A planning application for the new Leighton Hospital in Crewe will be submitted by the end of this year with construction expected to start in the spring of 2028.

Russ Favager, senior responsible officer, told a meeting of the Cheshire East health and wellbeing board recently the proposal is for a six-storey build, with space allocated for a multi-storey car park.

He said health bosses were also in talks with a provider about having a cancer centre on site and a new energy centre.

The new hospital will be built on land purchased next to the current hospital which will continue to operate while the new one is being constructed.

The current Leighton Hospital in Crewe. (Photo: Nub News)

Mr Favager stressed the new hospital was far more than a new build, it was about also about transformational change and digital technology.

"We've talked a lot about this being a really digital enabled new hospital, and originally we expected to be an early adopter of the national agenda," he told the meeting.

"And I think it's fair to say that we've progressed with our design around digital probably a lot quicker than the national strategy, so, actually, we've moved from an early adopter to what's known as a pathfinder now."

"So we're helping shaping the national agenda and we've been to places such as Norway, Canada looking at digitally advanced hospitals helping to show best practice.

"So we're now working with industry around that."

He said some of the new digital technology was being trialled on a ward in Leighton at the moment.

Councillors were told the new hospital would have the same number of beds as the existing one.

Each patient will have their own single room.

With regard to the construction process, Mr Favager said one of the priorities was to try and ensure local businesses around Crewe and the surrounding area benefited and were part of the supply chain.

Chris Knights, the programme director, said experts were also now looking at what the rest of the site would be used for when the existing hospital is demolished.

"The agenda there is really to try and create an enhanced health and wellbeing offer for our local population," he said.