Planned improvements to junction 9 of the M5 in Gloucestershire, including a new junction 9a and A46 rerouting, are at risk following a recent £700 million cut to the UK roads budget to bolster defence spending.
Gloucestershire County Council has been developing the junction 9a project south of Tewkesbury to alleviate chronic traffic congestion and enhance connectivity. The scheme aims to improve journey times, support up to 25,000 new homes in Tewkesbury Garden Communities, and unlock around 100 hectares of employment land, particularly for advanced manufacturing and defence sectors.
Cost estimates from 2024 ranged between £740 million and £930 million. The project is also critical for strengthening the Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor, a key national route linking the South West, Midlands, and North East.
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However, recent government shifts emphasizing defence investment have sparked fears that junction 9a and related infrastructure upgrades may be deprioritized. Gloucestershire’s council officials are pressing ministers for clear funding commitments to prevent the project from stalling.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Julian Tooke highlighted the government’s housing targets and the importance of corresponding infrastructure improvements. He warned that reallocating funds towards defence could sacrifice vital road upgrades needed to support Gloucestershire’s growth.
Reform UK councillor Vernon Smith described the potential funding cuts as a “betrayal” for Tewkesbury and the wider county, emphasizing decades of traffic disruption residents have endured. He stressed that without junction 9 enhancements, plans for the garden town risk collapse, impacting daily lives and local economic prospects.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has not commented on junction 9’s funding status but announced an extra £15 billion for defence from 2026 to 2030, alongside a £60 billion increase over four years compared to previous budgets. To accommodate this, the DfT plans to save up to £700 million from roads funding through consultations on scaling back certain highway projects and seeking savings on yet uncommitted schemes.
While the government pledges to maintain funding for pothole repairs, local road maintenance, and rail infrastructure, the future of major projects like Gloucestershire’s M5 junction 9a remains uncertain amid defence spending priorities.