Happy New Year! Crewe Nub News has complied a list of five major developments coming to the town in 2026.

Check out out the list below:

Cheshire Archives Crewe (Crewe History Centre)

Cheshire Archives Crewe is set to open to the public in late summer 2026, costing around £16.5 million (Photo: Cheshire East Council).

Cheshire Archives Crewe is set to open to the public in late summer 2026, built on the former Crewe Library and Civic Centre site.

Costing around £16.5 million, the centre will feature exhibition and event spaces, new research rooms and workspace for staff and volunteers, as well as environmentally-stable storage for the archives.

Cheshire Archives Crewe will include space to host cultural exhibitions of regional and national interest, school groups, workshops and talks.

The 16,500 sq. ft building will also include railway archives for Crewe and the local region and archives relating to the development of the town and surrounding area over the past 900 years.

There will be access to film and sound archives, local newspapers and photographs, local history books and supervised access to archive materials not on display.

Also, there will be a Family History Society of Cheshire helpdesk, providing access to genealogical resources and expertise , along with a café - with the council looking for a community-based business to run this.

Cheshire Archives Crewe has been made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation.

Crewe Youth Zone (The Dome)

The new £8.3 million Crewe Youth Zone will open on the former Oak Street Car Park site in spring 2026 (Photo: OnSide).

The new £8.3 million Crewe Youth Zone will open on the former Oak Street Car Park site in spring 2026.

Titled 'The Dome.' the new facility is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Board.

Crewe Youth Zone will be part of the OnSide Network of 14 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting over 50,000 young people.

Youth Zones are open to young people aged between eight and 19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), seven days a week, for 50p a visit.

Members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, enterprise and employability suite. 

Crewe Youth Zone will create 70 full and part-time jobs, as well as 100 volunteering opportunities. 

The Mill Street Corridor

The Mill Street Corridor Scheme, improving access between Crewe Railway Station and Crewe Town Centre, is set to open in spring 2026 (Photo: Cheshire East Council).

The Mill Street Corridor Scheme, improving access between Crewe Railway Station and Crewe Town Centre, is set to open in spring 2026.

Works to deliver these improvements are being carried out on a phased basis, with the latest phase covering the route between Railway Street and Mill Street.

Works started on 23 June 2025, taking place for an estimated 30 weeks, ready for 2026.

The Mill Street Corridor includes the installation of a new shared cycleway/footway, the construction of a small park and the installation of new street lighting.

There will also be planting of new trees and significant other vegetation along the route, a new surface water drainage system and nd the installation of improved signage.

The Mill Street Corridor will connect up with The Southern Gateway Link, which opened between High Street and Forge Street in November 2025.

Cumberland Arena Upgrade

The redevelopment of Crewe's Cumberland Arena on Thomas Street is set to be completed in spring 2026 (Photo: Cheshire East Council).

The redevelopment of Crewe's Cumberland Arena on Thomas Street is set to be completed in spring 2026.

Led by Everybody Health and Leisure and Cheshire East Council, this development provide new studios, meeting spaces, accessible changing facilities and a spectator seating area.

Part of the existing arena building is being demolished for a new two-storey extensionto provide a reception area.

There will be four new changing rooms for athletes, footballers and general users of the site, alongside dedicated facilities for officials.

This scheme also includes extra parking, EV charging points, improved access for pedestrians and cyclists, and new bike shelters.

The Cumberland Arena upgrade cost is part of Crewe's overall £22.9m Towns Fund allocation.

Dixy Chicken

Dixy Chicken will be launching on Market Street in 2026, taking on the former Costa Coffee unit (Photo: Ryan Parker).

Dixy Chicken will be launching on Market Street in 2026, taking on the former Costa Coffee unit, a prominent building in the town.

Work has been taking place at the 1,700 sq. ft. Crewe town centre premises since the autumn.

Founded in 1986 in Solihull, Dixy Chicken specialises in halal chicken and has over 110 UK outlets, with plans to expand further.

Dixy Chicken, which has nearby branches in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hanley and Winsford, is poised to open its first South Cheshire outlet.

Crewe Nub News will keep readers updated on these promising developments in 2026.

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