A new Leighton Hospital is a step closer after a government joint investment committee approved Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Strategic Outline Case.
It is the first of three business cases the trust must complete before construction on the new hospital can begin.
The second business case is being developed by the Trust’s Healthier Futures team – responsible for the delivery of the new hospital programme.
The Outline Business Case assesses the best option for delivering objectives and benefits within resources available.
This will be submitted to the New Hospital Programme team in autumn 2026.
The final business case will be agreed in early 2028 and provides in-depth designs, final value for money evidence, and details of construction and handover of the new hospital.
Russ Favager, the Trust’s Board Senior Responsible Officer for Leighton New Hospital Programme, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for mid Cheshire and a real vote of confidence in our vision for a new Leighton Hospital.
“The Healthier Futures team has worked tirelessly to get us to this point, and we’re thrilled that the Joint Investment Committee has given its approval.
“But this is just the beginning. Our determination to deliver a modern, fit-for-the-future hospital for the people of mid Cheshire and beyond has never been stronger.
“Alongside developing the Outline Business Case, we’re also preparing a planning application that will be submitted to Cheshire East Council in December 2025.
“Importantly, we want local people to help shape this once in a generation project. Before the application goes in, we’ll be sharing our proposals widely and inviting feedback.
“This is about building a hospital together, one that truly reflects the needs of our patients, staff, and communities for decades to come. We’ll be able to announce full details about this engagement activity in the next few weeks.”
The New Hospital Programme’s Joint Investment Committee formally approved the SOC on Wednesday 10 September, subject to a number of conditions being met at both the planning and Outline Business Case stage.
The new Leighton will be built on the land to the north of the existing hospital site. The Trust bought this land in 2024.
Construction work is expected to begin in summer 2028, with the new hospital set to open during the 2031/32 financial year.
As part of the planning application to Cheshire East, the Trust will stage a non-statutory public consultation from Tuesday October 14th to November 12th.
Thousands of households and businesses closest to the proposed site will receive a postcard about the consultation, as well as details about a series of in-person engagement sessions.
People across Nantwich and Crewe are welcome to attend and provide feedback.
The consultation period will include a virtual engagement session for those unable to attend the in-person events.
Full details about our plans, along with dates and times of the engagement sessions will be published on the Healthier Futures microsite on Tuesday October 14th.
Lady Dabber. I suppose in 5 years time then you would like to turn up for treatments,clinics and so on in a crumbling falling down wreck of a hospital?
My guess is you would like to go to a nice new one instead? With the advance of medical procedures and aftercare there will be a reduced number of patients that require a bed. Those that do will have one, those who able to sleep in their own will gladly do so.
It is a hospital not a hotel.
If Mr Favager wishes to deliver us a ‘fit for the future hospital’ I suggest he looks at the number of proposed beds. He has previously confirmed it will only have 50 more than at present. Tell me Mr Favager, noticed any new housebuilding in your catchment area recently?? I foretell you having an ‘egg on face moment’ in 5 years time, but by that time you will have done what all NHS managers do, move on to create havoc elsewhere, on a vastly increased salary!!
Well well well