Balfour Beatty has received its Notice to Proceed for the £53.8M Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

The long-planned scheme, for Cheshire East Council, will see the contractor build a 2.5km single-carriageway, two major junctions, a highway bridge over the Trent and Mersey canal, and another bridge over the Sandbach-Northwich rail line.

Balfour Beatty was originally scheduled to start construction in 2024, and then 2025, but the project suffered a “significantly delayed” funding decision by the DfT, which confirmed its support months later than expected.

This caused the overall scheme’s budget to rise to £107.67M. It previously stood at £97.94M.

The contractor was named preferred bidder in 2018, with the contract procured through the Scape framework – a suite of UK public sector-owned, not-for-profit procurement frameworks designed to accelerate the delivery of construction, civil engineering, and consultancy projects.

In a press release Balfour Beatty said it has worked with Cheshire East Council to progress the detailed design development alongside Jacobs UK, its strategic design partner, and to manage critical third-party interfaces with Network Rail and the Canal & River Trust.

Construction work is due to start in the coming days and be completed in the summer of 2028.

Balfour Beatty regional civils managing director Kay Slade said: “Through early contractor engagement, we have worked closely with the council and key stakeholders to ensure that the scheme delivers real value to Middlewich and its residents.

“As works now get underway, I look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have in creating opportunities and lasting benefits for the local community.”

Overview of Middlewich Eastern Bypass

The bypass will link Pochin Way in the north of Middlewich to the A533 Booth Lane in the south.

The delivery programme includes a phased approach to the Cledford Lane element in an effort to manage costs.

As previously reported by NCE, Cheshire East Council gave formal approval for the main construction phase in January.

Councillors and council officers described the bypass as a way to relieve pressure at the congested A54/A533 junction and to improve access to the M6 and nearby employment sites.

They also estimate the scheme could unlock land for up to 1,950 new homes, create as many as 6,500 jobs locally, improve air quality and reduce noise in residential areas, and support more reliable public transport and active travel options.

The project is expected to employ a workforce of 150 at its peak.

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