West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme - UK Cyber Business Park

In this part of the scheme, improvements include: 

• M5 J11 to Arle Court eastbound carriageway widening (towards Cheltenham)
• Provision of an additional circulatory lane around the roundabout
• Corresponding additional lanes to the A40 on the approaches and exits to and from the junction
• New bus lane on the B4063 approach from Staverton, also improving facilities for cyclists 
• Bus Lane modifications to improve journey times for public transport
• Widening the Hatherley Lane arm to the south side of the roundabout 
• Park and Ride Entrance/Exit westbound (towards Gloucester) from Arle Court Roundabout
• Improve cyclist access at specific junctions, such as Fiddlers Green Lane

Gloucestershire County Council held two 'Public Share' events in June 2019 as an opportunity for the public to provide feedback, see the latest plans and to liaise with members of the project team who have been involved in the management and development of the schemes. Approximately 500 people attended the two sessions, the largest turnout for any highways major project public share event hosted by Gloucestershire County Council.

• Jurys Inn, Cheltenham, Tuesday 18 June 2019
• St Marks C of E Junior School, Benhall, Thursday 20 June 2019

You can view the documents that were on display below:

1 - Overview

2 - Background and Benefits

3 - Scheme Delivery

4 - Ph1 Detailed Design

5 - Ph2 Detailed Design (1 of 2)

6 - Ph2 Detailed Design (2 of 2)

7 - Artists Impressions

8 - FAQ (1 of 2)

9 - FAQ (2 of 2)

10 - Feedback form

Following the work on the M5 slip road and Arle Court Roundabout, the next stage of the project includes significant improvements for cyclists and pedestrians from Arle Court to Cheltenham Railway Station, along with widening the A40 eastbound and Benhall Roundabout.

Proposals include:

• Arle Court to Gloucester Road/Lansdown Road junction eastbound carriageway improvements (towards Cheltenham town centre)
• Improving access for cyclists between Arle Court roundabout and Benhall roundabout
• Telstar Way widening to Hubble Road
• Benhall Roundabout remodelling including eastbound widening
• Cycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements from Arle Court to Cheltenham Railway Station

We were due to hold public share events to display the proposals on the 17 March 2020 at the Hesters Way Community Centre and on the 19 March at the Jury’s Inn, Cheltenham. Due to the unavailability of external experts and consultants, we were unable to hold the share events as planned. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience. The documents for the events are available to view here:

1 Overview

2 Background

3 Scheme Delivery

4 Detailed Design 1 (Telstar Way Junction)

5 Detailed Design 2 (A40 Gloucester Road)

6 Detailed Design 3 (Benhall Roundabout)

7 Artist Impressions

8 FAQs 1 of 2

9 FAQs 2 of 2

West Cheltenham Walking and Cycling Improvements

1 Overview

2 Detailed Design 1 (Telstar Way Junction)

3 Detailed Design 2 (Benhall Roundabout to Oldfield Crescent)

4 Detailed Design 3 (Oldfield Crescent to Lansdown Road Bridge)

5 Detailed Design 4

Comments and feedback received on these proposals has been used to inform the design of the scheme and the full business cases.

A40 Telstar Way and Benhall Roundabout up to Gloucester Road Junction:

WCTIS Ph3 and Ph4 Full Business Case
Ph3 App A - Modelling Notes
Ph3 App B Paramics Forecasting Report
Ph3 App C Paramics Model Validation 
Ph3 App D SDI
Ph3 App E AST
Ph3 App F Noise Figures
Ph3 App G Dust Report
Ph3 App H Risk Register
Ph3 App I FBC Program
Ph3 App J Scheme Drawing 101
Ph3 App J Scheme Drawing 102
Ph3 App J Scheme Drawing 103
Ph3 App J Scheme Drawing 104
Ph3 App K WCTIS env mitigation report

Walking and Cycling

WCTIS Walking and Cycling Full Business Case
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 1
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 2
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 3
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 4
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 5
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 6
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 7
WCWCI App A  Scheme Drawing 8
WCWCI App B Programme
WCWCI App C Risk Register
WCWCI App D AMAT 1A
WCWCI App D AMAT 1B
WCWCI App D AMAT 2A
WCWCI App D AMAT 3A
WCWCI App D AMAT 4A
WCWCI App D AMAT 5A
WCWCI App E Appraisal Summary Table
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 1A
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 1B
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 2A
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 3A
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 4A
WCWCI App F Onsite Audit 5A

Phases 1 and 2 of the works (From M5 Junction 11 up to and including Arle Court Roundabout) will start 1 June 2020.
It is currently anticipated that all works (including Phases 3 & 4) will complete by Autumn 2021.

