Plans have been announced to secure some of the money behind a major upgrade of a busy motorway junction, as a new date is revealed for a public inquiry.

Highways England is planning to build a flyover at the A249’s junction with the M2 at Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone.

Kent County Council (KCC) has issued papers which reveal it is preparing to pay £900,000 towards the £94 million scheme, as well as agreeing to become an “accountable body” for the project and entering into a legal agreement to promise the funding.

The authority had put aside £1.6 million for the project in its 2019/20 budget.

The Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF) will also contribute £1.6 million to the project with the remainder coming from Highways England.

Progress on the upgrade of the junction was halted after the coronavirus pandemic meant a planning inquiry, once scheduled to begin on April 28 and due to last two weeks, could not go ahead. That delay came after the first date of March 10 was shelved.

The case is now set to be heard by the independent Planning Inspectorate in August, according to KCC.

Documents also show the council will receive monthly updates on the project, which will include how much is being spent.

No money will be transferred to Highways England until the result of the planning inquiry has been announced.

A decision on whether the funding will be handed over and responsibility taken for the project, is set to be made by KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Michael Payne (Con), on or after July 7.

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