The cost of improving junction 10 of the M5 near Cheltenham has ballooned from an estimate of around £250m six years ago to more than £400m in 2026.
Gloucestershire County Council chiefs have today (June 10) agreed to commission the main works for a new junction which will provide access in all directions on and off the motorway, as reported by Cotswold Journal.
The scheme, which will also see the widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road and provide new cycle paths and walkways is seen as vital in unlocking land for 20,000 homes and supporting 12,000 new jobs at Cheltenham’s Golden Valley Development.
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However, the report put to and approved by cabinet members today says the project’s revised budget will increase a further £44m to a new total of £407m.
This will be funded by an extra £1.5m housing infrastructure investment funding, £10m additional approved community infrastructure funding and £32.5m of future developer contributions.
The initial cost estimate for the M5 Junction 10 improvement scheme in 2020 was around £253 million.
However, this has risen because of inflation, design changes, and extended project timelines.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Julian Tooke (Pittville and St Paul’s), who is the cabinet member responsible for infrastructure, spoke of how important the new junction is for the Golden Valley Valley development and National Cyber Innovation Centre.
He said the “all-movements junction” was “so much more than that” and would facilitate 20,000 homes and support 12,000 jobs.
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“We’ve done the enabling works,” he said. “We want to move onto the next stage of the project
“Speed is important because we really want to deliver this to schedule in Spring 2029.”
He said they are not asking for more money but they do want to move onto the next stage of the works.
However, he did say it requires bridging funding from Gloucestershire infrastructure investment fund.
Computer generated image of junction 10 of the M5 in Gloucestershire. FREE TO USE FOR ALL PARTNERS. CREDIT: GCC
He said this is needed as they wait for capital funding and contributions from developments to come through.
“We want to get on with it. This is so, so exciting.”
The increase in the project’s budget has drawn criticism from Reform UK councillors who lead the opposition at Shire Hall.
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They previously raised concerns over the £166,000 bill for bat houses at the site which need to be provided by law.
Gloucestershire County Councillor Julian Tooke is the cabinet member for infrastructure. Pictured second from right. CREDIT: Carmelo Garcia
Reform group leader Vernon Smith (Tewkesbury West) said: “The current Liberal Democrat administration continues to demonstrate an inability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects competently.
“Under Reform, we would be pursuing significant cuts, not reckless spending on schemes like bat houses. We would deliver proper social housing within a reasonable budget.”