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A village that has waited over a century for a new railway station has finally received the green light to begin construction on the transport hub after a “major breakthrough” on issues that delayed the project.
The Greater Manchester village of Cheadle has not had a working railway station since 1917, and construction work that started last month is the first step toward relaunching trains in the area.
The Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council said concerns that other trains on the rail network might be delayed stalled progress of the scheme.
Funding for the new station, to be built next to Alexandra Hospital, was granted in 2022, but progress stalled amid concerns that other trains on the Mid-Cheshire network might be delayed during construction.
Developers were forced to wait around four years until rail industry partners said last month that train delays can be reasonably managed, and should not be a reason to stall the project even further.
The opening of a new station in Cheadle will allow better connections to and from Stockport, as well as improve access to jobs, education and opportunities across the region.
Cllr Mark Roberts, leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is a hugely significant moment for Cheadle and for Stockport.
“For years we’ve fought for this station because we know the difference it will make to residents, businesses and the future prosperity of the area.
“Cheadle Station has always been about improving connections, creating opportunities and making it easier for people to travel for work, education and leisure and I am delighted that the highways work can now start on site later this month thanks to the persistence and partnership of all involved.”
Services are expected to run from Cheadle into Stockport town, Manchester Piccadilly and Chester. It is unclear what date the station will open to the public.
Cheadle MP Tom Morrison told BBC News: “Cheadle has waited more than 100 years for a station, and now it’s finally happening.
“It will connect our 23,000 residents to jobs, schools and opportunities across Greater Manchester, and take traffic off our busy roads.”
The government announced in July that it is devolving transport powers to local leaders, hoping to remove hurdles that keep regions from building new infrastructure faster.
Local leaders must get Department for Transport approval before building large transport projects.
The cost threshold at which mayors need to seek approval was set at £200m, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced it would rise to £500m.
The change means elected leaders can bypass the queue for Whitehall sign-off on projects costing less than half a billion pounds.
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