Chippenham relief road: £75m plan approved by government

Plans for a multimillion-pound relief road around a Wiltshire town have been approved by the government.

Wiltshire Council said a £75m funding bid for the Chippenham scheme had been successful.

Conservative MP James Gray, who had opposed the proposals, said he was "disappointed" by the decision.

Under the plans a new road will be created to the east and south of Chippenham, linking the A350 at the northern and southern ends of the town.

The scheme will also enable up to 7,500 new homes to be developed in the area by 2043, Wiltshire Council said.

Authority leader Philip Whitehead said: "We know some of Chippenham's infrastructure is already at capacity which causes problems for the residents every day of the week.

"This essential investment will help provide a sustainable network fit for the 21st century and enable growth both in employment and housing in Chippenham."

Mr Gray, Tory MP for North Wiltshire, had written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to outline his opposition to the plans.

"I'm disappointed to hear that the government grant is going ahead to build this road," he said.

"It cuts through my constituency and will result in 7,500 more houses and, therefore, perhaps as many as 15,000 more cars."

He added the town was already "heavily congested".