Councillors on the Transport for South Hampshire Joint Committee have approved funding to be made available for Hampshire County Council officers to fine-tune the details of the proposals for the £175m scheme.

When that is complete the scheme will be submitted to the South East Regional Assembly where members have the power to decide which ambitious transport projects deserve to be shortlisted for consideration for funding by government ministers.

The new transport scheme is being touted as a solution to traffic problems in the area, particularly in Gosport.

A centrepiece of the proposal is to make use of a stretch of old railway line to transport people in and out of Gosport without having to take up space on the notoriously-congested A32.

Gosport councillor Peter Langdon said: 'I'm very pleased that this scheme seems to be moving forward at pace. It's certainly going to be needed with the growth in traffic in the area, especially with the new homes planned in north Fareham putting more strain on the A32.

'In particular I'm keen to see it go through because it will provide a good link with the Queen Alexandra Hospital.'

The Bus Rapid Transit Scheme will eventually link Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth with the hospital at Cosham and the site of a proposed housing development for 10,000 new homes in North Fareham.

The proposal is to build the scheme in stages, with the costs broken down.

Priority will be given to a £50m section of the alternative bus route, linking Fareham train station to Rowner Road, Gosport.

The bus scheme is one of 15 transport projects put forward by the South East England Regional Assembly as part of a bid to relieve traffic congestion.

Also on the cards is a £35m junction on the M275 to support the Tipner redevelopment.

If given the green light, the proposals are expected to be implemented between 2016 and 2018.