The improvements are necessary to fulfill the commitment of the Gfirst LEP in supporting the region and enabling development in the vicinity of the site.

The main purpose of the schemes is to fulfill the following objectives:

• Reduce peak period congestion for routes to/from Cheltenham, specifically along the A40
• Optimise the efficiency of the existing junctions, and aim to reduce delays for all traffic
• Improve provisions for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists
• To help accelerate the delivery of planned growth and improve access to existing and potential employment zones.

The estimated, total cost of the first two phases combined is £13m. All four phases are estimated to cost £22m.

The funding for the scheme is coming from the Gloucestershire First Local Enterprise Partnership (Gfirst LEP) Growth Deal and is subject to their approval of a Full Business Case.

The FBC is a document prepared by the project team and issued to the GFirst LEP for approval. The FBC includes an assessment of whether the scheme is fit for purpose and meets central and local government policies, it discusses what options have been considered, how options have been developed and if the scheme represents good value for money. Each of the four phases will require a separate FBC. 

Set up by central Government in 2011 to work with local businesses, local voluntary organisations and Local authorities, the role of GFirst LEP (Gloucester First Local Enterprise Partnership) is to drive sustainable economic growth in the county, and by doing so, create jobs and business opportunities. Run by a voluntary board of senior executives and elected representatives from Business and Local Authorities and a small team of full time staff. Based in the Growth Hub at the University of Gloucestershire. The LEP also supports a number of business sector groups that provide opportunities for business to “talk to government” directly.

These funds are specifically allocated for “Transformative Projects” that will drive economic development, focussed on transport infrastructure, skills infrastructure, business growth and remediation work on land to bring sites into use for housing and business use.

We will be maintaining access to businesses and residents and will be working hard to minimise disruption to the travelling public. To minimise disruption during the construction period, lane closures will be kept to off peak to help improve traffic flow at the busiest times. We will provide any information relating to upcoming road closures and traffic management on this webpage.

As part of the tender process, for construction of the scheme we will set out requirements for methods of working. This will set out the approach to minimise and mitigate the impacts of noise/pollution etc. during the construction period.

One of the schemes primary objectives is to help alleviate existing congestion and accommodate for future demand on the highway network. The planned improvements will increase the capacity of the network as a whole and therefore help to accommodate future growth. Improving the bus lanes in the area will also help achieve this.

The proposed schemes do not use any of the highway previously associated with the westbound A40 Benhall Bus Lane scheme: the council decided not to continue its bid for funding to build this in November 2016.

Yes cyclists, taxis and private hire vehicles will be able to use the bus lane.

Yes. Site survey work will be carried out in order to assess the potential environmental impacts, and how the scheme design can mitigate these. The environmental assessment will consider all the environmental impacts of the scheme, and how these are to be mitigated.

The proposed schemes are located within the Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The extents of the current AQMA are under review and monitoring data published in the Annual Status Report 2018 confirmed that air quality objectives are only exceeded in the north of Cheltenham town centre. By addressing existing and future traffic congestion the proposed schemes should lead to a reduction in associated pollutant emissions.

Improving the wider bus, pedestrian and cycle infrastructure around the scheme also brings the potential increased shift to more sustainable transport methods. However, it is recognised that the improvements will also increase traffic capacity, and in turn increase total traffic flows, which could lead to an increase in emissions.

Further air quality assessments will be carried out to fully assess how the proposed work will affect current conditions at sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the schemes. This will include examination of how construction traffic and dust emissions may affect neighbouring properties.

The project team are liaising with CBC's local Environmental Health Officer, to confirm the appropriate criteria for the affected road network and to confirm the appropriate assessment methodology and mitigation for air quality assessment and EU compliance assessment.

Gloucestershire County Council have hosted public share events to display proposals all phases of the project. We have also provided the opportunity for the public to provide feedback through our website, displaying the latest plans online. Members of the project team who have been involved in the management and development of the scheme can be contacted by emailing majorprojects@gloucestershire.gov.uk

When a contractor is appointed to complete the works, we intend to hold a 'Meet the Contractor' event for members of the public to directly ask the contractor and members of the project team any questions they have on upcoming works. 

Knights Brown have now been appointed as the contractor for Phases 1 and 2 and there will be an opportunity to ask them questions in an online ‘meet the contractor’ Q & A session on Friday 12 June. Questions can be submitted in advance by e-mailing them through to majorprojects@gloucestershire.gov.uk by 9am on Wednesday 10 June .

Anyone can sign up to receive future news bulletins about this scheme by email.