Cheshire East Council has given formal approval for the main construction phase of the long‑planned Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

Subject to the signing of a formal contract with contractor Balfour Beatty, the £53.8M stage‑two build is expected to start on site in spring 2026 and the road to open to traffic in spring 2028. The council says the delivery programme will include a phased approach to the Cledford Lane element in an effort to manage costs.

The 2.5km single‑carriageway route will link Pochin Way in the north of Middlewich to the A533 Booth Lane in the south. Works will include a new bridge over the Sandbach–Northwich railway line, a bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal and a combined cycleway and footway.

Councillors and council officers have described the bypass as a way to relieve pressure at the congested A54/A533 junction and to improve access to the M6 and nearby employment sites. The council’s planning documents also estimate the scheme could unlock land for up to 1,950 new homes, create as many as 6,500 jobs locally, improve air quality and reduce noise in residential areas, and support more reliable public transport and active travel options.

The scheme has attracted central government support. After the council submitted a full business case, the Department for Transport (DfT) granted approval last summer and agreed a maximum capped contribution of £48.037M towards the project. That figure includes £1.257M provided before 2021.

The council’s current estimated total cost for the full scheme is £107.67M, a figure that includes previous years’ expenditure on scheme development and the outline business case. The cost is accounted for within Cheshire East’s medium‑term financial strategy for 2025–29.

Balfour Beatty was originally scheduled to commence construction in 2025, but the project suffered a “significantly delayed” funding decision by the DfT, which only confirmed its support in July 2025 rather than February as anticipated. This delay has caused the council to miss the optimal seasonal window for starting work and has pushed the projected start date back to spring 2026 – which also saw the overall price jump significantly.

Cheshire East Council has already spent £27M on preparatory works such as ground investigation, environmental measures and land acquisition.

Overview of Middlewich Eastern Bypass

The council says the bypass has been the subject of extensive consultation over several years. It has pledged to inform residents and road users in advance of roadworks and construction activity as the project progresses.

If the expected contract is signed, preparatory work will likely precede the main construction start in 2026. Local authorities and campaign groups will be watching closely as work moves from planning into delivery, given the scheme’s scale, cost and the potential impact on housing development, traffic patterns and the local environment.

Mark Goldsmith, chair of the council’s highways and transport committee, said: “This is great news for Cheshire East and those who drive through Middlewich. Delivery of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass has been long-awaited – and has overwhelming local support.

“The scheme will be a tremendous boost for Middlewich and the wider Cheshire East economy and is coming about due to the council’s determination to secure funding and deliver this critical infrastructure scheme.

“The economic and environmental benefits of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass are clear. The council is very grateful for the government support received in making this project happen, which the community have been waiting for many years.

“Now we can look forward to the main construction phase getting under way and the road being completed for everyone’s benefit.”

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