Crewe is being lined up for a major shift in how it is planned, promoted and developed, under emerging ideas from the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.

The "Greater Crewe" concept would see the town treated as part of a wider economic and infrastructure area, rather than as a standalone settlement.

The aim is to better connect housing, transport, jobs and investment across a broader geography.

Deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and a board member of the Combined Authority, Cllr Michael Gorman, said the approach reflects a change in mindset.

"We're moving into a period where we're trying to think of Crewe as a city, a new small city region," he said.

Gorman said this would require a wider masterplan and a more joined-up approach to development.

The Combined Authority gives councils the ability to work at scale, bringing public and private partners together and presenting a stronger case to government and investors.

Crewe's location is central to the strategy, sitting on one of the UK's busiest rail corridors outside London, linking the North West, Midlands and the capital.

Gorman described Crewe as a "sleeping giant" with untapped potential, pointing to its transport links and existing economic base.

Bentley Motors, headquartered on Pyms Lane, is highlighted as a key anchor employer, alongside a wider advanced manufacturing and knowledge-led economy.

Several regeneration projects in Crewe are being used to demonstrate momentum.

These include the upgraded Lyceum Square, new bus station, redeveloped Market Hall, and investment in a new Youth Zone and Cheshire Archives facility.

Gorman said these schemes show Crewe is already "turning a corner", but argued that a broader framework is needed to tie them together and guide future growth.

The £1.4bn new Leighton Hospital project is also expected to bring large-scale construction activity to Crewe, with up to 1,300 workers on site at peak.

Transport and housing are expected to be key parts of the wider "Greater Crewe" thinking, including improved links between neighbourhoods, employment sites and public transport, as well as potential higher-density development in central areas.

Gorman said the ambition is not to change Crewe's identity, but to better connect existing strengths and unlock further investment.

The Combined Authority is now expected to develop the concept into a more detailed delivery plan focused on long-term growth across the wider Crewe area.

READ MORE: Burnham pledges to revive HS2 through Crewe when he becomes Prime Minister.

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