Work is due to start on the first phase of a £6m overhaul of Crewe Rail Station.
Cheshire East Council has appointed developer Mansell to do the work, which is due to be completed by spring 2014.
The scheme is central to Council-backed ambitious plans to regenerate and revitalise the town centre and surrounding area, including the rail station. This vision is called ‘All Change for Crewe’
The phase one of the overhaul of the station will include: a new surface-level car park with 240 spaces and 11 disabled bays; new pedestrian access from Weston Road; improved facilities for taxis; a new area for people to pick up and drop off family and friends; refurbishment of the existing subway to platforms; a new area for servicing vehicles to access the station; and a new commercial development site to provide a business opportunity next to the station.
The existing customer entrance on Nantwich Road will not close during the work and the taxi rank will still operate there as normal. The work will create dual access to the station at the upper and lower levels.
The scheme is a key part of a wider project to turn the historic site into an iconic 21st century gateway to the town and help unlock Crewe’s potential as an economic powerhouse by 2030.
The phase-one work has been made possible after a successful bid by Cheshire East Council, supported by Network Rail, for £6.177m from the Government’s £100m fund, called the Station Commercial Project Facility.
The work is due to start before Christmas and be completed within 14 months.
Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of prosperity and economic regeneration, said: “This is great news for Crewe and for Cheshire East. This work is a keystone of long-term regeneration to enhance the attractiveness of Crewe as a place to live, work and do business.
“There is still a lot of hard work to be done – and we will not be complacent – but winning funding and now starting this work is a massive vote of confidence in the station, the town and wider regeneration scheme.
“A revitalised rail hub is critical to boosting the town’s economy and its attractiveness to businesses and visitors.
“We will be having discussions with rail franchise holders First Group on how we can work towards realising our ambitions for phase two of the project.”
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson said: “I am delighted that All Change for Crewe is bringing about concrete results for the people of Crewe and Nantwich. Together with the funding for the Crewe Green Link Road we also managed to secure, we will start to see the much-needed infrastructure improvements to our local transport network realised.”
All Change for Crewe Partnership Board chairman John Lea, who is managing director of Mornflake Oats, said: “This long-overdue improvement to the major gateway into the town of Crewe is a very exciting development and will not only be of benefit to us all but will help to showcase the very best that Cheshire has to offer.”
For further information about All Change for Crewe, visit the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/crewerail
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