Council sets out bold vision for the Winnington Corridor and Bridge

Cheshire West and Chester Council has set out its preferred option in seeking Government support and endorsement of its approach for the Winnington Corridor and Bridge following a Levelling Up Fund application of £45.8 million submitted in August.

This was discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting today (14 September). 

The Winnington Corridor and Bridge would provide a much-improved route to and from Northwich, making travel times by car or bus more reliable for residents, improving the environment for cyclists and walkers and ensuring that the transport network can accommodate new housing and business growth.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member - Environment, Highways & Strategic Transport said: “The Council has a clear and bold vision for the area with a preferred option on how to deliver this. We have made a comprehensive, value for money submission to bring forward this urgently needed scheme. 

“We have a compelling case, and if our funding bid is successful, construction can start in Summer 2024. This would improve walking and cycling routes, tackle air quality issues and remove a significant and long-standing pinch point for public transport and motorists, making travel times by car or bus more reliable for residents.” 

“Our plans would also safeguard employment, support businesses in the area and release housing development opportunities.”  

The Council identified six options for the river crossing, and eleven options for the A533 corridor to replace the single-track Grade II Listed Winnington Bridge.

The Council’s Cabinet has agreed its preferred option proposing to convert the existing Grade II listed bridge for cyclists and pedestrians and create new road bridges across the river Weaver, with a new lifting and a new fixed bridge, to be built west of the existing lifting bridge.  The plans also include junction improvements at Winnington Avenue, Moss Road and Castle Street. 

Local authorities have been designated into three priority areas for Levelling Up purposes. Cheshire West and Chester has been deemed a Priority 2 area. This is a highly competitive fund - in Round 1, of the 305 applications submitted nationally, 35 per cent were approved in total. Of these, 75 per cent were in Priority 1 areas. The Levelling Up Fund decisions are expected by the end of October. 

Details about the Levelling Up Fund and questions about the application: 

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/business/shared-prosperity-fund/levelling-up-fund

The Council’s proposals would remove a key pinch point for traffic and improve the connections between communities, services, stations, existing active travel routes and employment.  It would unlock new investment in housing and business growth, levelling up the town and surrounding rural areas to generate long-term economic and environmental prosperity for all.

A new and improved bridge over the river Weaver would facilitate significant business and developer investment in the area and generate new town centre footfall. 

The project will address congestion, increase safe active travel, and help lever new investment to create jobs, business growth and help deliver a thriving town centre.