Trust 'committed' to opening new hospital in 2032

A Cheshire NHS trust has said it is it committed to opening a new hospital in 2032, and its existing buildings can remain open safely in the meantime.

It comes as a new report warned that hospitals built with unsafe concrete were expected to miss the government's rebuild target of 2030.

Seven hospitals built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), including Leighton in Crewe, were prioritised for remedial work last year.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said mitigation work since 2019 meant the site continued to be safe and it had "a bold ambition to develop a health and care neighbourhood in Crewe, with a new Leighton Hospital at its heart."

"We are clear in our ambition for the new Leighton Hospital to open in 2032, a timeframe that we are committed to meeting," it stated.

The trust said it recognised there would be challenges, "particularly as we are delivering one of the most digitally advanced hospitals in the UK."

However, it said the scheme, which will be the "biggest infrastructure project in this region for many decades" was on track to achieve a number of milestones in 2026.

A planning application was submitted to Cheshire East Council in December 2025, with a decision due in the spring, and work continued on developing the outline business cases for the new hospital, which was on target to be submitted in autumn, it added.

The trust stated it was confident it would deliver on its plans, and would "continue to work with our colleagues, partners and communities to ensure a healthier future for the people of Mid Cheshire and beyond."

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