Galliford Try has entered into an early contractor involvement agreement with Gloucestershire County Council to design proposed improvements to junction 10 of the M5 motorway near Cheltenham.

The scheme, which is subject to planning approval, is being funded through a £249m award from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

It would involve building two new slip roads, one onto the M5 southbound and another off the M5 northbound.

Galliford Try said the new junction would provide access in all directions, “unlocking housing and employment opportunities”, reports Construction News.

The firm added that the local authority sector was “one of the key markets” in its growth strategy.

Last month, the firm signed an £85m contract with Leicestershire County Council to build a new single carriageway. And in March, it landed a contract to design and build a £226m link-road project with what was then Cumbria County Council.

David Lowery, managing director of Galliford Try’s highways business, said: “We are delighted and honoured to deliver this significantly important major infrastructure project.”

He added “the opportunity truly plays to our strengths to work collaboratively in integrated project teams to drive value early in the process and ensure the project delivers on its strategic outcomes”.

David Gray, Gloucestershire’s cabinet member for environment and planning, said “Galliford Try’s approach to health and safety, programme, carbon and social value aspirations demonstrates a strong alignment to the council’s own values and behaviours.”