Archaeological surveys and work to create wildlife habitats will begin this summer, the cabinet agreed. Last month, the government announced funding of £56m would be allocated to the scheme. The road is opposed by CPRE Sussex and other campaigning groups including Friends of the Earth and the Hastings Alliance.

Derek Coffee of the Hastings Alliance says: "There is no question that the road scheme, which was levered in to the transport studies of 2002, will wreck a beautiful part of East Sussex, within walking distance of some of the most deprived wards of Hastings and Bexhill – and a great tourist and recreation asset for all. There is no equivalent asset available. Damage cannot be mitigated. This has been our inheritance; it should be our childrens’ inheritance."