Lewes Road is to enjoy major improvement work after Brighton and Hove City Council won a £4m grant from the government.

The money will be part of a £6m overhaul of one of Brighton’s busiest roads, which is designed to help cut air pollution.

The council was one of a number of local authorities that were successful in receiving funding from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which seeks to cut carbon emissions.

The funding will include physical alterations to the road, upgrades to public transport infrastructure, traffic signal upgrades and improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. The work, which is expected to start this year, will also improve links to the new South Downs National Park.

The government funding will be topped up with external partnership and council funds with key partners in the project including Southern Rail, Brighton & Hove Buses, Sussex and Brighton Universities, the Primary Care Trust, and the Engineering and Physical Research Council.

Cabinet councillor for transport Ian Davey said: “One of our key aims is to give the city the infrastructure it needs to be open for business. A crucial part of that is sustainable transport, enabling people and goods to move around without spoiling our streets or the air we breathe.

“This is a great opportunity for the council to work with residents and business to alleviate some of the transport problems in the area, particularly poor air quality caused by congestion.”

A council spokesman added: “This is part of our aim to make the city one of the greenest in the UK.”