ENVIRONMENTALISTS have criticised a new £250 million road building agreement.

West Sussex County Council has appointed Skanska to a six-year highways “construction framework” which could see up to £250 million invested in roads and infrastructure across the region.

The new contract is likely to cover large bypass schemes and town centre redevelopments which could be handed local enterprise partnership funding over the next five years.

But Friends of the Earth has described the investment as irresponsible.

A spokesman said it could lead to increased air pollution, rising carbon emissions and loss of wildlife.

West Sussex County Council said the scheme would help speed up the current “costly” and “time consuming” tendering process for each project.

Council officials said the total capital cost of the schemes could exceed £100 million but would also be opened up to neighbouring local authority partners including East Sussex and Brighton and Hove councils.

Three contractors have been signed up for projects worth less than £2 million, including the council’s current road maintenance contractors Balfour Beatty, with four firms including Skanska and Carillion signed for the other half of the agreement covering large design and build contracts worth in excess of £2 million.

The first contracts within the framework are expected to be awarded within a matter of weeks.

Chris Todd, from Friends of the Earth, said: "It's irresponsible to spend money on increasing pollution and carbon emissions and undermining public health which is what building new roads will do in to the long term.

“That's aside from any direct impact on the landscape or wildlife.

“Instead we need investment in better pedestrian and cycling facilities, decent bus services and an improved rail service.

“We need to keep Sussex special, not pour concrete all over it."

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “There is no guarantee of any work to the suppliers over the six year period but the frameworks give the county council the ability to engage quickly with approved contractors as the initial procurement stages have already taken place.

“There are a number of the transport projects that the county council is developing, which will go through the normal cycle of feasibility, development and consultation with stakeholders including the likely impacts prior to implementation.

“The projects are at an early stage and details will be available as we move into the consultation stage.”