Dorset could soon get control of how tens of millions of pounds is spent on road and transport improvements under new powers from the government.

Pioneering plans have been revealed by councils across the south west to create a new joint sub-national transport body which would play a key strategic role in the current transport landscape.

Under the proposals, Dorset County Council will work with counterparts in Devon, Torbay, Plymouth, Somerset and Cornwall to create the South West Peninsula sub-national transport body.

The new body will be designed to enable regions to speak with one voice on strategic transport planning as well as produce a strategic transport plan, which will could include rail schemes and investments in the wider highway corridors that exist across council boundaries.

However in the long term, it will eventually have legal powers devolved from government to make transport investment decision-making across the region.

In a statement, Dave Black, head of planning, transport and the environment at Devon County Council, said that the south west transport system risks losing out if they cannot keep pace with the rest of the country and that setting up the body would drive transformational growth and rebalance the economy.

He added: “It has become increasingly clear, particularly following the major road network plans released by the department, that they are being lined up to help oversee and organise regional investments in transport schemes.”

With the creation of the body, key A roads across the county which have been identified in the Department for Transport (DfTs) Major Roads Network could then be upgraded through proposed projects which include bypasses, missing links between existing routes, road widening and major junction improvements.

Among the roads which have been identified for potential projects are the A354 between Weymouth town centre and Dorchester, the A37 between Yeovil and Dorchester and the A35 between Bere Regis and the Bakers Arms roundabout near Poole.

Cllr Rebecca Knox, leader of Dorset County Council, said: “In terms of the sub-national transport body, DCC has been engaged in the discussions across the south west and supports the proposals to create such a body, which will enhance the voice of the south west with Government and result in greater investment in infrastructure within the region.

“The approach builds on existing arrangements such as the long-standing Local Transport Planning work DCC does with Poole & Bournemouth and the Peninsula Rail Task Force.”

Jim Stewart, chairman of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “Dorset LEP supports the creation of a South West Sub National Transport Body. This process is being led by local authorities however Dorset LEP remains engaged with partners in the South West and will continue to be involved as discussions develop.”

At the same time, a separate proposal has also been brought forward to create a second covering Poole and Bournemouth in partnership councils in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.