Land plan for M5 junction

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A COMMITMENT to deliver a new £220m M5 junction by buying up land if necessary could be made next week.

The new junction 10 means those travelling south from north-west Cheltenham will be able to join the motorway without driving across the town to junction 11 at the A40.

Confirmation of the preferred route for the junction, which reportedly could have a joining dual carriageway through the new Golden Valley development Old Gloucester Road, is due next Spring.

It would be following this announcement that Gloucestershire County Council would formally progress a compulsory purchase order (CPO) if land were required to be bought for highway works.

If that were the case, the county council would need further approval and the final nod from Government.

The new junction, scheduled to open in 2025, is planned to link from the M5 into West Cheltenham to 1,100 new homes, a school and the cyber business park.

The authority’s cabinet is expected to approve the commitment next week.

A council report said: “Where any third party land is required to deliver highway works, the council’s clear preference is a negotiated settlement route. It is right that this route is run in parallel to any compulsory purchase route.

“The purpose of this approach will be to allow the flexibility of a mutually agreed settlement package for the landowners, but with the assurance of the CPO route in the event that negotiated settlement is not successful.” Timeline to deliver new M5 junction » July/august 2020 - Homes England funding grant determination agreement signing » Autumn 2020 - Public consultation » Autumn 2020/Spring 2022 Preliminary design

» Spring 2022/Spring 2023 Planning

» Summer 2022/Spring 2023 Detailed design

» Autumn 2022/Spring 2023 Procurement

» Spring 2023/Spring 2025 Construction