Leighton Hospital’s rebuild is on track, with plans moving forward despite challenges. The project aims to enhance healthcare for the community.
The Healthier Futures program is in charge of this project. It aims to create a health and care neighborhood, including a super-modern hospital. This hospital will be one of the most digitally advanced in the country.
Even though the Trust’s plans are part of a larger program, they weren’t included in a recent review. This is because Leighton Hospital is one of seven hospitals made mostly from RAAC, a type of concrete. Mr. Streeting mentioned that these hospitals will be rebuilt quickly to ensure safety.
The government has placed Leighton Hospital’s plans in the ‘Wave 1’ category, with construction expected to start around 2027-2028. Russ Favager, who oversees the project, said this news is encouraging. He hopes to kick off construction by early 2027.
Favager emphasized that the Healthier Futures program is not slowing down. In fact, they are ramping up efforts. This year, they are focused on developing their Outline Business Case, which will be submitted in 2026.
They also plan to hold public consultations in 2025 to gather community input. The goal is to submit an outline planning application to Cheshire East Council in the spring and hopefully get approval later that year.
The team is committed to involving the community in the design process. They will soon launch a program called the Big Conversation to engage with local residents and partners.
All these efforts will help shape the new hospital, with design work expected to wrap up by the end of 2025. This year, they will also work on essential infrastructure to power the new site and prepare to hire a contractor for the main construction.
This project is one of the largest infrastructure developments in Cheshire in years. The team knows that success depends on collaboration. They are dedicated to keeping everyone informed about the progress and look forward to sharing more updates soon.
