THE next stage of a major funding bid to create a borough-wide link road has been approved by the town hall.

Council bosses will now submit a business case for the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) cash in March.

The bid to central government for around £132m will bring forward projects to create a link between junction 26 of the M6 and junction five of the M61.

Council leader David Molyneux told cabinet colleagues the scheme is "a big one for us" as it is designed to "unlock" strategic sites for around 9,000 homes.

The total cost is estimated to be £220m with the council contributing £19.3m, the private sector £35m, "other public sector" cash totalling £30.5m and section 106 funds of £3.2m, according to a town hall report.

The HIF is a government capital grant programme of up to £5.5 billion, which will help to deliver up to 100,000 new homes in England.

Cllr Molyneux said: “We’ve had some very positive conversations with our colleagues in Bolton on this, it’s as important to them as it is to us.

“I think this is one of the biggest bids that has progressed, certainly the biggest in Greater Manchester. It’s important for our future in terms of what we can deliver. It’s a big one for us.”

The council is working alongside counterparts in Bolton on the bid but has the lead role because all but one of the individual transport schemes are within the borough.

Consultation with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Homes England has also taken place, officers said.

Cabinet members agreed on Thursday that town hall directors will submit the business case once the details are finalised.

A similar decision was made by Bolton Council leaders on January 21.

If the bid is not successful, it is understood the council would have to continue with a piecemeal approach to delivering the individual parts of the link road.