Preliminary designs for a multi-million pound upgrade of the A31 Farnham Bypass are expected soon.

A public consultation could be around the corner as an outline business case for the scheme is expected to be submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) in late August.

The A31 Farnham corridor scheme is a major part of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (FIP) with the DfT and Treasury giving the green light to preliminary investigations.

Detailed designs have not yet been revealed but extra lanes, widened roundabouts and a new interchange at Hickley’s Corner with an underpass and potential link to Firgrove Hill have been among the ideas.

Elaine Martin, lead officer on the Surrey County Council-led FIP, said at the recent Farnham Board meeting the scheme needs to be the most “beneficial and cost-effective”.

She said “things and priorities have changed” since work began with a change of government being the biggest.

But work is very much ongoing with a review taking place, models being tested and dialogue ongoing with the DfT.

She said: “The outcome of this review will give a new direction on the design, potentially, and help us understand the benefits of delivering the scheme as a whole versus separate sections.

“We’re talking with the DfT a lot.

“In a nutshell the modelling is ongoing. It’s having TUBA (Transport User Benefit Appraisal) assessments and different scenarios are being tested.

“After that modelling we’ll have an outcome of how it impacts that particular junction and the different options we need to build on to make it work.

“The current estimate of the submission of the outline business case is August 26.”

Questions were also asked if work is ongoing to improve north-south connectivity in Farnham with Greg Stafford MP, who took part in the meeting, keen to see progress on a Wrecclesham bypass.