Roadbuilding schemes worth £200 million are set to instigate a rise in economic growth in Central Bedfordshire by connecting new businesses.

Alongside the new roads, 7,000 new houses will be built around the same area and are on course to be delivered on time and on budget in 2017.

These two projects are part of the government's long-term plan for Bedfordshire and will see a 2.8-mile, £162 million A5-M1 Link scheme delivered by Highways England. Central Bedfordshire Council will be responsible for completing the housing project.

As well as providing better roads and new housing, the project will also provide improve access to the M1 and reduce congestion in Dunstable.

Roads minister Andrew Jones said: "We are determined to deliver better journeys and the infrastructure that will allow the economy to grow in Bedfordshire."

Karen Green, Highways England project manager, added that once the projects are finished and the roads are opened, she foresees that they will provide "significant improvements in terms of journey time reliability and safety for [both] long distance and local traffic".