Balfour Beatty kicks off Middlewich’s £108m eastern bypass
Spades are finally in the ground on the Cheshire civils project: in the works since 2017, consented in 2019 but buffeted around the funding system ever since.
Work has now officially started, with Cheshire East councillors and officers joined by local MPs, town councillors, and local businesses present. Completion is expected in summer 2028.
The 1.6-mile bypass will connect Pochin Way in the north of Middlewich to the A533 Booth Lane in the south, and include a new bridge over the Sandbach-Northwich railway line as well as a combined cycleway and footway.
Scape Civil Engineering and Jacobs are working with Balfour Beatty.
Landmark dates in the Middlewich journey
March 2018: Consultation starts on the by-pass, the proposed scheme remains much the same as that put forward eight years ago.
April 2019: Planning permission is granted for what was then a £59m scheme, with optimistic talk of Balfour Beatty making a start in 2020.
December 2021: Detailed plans including a bridge scheme, side roads and CPOs, go to the Department for Transport and are approved, although the likely project cost has climbed to £74m.
September 2024: With the estimated cost now at £96m, a final business case is submitted for DfT match-funding, requested after funding linked to the abandoned HS2 leg is cut off.
July 2025: Government confirms Middlewich as one of three regional schemes to receive backing in a £2bn national highways package.
August 2025: Cheshire East accepts a tranche of £23m of the £47m it will receive from DfT.
December 2025: The estimated cost of delivery hits £108m, as CE accepts the remainder of the DfT backing.
Cllr Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East’s highways and transport committee, said: “Today was a really important occasion and marks the start of construction work on what is a long‑standing priority for the council – it’s great to see it officially underway.
“This scheme will help tackle the congestion that we know can often be a daily frustration for residents and businesses in the town, particularly at the A54/A533 junction, but it will also deliver benefits way beyond that.
“It is expected to unlock up to 1,950 new homes and employment land and create up to 6,500 local jobs, as well as improve road safety and air quality and reduce noise in residential areas.
“There will also be benefits to public transport reliability and improved access to the M6 and key employment sites in the local area. I very much look forward to watching this vital infrastructure project take shape.”
The plan remains much the same as in its original consultation in 2018. Credit: planning documents
Along with the DfT’s £48m support, around £50m is coming from a combination of council funding and Section 106 developer contributions, along with £5.5m local transport grant from government to the new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.
Kay Slade, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s regional civils business, said: “Through early contractor engagement, we have worked closely with the council and key stakeholders to ensure that the scheme delivers real value to Middlewich and its residents.
“As works now get underway, I look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have in creating opportunities and lasting benefits for the local community.”
