Construction work has started on “critical infrastructure” for the development of the new health and care neighbourhood with a new Leighton hospital at its heart.
The work will see the creation of a new electrical substation enclosure, providing power for the proposed new net zero hospital to the north of the existing Leighton Hospital.
The new substation will provide the infrastructure required to bring all the necessary power onto the site by November 2027.
Construction is being done by Robertson Group and includes new access from Flowers Lane to allow vehicle access solely for the electricity company, Scottish Power, to the substation.
The trust says some existing hedgerow is being removed but around 50m of native hedgerow will be replanted to offset this.
Existing trees on Flowers Lane will be protected and retained, as will the natural habitats, with additional trees also planted to meet the Trust’s environmental targets.
A planning application for the substation enclosure was approved by Cheshire East Council earlier this year.
The work is separate from the main hospital planning application, which will be submitted in December 2025.
If approved, construction on the new hospital would begin in summer 2028 with an aim to be open in 2031.
Russ Favager, the trust’s board senior responsible officer for Leighton New Hospital Programme, said: “The site currently has no power supply, so putting this critical infrastructure in place now ensures we’re ready to move quickly once planning permission for the new hospital is hopefully granted in spring 2026.”
Paul Coyle, regional managing director of Robertson Construction North West, said: “We have worked with the Trust since 2021 to maintain and improve its estate, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as we take this first major step towards the new hospital together, setting the high standard for the project’s next stage.”
Visit the Healthier Futures microsite for further details about the programme and to provide feedback.
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