The Challenge
Cheshire West and Chester Council identified a critical need to improve transport connectivity across the River Weaver and along the A533 Corridor — a major route serving Northwich Town Centre, the M56, and key employment hubs in Halton and Warrington.
The existing swing bridge at Winnington had become a significant pinch-point for traffic, impacting residents, commuters, and local businesses. An e-petition signed by over 1,200 residents highlighted the growing public concern around congestion and delay.
In parallel, the corridor serves key regeneration and residential sites, including the Winnington Urban Village and Tata’s Winnington Works, earmarked for potential redevelopment. The project was therefore not only a response to traffic concerns, but also an opportunity to enable regeneration, improve social inclusion, and future-proof the transport network.
Our Approach
Working with CW&C, Essency supported the project through key early stages of development — helping shape and test options through a structured, evidence-led process.
Project Objectives:
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Improve journey times and reliability between Northwich and Barnton
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Promote sustainable and active travel along the A533 corridor
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Ensure the network supports existing and future development sites
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Minimise environmental and community impact of the transport system
Each high-level objective was supported by measurable sub-objectives used to guide the appraisal process.
Option Identification and Assessment
We supported the development and refinement of options during the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) and Outline Business Case (OBC) phases. This included:
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Identifying and appraising three river crossing options, all accompanied by complementary junction improvements
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Developing outline and conceptual designs to tackle current capacity issues and unlock wider network benefits
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Using transport modelling and appraisal to assess potential journey time savings, active travel gains, and economic performance
Modelling clearly demonstrated that a new river crossing would deliver substantial transport benefits, easing congestion and improving journey reliability — with all three options forecast to offer ‘High’ to ‘Very High’ Value for Money (VfM).
Project Outcomes
The scheme is expected to deliver a wide range of benefits to the local area:
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Journey Time: Alleviation of delays at the swing bridge by enabling two-way traffic over the River Weaver
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Journey Reliability: Reduced travel time variability, improving commuter confidence and daily planning
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Journey Quality: Improved user experience by reducing stress and delay-related frustration
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Active Travel: Upgraded provision for walking and cycling, supporting healthier travel and linking into wider active travel networks
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Wider Connectivity: Improved access to key employment, residential, and regeneration sites – helping boost local economies and social cohesion
This project highlights Essency’s ability to support complex infrastructure planning that balances transport, economic, environmental, and community objectives — providing trusted expertise across early-stage business case development and option appraisal.
