New Kidsgrove train station plan on track for council's green light

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, the accountable body for £16.9 million of Kidsgrove Town Deal funding, is being asked to formally approve the progression of a new scheme to upgrade Kidsgrove Train Station.

The £2.7m project, backed by Kidsgrove Town Deal Board, is being developed by East Midlands Railway and National Rail as a viable alternative to original proposals which were stopped in their tracks recently due to historical mining issues that would have cost up to £13 million to resolve.

The Board has now voted to move forward with a reduced project scope covering refurbishment of the railway station across three key areas – renovation of the main building, Island Building (platform two) and wider site enhancements – which removes the need for extensive and costly ground investigations, and any subsequent mitigation, required for a larger blueprint incorporating a transport interchange and larger car park.

Council Leader Simon Tagg, who is vice-chair of the Kidsgrove Town Deal Board, said:

Investing in an improved train station is a strategically important project in the Kidsgrove Town Deal Investment Plan; it ties together all the other transformative schemes – like the reopening of Kidsgrove sports centre, new pump track at Newchapel recreation ground, community sports facilities and a business park at Chatterley Valley West – and will help to create a connected and accessible town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.

 

At the moment, the facility is outdated and doesn’t encourage train travel. Now that we know that the initial plans are unworkable, the inherent danger is maintaining the status quo which is in no-one’s interests. We are in a position where we can move forward with a slightly different scheme still focusing on modernisation, and many of the same aspirations, that works around the complex land issues that are far beyond the level of Town Deal funding and any other opportunities likely to exist in the future.”

The full works programme now includes –

• The refurbishment of the main station building including the waiting room, toilet facilities and kitchen as well as new windows and doors, timber cladding, air source heat pump and solar panels.
• Improved customer information screens and signage for clearer navigation. 
• Island Building (platform two) – renovated waiting room, information screens and creation of a community space for station adopter group.
• New cycle store with access control.
• Access improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Revised car park layout with disabled bays, EV charging and drop-off points.
• Upgrades to fencing and other visual improvements.

The Leader added:

Kidsgrove Town Deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and enhance residents’ quality of life.

The council has a proven record of delivering many Town Deal schemes, in Kidsgrove and Newcastle, and it’s important to keep that pace going. I welcome the recent change in governance, in terms of simplifying the release of funding and the delegation of decision-making to local authorities, which will make it easier for us to maintain that momentum.”

A detailed station design could be finalised in spring 2026, with completion by 2027.