Major plans to upgrade Junction 10 of the M5 in Gloucestershire have been given the go ahead by transport secretary Heidi Alexander.

Gloucestershire County Council says granting of development consent for the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme is a “major milestone” that “paves the way for delivering significant transport and economic benefits across the county”.

The approved scheme will see the construction of a new all-movements junction at Junction 10, which will provide access in all directions on and off the motorway.

It also includes a new link road connecting the A4019 to the B4634 in west Cheltenham and widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road, as well as the provision of new active travel facilities and flood mitigation measures.

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.

Lisa Spivey, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “This is a landmark moment for Gloucestershire and a vital milestone for this nationally significant project.

“We’re delighted that the secretary of state recognises the importance of this scheme to the county’s future. The improvements will not only unlock vital growth opportunities, including thousands of new homes and jobs, they will also ease congestion and enhance safety.

“We can now look to finalise developer contributions to the scheme and move forward with delivering the infrastructure our communities and businesses need.”

National Highways senior project manager, Rebecca Marshall, added: “This scheme will create smoother and safer journeys for all and improve travel times in the area. It will also unlock housing and business development opportunities, as well as improving access to and from the motorway for emergency services. We’ll now continue to work closely with the county council as they begin preparations to start construction.”

The scheme is being funded by UK government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England, alongside contributions from developers whose sites will benefit from the infrastructure. Gloucestershire County Council is leading delivery of the scheme in collaboration with National Highways and other partners.

The public will be able to find out more at information events, which will be arranged shortly and held in the summer.

Preparation works will begin this summer to enable the start of scheme construction from spring 2026, with completion anticipated in 2028.