More than £850m in transport schemes has been unlocked after the Department for Transport released details of £586m in funding for 21 local authority projects.

Local authorities were asked to submit new ‘best and final bids’ in September which saw almost £500m shaved off the amount being sought from the Department for Transport.

Several schemes face an extended wait for funding including the Waverley and Bexhill – Hastings Link Roads, with further funding to be considered by the department in the Spring.

However this news comes on top of the 20 schemes, worth £574m, which received funding as part of the Chancellor’s autumn statement last month.

Among the projects to receive funding are the Morpeth Northern Bypass which receives an allocation of £21.1m and a new bridge over the River Wear for which the department will contribute £82.6m towards a total cost of £117.6m.