Cheshire East Council seeks strategic partner for proposed ‘Greater Crewe’ master plan

Project aims to deliver growth and regeneration for the town

Cheshire East is seeking a strategic partner to develop a master plan for its ‘Greater Crewe’ vision, which aims to drive growth and elevate the town to city status.

The ‘Greater Crewe’ initiative seeks to consolidate major investments across transport, health, infrastructure, housing and economic development.

The ambitious scheme could also see the town gain a second railway station at Leighton, an area that has already witnessed considerable housing development and where the £1.4 billion new hospital is set to be constructed.

The council recently carried out a small assessment study which concluded that a new railway station is a viable proposition and ought to be considered amongst a range of transport solutions for the Leighton area.

Deputy leader Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) told yesterday’s (Thursday’s) cabinet meeting: “Crewe is recognised as the borough’s principal economic centre.

“It benefits from significant rail connectivity and investment opportunities and has the greatest potential to support housing and employment growth at scale and is capable of delivering substantial economic growth for residents and businesses..

“The master plan will provide the evidence needed to understand how these opportunities can be realised, while addressing infrastructure requirements, environmental considerations and, crucially, placemaking objectives.”

However, he cautioned that the council needed to manage local expectations ‘because the residents and businesses of Crewe have been led up the hill on several occasions and have found that there was nothing there to look at when they got to the top’.

He noted that the message, particularly from younger residents in the borough, was: “We want change, we want a better transport system, we want housing, we want jobs, we want skills.”

Cllr Gorman highlighted that there are fantastic opportunities available in Crewe.

He pointed to the A500 dualling, Bentley Motors, the town’s railway history and Crewe Station as key assets.

He added that the council is seeking clarification from the Government regarding a new rail connection between Birmingham and Manchester.

“And the real game changer is Leighton Super Hospital, which will bring £1.4 billion worth of investment into Crewe.”

Cllr Gorman told the cabinet it is ‘absolutely important we do this properly’.

“We’re going to bring together a three-year Cheshire East growth plan and secure this as a major pipeline project with the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority,” he said.

Conservative group leader Stewart Gardiner (Knutsford) raised the question of public consultation.

Cllr Gorman responded: “Engagements with local communities, ward members, businesses, and other stakeholders will form an important part of this process, with opportunities for feedback and input at key stages as the work progresses.”

Cllr Mark Goldsmith (Wilmslow, Ind) stressed that transport was fundamental to any regeneration efforts. “Crewe Station itself is the second-best connected train station in the whole country,” he said, noting that improvements were long overdue.

“Added to that, we also have the Leighton proposal for a new station there as well, so transport will be a real integral part of the redevelopment and the regeneration as well, and it really needs to be heart of what we are doing.”

Crewe councillor Jill Rhodes (Lab) said: “I hope residents will welcome a professional investment and delivery framework, which has economic development at its heart..

“But that does not mean that Crewe and its surrounding areas should have the majority of the housing development, as has happened in the past.”

Cllr Rhodes expressed her support for the proposed residential mixed-use scheme earmarked for the town centre.

“We have all witnessed changes for the better in Manchester and Liverpool, when people started to live in the city centre,” she said.

“Hopefully this initiative will bring similar changes to Crewe.”