Construction of the 3.5-mile Congleton Link Road will go ahead after ministers agreed to pay half the £90m cost.
Transport minister Liz Sugg confirmed that Cheshire East Council’s business case for the road has been approved and the Department for Transport will pay a £45m grant, adding to £24m from the council and with the balance coming from developer funding.
She said: ‘This new bypass will not only lead to fewer accidents and cut congestion in Congleton, it will take lorries out of the town centre and improve air quality for its residents.’
The £90m scheme will link the A536 Macclesfield Road to the north with the A534 Sandbach Road to the west. The council said the road will significantly improve connectivity from the Macclesfield area to the M6 corridor, and unlock key sites for housing and employment.
Glen Williams, deputy cabinet member for environment (pictured), said: ‘This is excellent news and we are delighted that the Government has shown faith in our business case [and] our ability to deliver and has recognised the need for this road project to go ahead.
‘We recognise that while the works are underway, there may be some inconvenience for residents and road users, but we will be working hard with our chosen contractor, Graham Construction, to minimise any impacts.
‘In the long-term, however, the link road will have a considerable beneficial impact on Congleton and its residents, and we now look forward to getting a spade in the ground.’
The council said the new road, which is due to be completed in late 2020, will unlock sites for up to 2,400 new homes and 50 acres of employment land, creating the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035, delivering £13m into the local economy.
