Tewkesbury's emerging garden town has received a major lift with plans for a crucial piece of infrastructure being given the all clear.

The plans for the application for a road bridge over the railway in Ashchurch and Northway, prepared with the support of Gloucestershire County Council, were approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council.

The bridge will include a new road, integrated cycle path and walkway, improving east-to-west access in parallel with efforts to develop more detailed master planning for the area.

The eventual alignment of the link roads and layout of housing development would be part of future planning application submissions.

Council leader Councillor Rob Bird said: "I am extremely pleased the borough council has been permitted to deliver a bridge over the railway in Ashchurch.

"This marks the next significant stage in delivering the all-important infrastructure needed to support the new garden town - a proper community with homes fit for the future."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government awarded the council £8.1m of funding to deliver a bridge that could unlock parcels of land to the east of the railway line highlighted in the Garden Town Concept Masterplan as development opportunities.

The borough council commissioned the support the county council as a strategic partner in the project as the local highways authority and its experience in designing and delivering significant infrastructure schemes.