The final decision from the Department for Transport on the Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme won't now be made until next year.

Cheshire East had expected to get the decision this month but deputy leader Craig Browne (Alderley Edge, Ind) told a meeting of the full council yesterday: "We've since been informed by the DfT that the final decision will now not be made until the new year rather than in December as originally anticipated.

"With this in mind, we are currently assessing options that will enable the scheme to keep to its original programme of a start date in early 2024."

Cllr Craig Browne. (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

The council submitted the full business case, and all accompanying technical documents for the scheme, to the DfT for approval on October 11 to secure grant funding of £46.8m.

Councillors were told in September the cost of the long-awaited road has shot up by more than £3m since February and now stands at an estimated £95.74m.

The long-awaited scheme involves the construction of a new 2.7km single carriageway road to the east of Middlewich, connecting the A54 Holmes Chapel Road to the A533 Booth Lane.

Cheshire East is still hoping for an anticipated start date of next spring with the road being completed within approximately three years.