Businesses back council’s funding bid for Middlewich Eastern Bypass

Businesses in the Middlewich area have written to the Government expressing their ‘collective support’ for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme and say their growth plans depend on it being delivered.

Cheshire East Council resubmitted its final business case to Government for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme in September last year and is seeking final approval for grant funding from the Department for Transport.

Now, big names including Swizzels, GO Outdoors Retail Limited and Blacks Outdoor Retail Limited, British Salt Limited, NPL Ltd, Tata Chemicals Europe Limited, Wincanton Logistics, Green Earth Developments (Group), Optima Logistics, and Tritax Big Box Developments have written to Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, calling for the scheme to be considered ‘as an urgent priority’ and for the investment needed for this project to be delivered.

In the letter, they said:

“As businesses located in Middlewich, we are writing to express our collective support for this scheme. Our growth plans depend on it.

“The Middlewich Eastern Bypass has overwhelming local support and has long been campaigned for by residents and businesses like us. That is because it is fundamental to the long-term economic growth of Middlewich, and to the wider Cheshire East and region.

“This project represents a critical infrastructure improvement for the town, which has long suffered from severe traffic congestion, poor air quality, and a lack of modern transport solutions to sustain Middlewich’s growing community.

“For businesses like us, a reliable and efficient highway network is key to our operations and helps facilitate smoother trade and commerce. This scheme is an opportunity to ensure the town remains a vital hub for employment and economic activity in the region and that it can continue to attract investment.”

The letter adds:

“Without the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, the quality of life of residents will continue to be impacted and businesses will continue to be deterred away from the area. 

“The scheme will provide the key to unlocking the constraints that shackle future growth and prosperity in Middlewich and the wider region.”

The business case for the scheme was reviewed by the Department for Transport’s Investment Committee in November, which will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP. 

The council’s ambition is to receive full business case approval from Government early this year, so that work can start on site in spring and the bypass can be open by autumn 2027.

The highways and transport committee will consider a report later this month on the next steps to take to ensure work can begin as soon as possible if a positive funding decision is received.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said:

“The significant benefits of this scheme to businesses like those that have written to the Government are clear and will extend well beyond the town itself.

“By improving the highway network, it will improve connectivity to major employment sites and enhance the region’s attractiveness for further development – our plan is to unlock up to 1,950 new homes and employment land and potentially create up to 6,500 jobs in the local area.

“The bypass is ‘shovel ready’, with designs completed, all planning permissions and statutory orders confirmed, and contractors lined up. 

“As local businesses have also called for, we strongly urge the Government to consider this scheme as an urgent priority and provide the investment needed for this project.”