Cheshire East mulls CPO for Crewe connectivity scheme
The council wants to create a new walking and cycling route between High Street and Forge Street and is embarking on the land assembly process for the project.
Cheshire East needs to take control of land currently owned by third parties to progress the Southern Gateway connectivity project, which aims to create a new segregated footway and cycle path immediately behind Crewe Lifestyle Centre, and has not ruled out using compulsory purchase powers.
A report to the council’s economy and scrutiny committee said that talks are progressing with the landowners, however, “successful negotiations are not certain, and the use of CPO powers and/or powers to appropriate rights should be considered to help ensure the delivery of the scheme”.
The project forms part of Crewe’s programme of schemes being delivered with the support of a £14m Future High Streets Fund award. The connectivity scheme has been allocated around £3m from the FHSF budget.
Other projects being delivered include the redevelopment of Crewe’s former library into a history archive and a 90-home residential development in the town centre.
