Roadworks at an M4 junction will remain in place until November as part of a scheme to build up to 1,000,000sq foot of employment space.

The works at junction 17 of the M4, north of Chippenham, have become a regular site for motorists after they began in January of this year.

These roadworks are being carried out by St Modwen Logistics, the developers of the Chippenham Gateway scheme to bring additional employment space and infrastructure to the Modwen Park site, less than a mile from the junction.

This includes the ongoing construction of two new warehouses at the site, one of which will be 342,000sq feet while the other will total 110,000sq feet.

Modwen Park is already home to several businesses, including Huboo and FurnitureBox, but no more than 350,000sq feet of the development can be occupied before highway improvements at the junction are completed.

This includes a scheme to widen the roundabout at the junction, with the completion of capacity improvements a condition of planning approval.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Roadworks at junction 17 of the M4

These works are expected to continue until the end of November 2023.

Contractors MJ Church have been hired to carry out the improvement works, which were designed by Stantec.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, the cabinet member for transport, said: “The current roadworks at Junction 17 of the M4 are not Wiltshire Council works. They are highway improvements associated with the Chippenham Gateway Development scheme to the south and east of the M4 Junction 17 and are directly related to planning approval 17/03417/OUT.

“This development seeks to deliver 1,000,000sq foot of employment space and infrastructure. No more than 350,000sq foot can be occupied prior to the junction works being completed. The works are currently planned for completion by the end of November 2023.

“The works have been formerly agreed with National Highways who remain the overseeing authority for the works, with Wiltshire Council providing necessary inspection support. Once completed, the responsibility for the junction circulatory will return to Wiltshire Council and the traffic signals will remain with National Highways.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Roadworks at junction 17 of the M4

The current warehouses under construction at the site are expected to be completed this summer.

Once they are built, the spaces have the potential to create up to 600 jobs for local people, according to St Modwen Logistics.

Wiltshire Council has its own plans to carry out an improvement scheme at junction 17, although construction is not set to commence until late next year.