In February 2017, Government announced a Growth Deal 3 allocation of £22M for infrastructure to accelerate the release of employment land to house the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park. In line with the Gloucestershire 2050 Vision, growing our economy presents the opportunity for Gloucestershire to be a ‘magnet’ county – growing the working age population by keeping and attracting more 18-40 year olds with high level qualifications who want to live and work in the county.
Cheltenham is a key driver for the economic prosperity of Gloucestershire, as well as the wider South West region. The county council is highly supportive of the emerging Cyber Park proposal. The Cyber Park proposal includes 45 hectares of much needed employment land, focused on cyber industries generating new high skilled jobs, together with facilitating the delivery of the GCHQ Cyber Innovation Centre. Traffic congestion already exists to the west of Cheltenham however, and this needs to be addressed through appropriate, sustainable transport improvement measures. These measures will assist with the delivery of the Cyber Business Park in the future.
about the scheme
The West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme is split into parts along the A40 corridor. The A40 eastbound (towards Cheltenham) including Arle Court and Benhall Roundabouts will see carriageway, walking and cycling improvements with the work lasting for about two years:
- M5 Junction 11 slip road and Arle Court Roundabout (June 2020)
- Telstar Way and Benhall Roundabout up to Gloucester Road Junction (Late 2020 / early 2021)
- Walking and Cycling improvements linking A40 and Cheltenham Station (2021)
meet the contractor
Knights Brown Construction has been appointed as the contractor for this scheme. Normally Gloucestershire County Council would hold drop in events where residents and businesses can ask the team questions face to face, however due to the Coronavirus pandemic this was not possible. Instead, they have held an online live session on YouTube, created a video about the scheme and made a virtual exhibition space to display information in a safe way.
Watch the video introducing Knights Brown.
For more information visit the Gloucestershire County Council website. Or sign up to receive future news bulletins about this scheme by email.
If you have any questions about this scheme you can contact Gloucestershire County Council by emailing majorprojects@gloucestershire.gov.uk