Issue - meetings

Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, sought approval to submit the M5 Junction 10 (M5J10) Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate and to progress planning permission and compulsory acquisition powers.

Members noted an inaccuracy to paragraph 19 of the decision report. Cllr Gray advised that the information was not relevant to the decision being considered by Cabinet at this meeting and, as such, had been excluded from the report. For clarification, Cllr Gray referred members to the cabinet decision report considered at the cabinet meeting on 22 July 2020; ‘M5J10 Improvement Scheme; Commitment to use Compulsory Purchase Powers’, and subsequent approval by Cabinet to exercise these powers, if required, alongside continued negotiated settlement. Cllr Gray assured members all landowners impacted by the scheme had been part of a comprehensive consultation and engagement process that would remain ongoing throughout the DCO process.

Subject to clarification of the inaccuracy to paragraph 19 above and having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the submission of an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for planning permission to construct the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme (including powers of compulsory acquisition and any other powers required to facilitate the Scheme).

2)    Delegate authority to Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to implement the programme as set out in paragraph 24 of this report.

Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, sought approval to submit the M5 Junction 10 (M5J10) Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate and to progress planning permission and compulsory acquisition powers.

In presenting the report, members were advised of an inaccuracy to paragraph 19.

Cllr Gray clarified that detail referenced at paragraph 19 of the report, concerning land acquisition via the DCO and supplementary information on specific land parcels impacted by the scheme, were not relevant to the proposal being made to Cabinet at this meeting, and could be excluded. For clarification, Cllr Gray referred members to the cabinet decision report considered at the cabinet meeting on 22 July 2020; ‘M5J10 Improvement Scheme; Commitment to use Compulsory Purchase Powers’, and subsequent approval by Cabinet to exercise these powers, if required. Cllr Gray assured members, all landowners that had been impacted by the scheme had been part of a comprehensive consultation and engagement process that would remain ongoing throughout the DCO process.

Cllr Gray informed members that presentation of this report marked the culmination of three years planning, design and consultation work following the successful bid to Homes England, to deliver on a long-standing council priority and the M5 J10 Improvement Scheme. The proposed Scheme to create an all-movements junction, including widening of the A4019, and construction of a new link road into west Cheltenham.

The improvements aim to support the economic growth of the county and facilitate growth in jobs and housing, (around 9000 new homes), by providing improved transport network connections for the West and North-West of Cheltenham. The proposal is supported by policies in the Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan, the GFirst LEP Strategic Economic Plan and the Gloucestershire 2050 Vision. The scheme also includes for the provision of an upgraded Transport Hub at Arles Court, including cycle parking and 150 electric vehicle charging points).

Seeking approval of the recommendations, the decision will allow the formal Development Consent Order process to progress the necessary planning permission and compulsory acquisition powers required to deliver the scheme.

Subject to this clarification and having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the submission of an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for planning permission to construct the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme (including powers of compulsory acquisition and any other powers required to facilitate the Scheme).

2)    Delegate authority to Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to implement the programme as set out in paragraph 24 of this report.