Plans to build a new junction 9a on the M5 south of Tewkesbury, designed to tackle chronic traffic congestion and support regional growth, are at risk following recent government cuts to road funding. Gloucestershire County Council has spearheaded the project, which includes rerouting the A46 between the M5 and Teddington Hands roundabout, aiming to ease gridlock and improve journey times in an area burdened by heavy congestion.
Originally estimated to cost between £740 million and £930 million in 2024, the improvements are critical to unlocking development opportunities, including the creation of up to 25,000 new homes within the Tewkesbury Garden Communities. The new junction would also unlock access to over 100 hectares of employment land, focused on advanced manufacturing and defence sectors, enhancing job prospects and regional economic growth.
Importantly, the scheme is a key component of the Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor, a nationally significant route linking the South West, Midlands, and North East, making it pivotal for improving connectivity and trade flows.
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However, local leaders express deep concern over the recent government announcement to divert £700 million from the Department for Transport’s roads budget to fund an expanded Defence Investment Plan. Councillor Julian Tooke, responsible for planning and infrastructure, emphasized the contradiction between government housing targets and infrastructure funding cuts, warning that the M5 junction improvements risk being “sacrificed.”
Echoing this frustration, Reform UK councillor Vernon Smith described the potential funding loss as a “betrayal” of Tewkesbury and wider Gloucestershire. Residents have endured traffic gridlock and heavy freight movement for decades, and Smith warned that without the new junction, the promised garden town development cannot succeed, leaving the community to endure worsening congestion.
The Department for Transport has so far declined to comment on the funding outlook for the junction 9a project. The government has pledged an additional £15 billion towards defence from 2026-27 through 2029-30, increasing overall defence spending by £60 billion over the next four years compared to previous projections. This necessitates a 1% capital budget contribution from departments, impacting roads funding.
While the government plans to protect funding for local road repairs, rail infrastructure, and bus services, consultations are underway concerning reductions to major road schemes, including potential cancellations of other high-profile bypass projects. This casts doubt on the future of Gloucestershire’s essential M5 junction upgrade, leaving local authorities and residents anxiously awaiting clarity on funding commitments.