A potential new railway station serving Leighton has been judged viable in an initial Cheshire East Council study, although the authority says no decision has been made to build it.
The council will now carry out broader work to determine the best mix of rail, bus, road, walking, cycling and wheeling improvements for north-west Crewe.
Station considered alongside wider transport options
The initial study examined whether a station in the Leighton area could realistically improve rail access, support current and planned housing growth and encourage more sustainable journeys.
It concluded that a station is viable and should remain under consideration. The next phase will test it alongside other transport options and examine how the different services would connect with the wider network.
The work forms part of Greater Crewe, which brings planned investment in transport, health, infrastructure, housing and economic development into one programme.
Leighton Hospital development adds pressure
Councillor Mark Goldsmith, Cheshire East Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said Leighton had already experienced significant growth and was expected to grow further.
“A new railway station may be a key part of that solution, but it's one of a number of options being considered and there is a long way to go before any final decisions are made.”
The council cited the new £1.4 billion Leighton Hospital development and the area's proximity to Bentley Motors among the reasons longer-term transport capacity needs to be examined.
No final decision on a station
The transport work will be developed alongside evidence for Cheshire East's new Local Plan, which will guide development across the borough into the 2040s.
Taking a station proposal further would still require technical assessments, a business case, funding work, public consultation and future council approval.
