The Middlewich Eastern Bypass is not just a 'congestion-buster' it will boost the prosperity of the town and the wider area, Cheshire East's leader has said.

Cllr Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) was speaking as the corporate policy committee agreed to recommend that full council next week approves an increased budget of £107.67 million for the scheme and accepts the remainder of the £46.78 million grant from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Cllr Mannion told the meeting: "It's more than a ribbon of tarmac.

"As well as relieving the congestion in Middlewich town centre… it also improves connectivity in and around Middlewich, and it unlocks significant development opportunities to support economic growth across the wider borough and for our neighbours next door, Cheshire West.

"And the numbers I've seen are around just up to 2,000 new homes and over 6,000 jobs."

He added: "Part of the business case that got this over the line was it was more than just a congestion-buster, it was about the prosperity of Middlewich and the wider area."

Cllr Laura Crane (Sandbach, Lab) said: "It's been a long time coming.

"It should have been completed a lot earlier, we know that, and it is completely outside of the gift of the council to have sped this process up any more."

The committee was told the estimated cost of building the long-awaited road has soared by 10 per cent because of the government's delay in signing off the funding.

Cheshire East had expected a decision from the DfT in February, but it didn't come until July.

The £97.94 million budget previously agreed by the council was predicated on construction starting in 2025.

Council officers estimate that delay has now added an extra £9.73 million to the cost.

The contractors are due to submit the final target costs early this month and work is now expected to start in the spring.

The officer told the meeting: "Clearly, there does remain the prospect that the budget might need to increase further.

"We do believe, as officers, that we've made acceptable provision within the numbers here."

Middlewich residents have been waiting about 40 years for the new 1.6-mile bypass, which 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.

It will also feature a combined cycleway and footway.

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