

Cllr Pauline added: "We are delighted that we have been allocated this BRRP2 funding of £5m towards the Eastern Gateway section of the South Wokingham Distributor Road."

Planning permission was approved in October 2018 for the Winnersh Relief Road Phase 2 where £6.26m was allocated to WBC.

Works for this has now begun preparation for works to be carried out in Autumn, later this year.