Generic UK railway station platform

Greater Manchester railway station planning application submitted

Rail passengers in Greater Manchester could soon benefit from an additional stop on their regional transport map, after planning application was lodged with Stockport Council to deliver a new Cheadle railway station.

The plans would see Cheadle, a village of more than 5,000 residents, served by its own railway station for the first time in nearly 60 years.

Proposals to reintroduce a railway station in Cheadle have been in the pipeline since 2020, when the Stockport suburb was invited to bid for up to £25m funding from the Government’s Towns Fund – a £3.6bn pot aimed to be spent across the country, as part of the levelling up agenda.

Cheadle ultimately secured £14m from the funding, targeted at three projects (an eco-business park, a walking and cycling network, and £9m for the railway station project).

Driven by the Towns Fund board – a partnership of leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as the local community – they have now submitted a full planning application for the station, proposed to be built off Manchester Road in what has been described as an “optimal location” to connect local rail passengers.

Following the submission of the planning application, the board will await the anticipated green light from the Government to the full business case submitted by council bosses earlier this year.

The new station in Cheadle has been identified as a key piece of infrastructure, which both the council and Towns Fund board consider to be a “high priority” according to submitted documents.

The planning statement reads: “The development will also preserve the setting and special character of Cheadle and the development will also assist in urban regeneration by improving connectivity and reducing social exclusion.”

The location of the new station would place it next to the Alexandra Hospital, and around 100m north of Cheadle high street, putting it in a convenient, high footfall location.

The new station would include:

  • A single platform located to the north of the existing Chester-Manchester railway line, with covered waiting shelters
  • Associated car parking, including EV charging spaces and accessible spaces
  • Secure and covered cycle parking
  • Passengers drop off facilities

A surveyed carried out by a local partnership of stakeholders in 2020 found that 85% of more than 1,200 respondents said the lack of rail connectivity and local congestion were their biggest concerns.

A recent council survey last year found 72% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ with the station proposal, with only 3% responding to say that they ‘strongly disagreed’ with it.

The decision on whether to grant planning permission will be made by Stockport Council’s Planning and Highways Committee.

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