'Major milestone' as new hospital plans approved

Plans for a new hospital in Cheshire have been given planning permission, described as a "major milestone" for the scheme.

The six-storey building is set to be built in Crewe on land next to the current Leighton Hospital and NHS leaders said it would be the "most digitally-advanced" in the UK.

Cheshire East Council's planning committee unanimously approved the plans with one councillor saying it was "absolutely clear" it was needed.

It is expected work will start in 2028, and the hospital would open in the 2032-2033 financial year.

The plans for the rebuild was included in the government's New Hospital Programme due to the 1970s RAAC within much of the building.

RAAC is an aerated form of concrete with a lifespan of 30 years, and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has spent more than £100m on inspection and remedial works since 2020.

A local resident spoke about the planned height of the new hospital at the meeting.

He said at 40m (131 ft) the building would be "the tallest occupied building in Cheshire, taller than Rail House".

Rail House is a 13-storey 1960s office block near to Crewe Station.

He said the visual impact would be "wholly overpowering and inappropriate".

Cheshire East planning officer Adrian Crowther said he could not "confirm nor deny" the comparisons to Rail House as he did not have the information.

He said some of the elements of the hospital would be up to 40m, but with future detailed applications, the council would seek to ensure the bulk of the buildings would be in the centre of the site.

Sarah Wozencroft, planning director at WSP on behalf of the trust, said the need for the new hospital was "clear and compelling" and approval would allow the "nationally significant proposal" to move forward.

Labour's Ben Wye said it was "absolutely clear" that a new hospital was needed.

Conservative Janet Clowes said she agreed with Wye.

"We're not going to get another offer and it's up to the planning officers working with health partners, to work on this," she said.

After the meeting, Russ Favager who is leading the project for the NHS trust, said it was a "major milestone".

He added the trust's plans go "beyond the physical building" and it would support its strategy to reduce unnecessary time in hospital and improve neighbourhood-based care.

"There's still a lot of work to do before the new hospital opens, so we'll continue to keep our local communities and partners fully informed and engaged every step of the way," he said.

Favager added the main contractor is set to be appointed in the coming weeks and a master plan for the site of the current hospital is set to be revealed early next year.

Construction work is due to begin in 2028 and the current hospital will remain open until the new site opens.

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