A sod-cutting ceremony has celebrated the start of construction on the North West Crewe Package – aiming to ease congestion and improve access to Leighton Hospital.

The ceremony took place at the construction site off Middlewich Road with Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee attending.

They were joined by other dignitaries, guests and those directly involved in the project to officially mark the major milestone for the town.

Work taking place on fields off Smithy Lane, close to Leighton Hospital (Jonathan White).

The NWCP is expected to be completed by November 2023.

Cllr Browne said: "This new road network is a hugely important scheme for Crewe.

"Not only because it will significantly ease congestion in the Leighton area and create quicker routes to the hospital, but because of the part it will play in the town's economic growth by bringing forward opportunities for housing developments and for local businesses to expand. 

"Around £5.7m of added social value is expected to be delivered as a result of the scheme, including through direct local employment and training."

The scheme is supported by £10m of funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

1250 homes are expected to be built around the fields of the new road once it is complete.

The road closure in place from the A530 Middlewich road junction with Pyms Lane to Smithy Lane (Ryan Parker).

Cllr Browne added: "A total of 1.8 miles of new road will be built, together with new junctions and access routes to development sites, and all this unfortunately cannot be achieved without some level of disruption.

"I would like thank people for their patience and understanding while we work to deliver this scheme.

"The works are being coordinated to allow them to take place safely, while minimising the duration of any road or lane closures that are necessary."

Cheshire East Council that the new link road will help to build a sustainable community with new local services, green infrastructure, allotments as well as walking and cycle links.

It also hopes that this can provide more outdoor sports and recreation facilities, and a new school.

Sophie White, director of infrastructure funding at Homes England, said: "We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs through delivery of key infrastructure.

Roger Steeper, Scape, Cllr Laura Crane, vice chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, Cllr Rod Fletcher, deputy mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, Edward Lundon, Balfour Beatty, and Colin McCallum, Homes England (Cheshire East Council).

"Our multimillion-pound funding will resolve much needed improvements to the local road network around Crewe, whilst unlocking critical housing sites and allowing the council to deliver their vision for new homes."

The main NWCP works are being carried out by contractor Balfour Beatty on behalf of Cheshire East Council.

Edward Lundon, area director at Balfour Beatty, said: "This is a significant milestone for both Balfour Beatty and Cheshire East Council and we are delighted that we can now make a start on site.

"We look forward to safely and successfully delivering this scheme over the next two years, which will leave behind a lasting positive legacy for many years to come."

Balfour Beatty's office at the site is currently based off Middlewich Road, in-between the road closure junctions of Pyms Lane and Smithy Lane

Mr Lundon added: "We look forward to continuing our consultation and engagement with the local community and stakeholders keeping them full informed as the project progresses.

"Of course, we are particularly aware of the need to work very closely with Leighton Hospital and the ambulance service so that emergency access to the hospital is maintained at all times."

During construction, various closures will be in place along the A530 Middlewich Road, Flowers Lane, Smithy Lane, and Minshull New Road during that time.

Diversion route signs in place on the A530 Middlewich Road Woolstanwood roundabout (Jonathan White).

Between May 2022 and March 2023, various full and partial closures will be needed on the A530 Middlewich Road between junctions at Pyms Lane and Flowers Lane. 

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