Government turns down bid for £18m new M49 junction

The government has turned down an application for £18m to fund a new junction on the M49 near Bristol.

The West of England Partnership bid for funding for the junction saying it would improve access to Avonmouth.

The plan for the junction was outlined in South Gloucestershire Council's draft Core Strategy.

A spokesman said it was "disappointed" the bid failed but said it will continue to work with the government to secure funding.

The West of England Partnership believes a junction would help to open up the Severnside Growth Area - more than 1,000 acres of land and the largest brownfield site in Western Europe - for development.