Huge M5 junction 10 revamp funding gap to be plugged with £81m from housebuilders

Highways bosses are hoping to plug the GBP81.1m funding gap for improvements to junction 10 of the M5[1] through developer contributions. The GBP334m improvements will help unlock housing and employment sites and would provide access in all directions, on and off the motorway. At the moment, you can only come off the M5 southbound at junction 10 and join it to go northbound.

The scheme also includes a new link road connecting the A4019 to the B4634 in west Cheltenham[2] and widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road. A total of GBP249.131 million has been secured through the housing infrastructure funding and GBP4m from Gloucestershire County Council[3]. But council leaders this week are expected to note there is still a gap of GBP81.139m in funding.

MORE NEWS: Calls for huge Gloucester city centre entertainment venue at former Mecca Bingo site[5] Cabinet is expected to confirm on March 27 its intention this week to raise those funds by requesting section 106 contributions from developers. These are legal agreements made between councils and developers to ensure they contribute money to mitigate the impact of development, such as road improvements, cycling infrastructure, tree planting or creating public space.

The County Council hopes to secure the funding from the earmarked development sites near M5 junction 10 such as the 4,100-homes Elms Park development and north west of Cheltenham and the Golden Valley scheme which is expected to create 12,000 new jobs and 3,700 houses near GCHQ[6]. However, this proposed approach has sparked concern over the amount of social and affordable housing that will be available at those sites. County Councillor Bernie Fisher[7] (LD, St Paul’s and Swindon), who represents part of the affected area, said he is not happy with the proposal.

He believes the Government should be paying for the motorway improvements.

Councillor Bernard Fisher is concerned over the impact the proposal will have on the number of affordable and social housing at sites on the outskirts of Cheltenham

“It’s a great amount of money and a big ask,” he said. “People shouldn’t be asked to pay for it other than through their taxes. “It’s going to be like a levy on every house. It’s going to affect the amount of social housing that could go there.

“That’s the first thing that raises the alarm with me. The developer is not a charity, they are there to make a profit. “I understand that, I have nothing against them.

If they choose to do all house building through private developers in Britain that’s the way you have to get social housing.”

Gloucestershire County Council intends to secure Section 106 contributions from identified development sites in the locality of M5 Junction 10 (Image: GCC)

The authority says it is working with scheme funders Homes England, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury planning authorities to identify developments and how much contribution should be sought from each one.

“Gloucestershire County Council intends to secure Section 106 contributions from identified development sites in the locality of M5 Junction 10 where such sites are dependent upon the provision of the improvements,” the council report reads. “Further dependent sites may be identified in the future.”

References

1. ^ junction 10 of the M5 (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Cheltenham (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^ Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
4. ^ Parking permits in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud caused ‘civil war’ as council pledges to learn from rollout blunders (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
5. ^ Calls for huge Gloucester city centre entertainment venue at former Mecca Bingo site (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
6. ^ GCHQ (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
7. ^ Bernie Fisher (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)