Regeneration Plans Boost

– As £22m Earmarked For Crewe Green Link Road South

Cheshire East is a step closer to benefiting from a £36m link road that would cut congestion and boost the economic regeneration of Crewe and its surrounding area.

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis has announced that £21.99m has been provisionally agreed for Crewe Green Link Road South.

The 0.68 mile route would be built between the A500 Hough-Shavington Bypass and the A5020 Weston Gate roundabout.

Cheshire East Council, which has worked hard to secure funding, and other supporters of the scheme say the move is vital to opening up the regeneration potential of the Basford east investment site and the wider Crewe region.

Lord Adonis said in his announcement: “The Crewe Green Link Road South will provide a link between areas of deprivation to the north of Crewe and employment opportunities to the south east of the town.

“This will support sustainable economic growth and help ensure the town has the infrastructure needed as a key regional transport gateway.

“The Government is committed to investing in key transport links, particularly those which help boost economic growth.”

The scheme – which has received initial Government approval – will improve journey times to the town centre and support major economic growth in Basford, as well as improving access to other development sites in the south east of Crewe.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “This announcement is excellent news for Crewe and the whole of Cheshire East.

“This funding is crucial in helping make a reality the plans to unlock development of Basford and Crewe as a whole. This scheme is something the council, Northwest Regional Development Agency and other partners have been working hard towards.”

The Crewe Green Link Road South is the final phase of the Crewe Green Link Road, connecting the A534 at Crewe Green and the A500 Basford-Hough-Shavington Bypass.

Today’s announcement grants the Crewe Green Link Road South major scheme ‘Programme Entry’ status in line with the Department for Transport’s (DfT) local major scheme guidance approval process. This means the DfT expects to fund the scheme subject to availability of funds, costs remaining the same and the relevant planning permission being obtained.

The next stages of the approval process are normally ‘Conditional Approval’, once the necessary legal powers are in place and ‘Full Approval’, once final supplier prices have been secured.

Cheshire East Council will work with developers and the NWDA to secure the remaining £14.47m funding needed to carry out the scheme.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “This announcement is a huge step forward in the delivery of Basford east, which will transform the economic base of Crewe.

“By providing the necessary infrastructure private investors and ultimately a significant number of jobs can be generated. The NWDA will continue to work hard with partners to towards full delivery of the link road and a flagship scheme at Basford.”

Today's decision means that Cheshire East Council can move forward with detailed planning for the scheme.

The link road will also have a segregated footway and cycleway on both sides along its length and segregated pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at three locations.

The Crewe Green Link Road South will also help tackle the environmental impacts of traffic currently affecting local communities in Crewe and some of its surrounding areas.