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Additional £71.5m secured to deliver transformative M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme

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Gloucestershire County Council is celebrating a major funding boost, following the decision by UK Government to commit to providing an additional £71.5 million towards the transformative M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme. 

This investment will allow the council to move ahead with vital transport upgrades that will unlock homes, jobs and investment. Completion of the scheme will: 

  • Enable the delivery of over 20,000 new homes — including over 7,000 that are affordable
  • Support the Golden Valley development and the National Cyber Innovation Centre and technology cluster, including the creation of around 12,000 skilled jobs for local people
  • Build on the successful delivery of the £33 million Arle Court Transport Hub

Development consent for the scheme was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in June 2025, marking a major milestone and confirming the strategic importance of the project for the county’s transport network and economy.

Cllr Julian Tooke, Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “Securing this additional Government funding is a turning point for Gloucestershire. The delivery of the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme is a catalyst for transformational growth and opportunity in the region, driving future investment and prosperity. I’m grateful to Homes England and our partners for their support and confidence in this essential infrastructure.”

The newly confirmed £71.5m is additional funding from UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England, and will bridge the gap to deliver the full improvements. 

Funding for the scheme had already been secured from a range of sources to date, including contributions from: UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England; district council Community Infrastructure Levy funding; Gloucestershire County Council; and S106 contributions from developers whose sites will directly benefit from the scheme. 

Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas said: "Gloucestershire's heritage as a foundation of UK engineering and security makes it an ideal nucleus for growth in both sectors, as we look to meet the challenges of tomorrow. This crucial infrastructure upgrade will ensure not only that we keep skilled professionals in Gloucestershire, but that we are an attractive proposition for those across the country. This welcome government investment is testament to the consistent and joined-up pressure of local campaigners, Gloucestershire County Council and Members of Parliament, which continue to keep Gloucestershire in the government's thinking. I commend everybody involved."

Gloucestershire County Council is leading delivery of the scheme in collaboration with National Highways and other partners. Weather-dependant preparation works began in autumn 2025, to avoid rising costs and keep the project on track. These early site works are being carried out by appointed contractor Galliford Try.

With the additional funding now in place, the council and its partners will finalise delivery arrangements and continue preparation works for the start of the main construction phase in autumn 2026. 

Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson said: “The upgrade of this junction will support thousands of new jobs in cyber and tech at the landmark west Cheltenham Golden Valley development. After a lot of campaigning work in Parliament and by the local business community, I’m pleased and very relieved to have heard the good news that Ministers have done the right thing by closing the funding gap. I hope we can now get on with delivering the prosperity Cheltenham has been promised for so long.”

All the latest information on the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme can be found on the scheme webpage at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/J10, where you can also sign up to receive updates as the project progresses.