A major road development has been given the green light to go ahead, which could have huge benefits for drivers and local communities in the West Midlands.
The M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme has been granted development consent by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
The original application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by Gloucestershire County Council on December 19, 2023, and was accepted the following month.
Following an extensive call for evidence, which involved locals, consultants and other interested parties, recommendations were sent to the Transport Secretary in March.
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The M5 Junction 10 Improvements Plan is set to be completed in the coming years
GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
The scheme will now go ahead with the aim of improving Junction 10, which has been backed by Gloucestershire County Council.
It will also see a new road linking J10 to West Cheltenham, widen the A4019, east of Junction 10, and provide separate, dedicated footways and cycle lanes for non-motorised traffic along local roads.
The link road will connect the A4019 to the B4634 in west Cheltenham, while the Improvements Plan also includes provisions for flood mitigation.
Gloucestershire County Council said the scheme was a "major milestone" which will bring "significant transport and economic benefits" across the region.
The M5 Junction 10 scheme has been estimated to cost around £249million
GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Preparation works will begin in the coming months, with construction set to start from spring 2026.
The current aim is for the project to be completed in 2028.
The council added: "The improvements are designed to unlock access to planned housing and employment development sites in the west and north of Cheltenham, with those developers benefiting from the infrastructure contributing to the cost of the scheme.
"The scheme will also increase capacity and improve connectivity in west and north-west Cheltenham, making the road network more resilient and sustainable for years to come."
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Local residents will continue to be given the opportunity to share feedback and how it could impact their day-to-day lives.
Funding of the scheme is being provided by the Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund, which is administered by Homes England.
Over the next six weeks, challenges can be made to the High Court, with it deciding whether there are grounds for a judicial review.
The whole proposal is expected to cost around £249million, with drivers set to see major benefits soon.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave the green light for the project this afternoon
PACouncillor David Gray, cabinet member for environment and planning, praised the ongoing development of the project.
He said: "We're thrilled that the Planning Inspectorate has accepted our application for development consent for the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme.
"Reaching this key milestone takes us another step further in the planning process and is testament to the thorough and hard work of the project team involved in progressing the scheme."
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