Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has formally submitted a planning application for a new Leighton Hospital to be built on land adjacent to the existing site in Crewe, costing between £1 billion and £1.5 billion.

The application, which was submitted to Cheshire East Council on Thursday 11 December, includes a six-storey hospital building (plus rooftop plant), alongside ancillary buildings to accommodate the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) and new energy infrastructure. 

There will be a new Ambulatory Cancer Care (ACC) Centre (plus rooftop equipment, max.20m height) and new vehicular access routes from both Middlewich Road and Flowers Lane, separating blue light and service vehicles from the main hospital access points. 

Plans also include a new multi-storey car park comprising up to 1,000 spaces (max. 22m height) alongside new and/or reconfiguring of existing surface car parking for staff and patients. 

A decision on this Leighton Hospital planning application is likely to be made in spring 2026 (Photo: Jonathan White).

The Trust has also submitted a separate planning application for new surface-level car parking to the south of the current site.

This includes the provision of 310 new car parking spaces, new vehicular and pedestrian access from Smithy Lane and landscaping, drainage infrastructure and associated works. 

The Trust's Board Senior Responsible Officer for Leighton New Hospital Programme, Russ Favager, said: "The submission of this application is the culmination of almost two years of hard work and partnership with the national New Hospital Programme, our staff, stakeholders, and local communities. 

"I'm grateful for all the feedback received, which has helped produce a plan that will deliver an outstanding building, which will help change the way healthcare is delivered.  

"If approved, this new hospital will also sit at the heart of the Trust's longer-term ambition to create a health and care neighbourhood for the people of Mid Cheshire and beyond." 

A decision on this planning application is likely to be made in spring 2026. The full application will be published on the council's planning portal in due course. 

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