Issue - decisions

The M5 junction 10 scheme is a significant project for Gloucestershire which, if approved, will deliver an all-movements junction at this location together with associated improvement works to the road network. Currently the M5 Junction 10 only facilitates access from Cheltenham northbound.
The scheme is being determined via a Development Consent Order (DCO). The DCO process is a planning procedure for dealing with proposals classed as nationally significant infrastructure projects such as the M5 Junction 10 project, which are determined by the Secretary of State (SoS) and considered by the Examining Authority. DCOs were established under the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) and involve an examination of major proposals.
The DCO process contains many areas where local authorities have a specific role to undertake and therefore their participation is expected throughout the process. Participation is not obligatory, but it is advised as local authorities are expected to provide a local perspective of potential impacts of a submitted proposal. The local authorities in this case are Gloucestershire County Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Council.
Cheltenham has been engaged and supporting the DCO throughout the process with Cabinet delegating activities to the Director Communities & Economic Development and our appointed consultants AtkinsRealis on 13th February 2023.
Preparation of a Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) is a key element of the DCO process. Its purpose is to set out areas of agreement and disagreement relating to a range of issues, including technical and procedural. It has been a live document updated regularly through the examination process and the final version agreed by all parties – the Applicant, Gloucestershire County Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Council was formally submitted to the Examining Authority on 28th November 2024. A copy of this will be published by the Examining Authority in due course and available to view via the Planning Inspectorate M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme website.