PLANS to fill in a major Bournemouth roundabout and pedestrianise parts of the Lansdowne area are set to go ahead following a multi-million pound government investment.

The plans are part of a wider scheme to create a ‘world class’ business district at Lansdowne.

Bournemouth Council has been awarded £8.5million to fund the project - which aims to create 4,500 jobs and bring an estimated £200m worth of investment to the area.

The money has been secured by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) - which has been granted a total of £19.5 million for several projects across the county.

In Bournemouth the money will be used to improve the access from the train station up to the major new business district.

The scheme also includes pedestrianising parts of the Lansdowne area and filling in the roundabout near the railway station.

Bournemouth council leader John Beesley said; “We are delighted to have been awarded this additional government funding to create a commercial business district in Bournemouth.

“The Lansdowne has exciting potential for growth, both in terms of supporting existing businesses to grow and encouraging new businesses to start up.”

Money is also going to Bournemouth University to invest in its Orthopaedic Research Institute.

Funding has also been granted to Borough of Poole to build 1,350 new homes at the former power station site at Hamworthy and to upgrade Wallisdown Road in order to ease congestion in the area.

Around £4million has also been awarded to Dorset County Council for the Gillingham Access to Growth project.

Dorset LEP chairman Gordon Page said: “We are pleased to have been awarded £19.5 million to deliver these projects to fuel long-term growth across the county.

“This vote of confidence by the Government reflects our county’s economic potential and firmly places Dorset on the world map as an outstanding place to do business.”

Local Growth Minister Andrew Percy praised the projects and said: “These growth deals are a crucial part of our efforts to create an economy that works for everyone, and ensure every region can realise its full potential.”