Leighton in Crewe has been quietly dropped from consideration for the government's New Towns Programme, after being put forward as an alternative to a controversial plan in rural Cheshire East.

The government had initially identified the village of Adlington, near Macclesfield, as a potential site for a large-scale new settlement, part of its national push to deliver thousands of homes.

However, the proposal sparked strong local opposition, with residents raising concerns about the impact on the village's rural character and infrastructure.

Leaders at Cheshire East Council then suggested Leighton, on the outskirts of Crewe, as a more suitable option.

The north-west of Crewe has long been earmarked for expansion, with the new £1.5 billion Leighton Hospital and 2,100-home Weaver Green proposals in development.

The government has dropped both Adlington (pictured) and Leighton from its New Towns Programme (Photo: LDRS).

Cheshire East believed Leighton was better aligned with existing development plans and transport links.

Despite this, Leighton has not made it through to the final stages of the selection process, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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The government has been narrowing down a longlist of 127 potential sites to a final shortlist of just seven, based on criteria including housing capacity, economic growth potential and local backing.

The decision leaves both Adlington and Leighton out of the running, with only one North West scheme, Victoria North in Manchester, still under consideration.

Despite the new town bid being dropped before even hitting motion, development in Leighton will continue through existing local plans.

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