Councillors from Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough have ringfenced £6.6 million for local strategic infrastructure projects – and confirmed around £4 million funding for the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme – at a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee Meeting, this February 2026.
The CIL Joint Committee is now inviting bids from parish and town councils, community groups and partners, such as the Environment Agency, for projects which meet specific criteria, with eligible schemes including transport improvements, shared flood defences, health facilities and improvements to community sports facilities and parks. Applications are due to open in spring.
While the £4,054,141 M5 Junction 10 funding confirmation comes after the government approved an extra £71.5 million for the 'transformative' project in January 2026 from its Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England, meaning construction can begin later this year.
Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council and Chair of the CIL Joint Committee, councillor Richard Stanley, said: 'We’re delighted to have around £6.6 million available to support local strategic infrastructure projects across the CIL areas. Further information on the funding requirements and criteria, as well as how bids can be made, will be shared soon.
'The latest funding confirmation for improvements to the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme reinforces our strong commitment to supporting both our communities and local businesses. With the county council now having secured an additional £71.5 million from government for the scheme, we’re pleased to continue to support it with CIL funding.
'It marks another important step in driving economic growth and bringing new opportunities to our area and the wider region.'
The committee also confirmed that 75 per cent of its pooled Infrastructure Fund will continue to be ringfenced to support Gloucestershire County Council's delivery of the M5 Junction 10 Improvements project, with the remaining 25 per cent of unallocated funding reserved for local strategic infrastructure projects that support development in the relevant local authority's area.
