A MULTI-MILLION pound budget has been agreed for a contractor to progress work on Five Mile lane in Barry.

The Vale council has agreed a £25.8m budget and the successful bidder is set to undertake construction of the A4226, known locally as Five Mile Lane.

Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd are to be appointed via formal contract following the approval of a report to the Vale council’s cabinet on Monday, October 9.

The contractor will be appointed on a design and build contract and it is expected will spend the first six months doing detailed design work.

Vale council leader, Cllr John Thomas said: “Due to the huge importance of the scheme and the significant £25.8m budget, a contract team led by council officers has overseen an incredibly thorough and detailed tendering process. Having reviewed all aspects of this I am more than content that we have ensured the absolute best deal for the residents of the Vale of Glamorgan. The next step now is to conclude the formalities of the contract arrangements and I hope to see us breaking ground for the new road in early 2018.”

The tender process began in April 2017 and was conducted via the Welsh Government Sell2Wales site.

Clinic sessions took place with prospective contractors in June ahead of a deadline for submissions at the end of July.

A total of seven tender submissions were then evaluated on the basis of 50 per cent price and 50 per cent quality by independent experts who produced the confidential tender assessment report considered by the council’s cabinet at the October 9 meeting.