A crucial next step in the long battle to fill the so-called 'Missing Link' on the A417 in Gloucestershire has been taken.

Transport secretary Grant Schapps has given the thumbs up for the £500million scheme to progress, with detailed plans due to be seen for the first time by the end of the month.

That will mean that the long-promised new dual carriageway through the notorious Air Balloon-Nettleton Bottom bottleneck is closer to becoming a reality.

The secretary of state has approved the next stage of consultation for the project to progress, using the Option 30 design that was approved earlier in the year.

Once that consultation has taken place, the scheme would then be subject to a Development Consent Order.

A development Consent Order takes the role of planning permission for what are deemed to be large-scale infrastructure projects.

Introduced in 2008 to ease their progress through the correct channels, they are decided nationally by the planning inspectorate and the secretary of state.

Once the  Development Consent Order is in place, Highways England can now progress with an updated final design for the project.

A public consultation on the plans will be held from Friday, September 27 through to Friday, November 8 with events taking place across the county.

According to Highways England "The consultation is a chance for you to help shape the scheme, and feed into the final proposals that we submit as part of a Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application to the Planning Inspectorate in spring next year.

"The events will be a chance for you to explore the proposals, talk to members of the project team and gain an understanding of how the proposed road would fit within the landscape.

"Once the consultation closes, we will analyse and consider all your feedback to ensure it is taken into account as we finalise our proposals.

"We expect to submit our DCO planning application to the Planning Inspectorate in spring 2020.

"Our DCO planning application will include a consultation report that details what feedback we received, and how we have responded to it."

The news of the next step being taken was welcomed by the county's members of parliament.

Following the Secretary of State for Transport’s confirmation that the A417 Missing Link proposed scheme can go out to public consultation, Highways England have been finalising their plans. Public consultation is due to start on 27th September and finish on 8th November pic.twitter.com/2dILjJAv1C

— Laurence Robertson (@lrobertsonTewks) September 18, 2019

Last week #Gloucestershire Conservative MPs sought Transport Secretary @grantshapps decision to go ahead with the next stage of the proposed A417 ‘Missing Link’ plan. That’s now confirmed for Sep 27-Nov 8th: welcome news for all who use M4-A417-M5 pic.twitter.com/H2TNewVbDh

— Richard Graham (@RichardGrahamUK) September 17, 2019

Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk said on facebook: "It was always going to be a long slog getting this vital project started, but after locking down the Option 30 design last year, this is another important milestone.

"Investing in this road will save lives, boost the economy and cut air pollution. We need to get it done."

Highways England Drop-In Events detailing the A417 Missing Link proposals.

• Monday, September 30 2pm to 8pm Gloucester Rugby Club Kingsholm Road
• Thursday, October 3 2pm to 7pm National Star College
• Saturday, October 5 11am to 6pm Witcombe and Bentham Village Hall
• Monday, October 7 11am to 6pm St Andrew's Church Hall Cheltenham
• Wednesday, October 9 2pm to 7pm Birdlip Church
• Friday, October 11 11am to 6pm Cirencester Town Council
• Tuesday, October 15 2pm to 8pm Churchdown Community Association