Access to and from the M5 from Junction 10 could be from all directions within five years if Gloucestershire County Council are successful in gaining government funding.

The council have submitted a bid to the Homes England Housing Infrastructure Fund that would see a new all movements junction and link road to Cheltenham built by 2024.

Under the proposals, the new junction would allow access to and from the motorway from all directions- currently entry to the M5 is northbound only, while you can only exit travelling south.

The new junction would alleviate the pressure on Junction 11 to the A40 for people travelling from the north, reducing congestion on the Golden Valley bypass as a result.

It would also offer improved access to areas identified in the Joint Core Strategy for housing to the north and west of Cheltenham.

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Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of the council, said, "Gloucestershire is doing its bit to cut congestion in Cheltenham and support the district councils with their housing plans.

"If we are successful, this would be the largest and most ambitious road infrastructure project that we've ever taken on.

"The new junction and link road would support growth plans throughout Gloucestershire, as well as solve long standing traffic and travel issues.

"This is another example of how we are working to keep our county moving."

The exact site of the new junction will be determined once traffic modelling and assessments for the options are completed.

The bid for funding has been submitted to Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund and their decision is expected in the summer of 2019.

As part of the plan a new link road would be built to connect the new junction to the west of Cheltenham as well as improvement works to the A4019 and traffic lights at Coombe Hill.

If the bid for funding is successful, the council plan to open a public consultation on the scheme later in 2019.

A preferred route and detailed plan would be drawn up by March 2020 with construction to start as early as 2022 and be completed by 2024.

More information can be found at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/j10