Network Rail buys Crewe truck stop as part of future plans for the town

The truck stop near Crewe station has been bought by Network Rail as the firm continues to expand its operations in the town. The Crewe[1] Truck Stop on Cowley Way has been acquired by the organisation for an undisclosed amount. The purchase of the four-acre site has been described as a ‘strategic acquisition’ to support future projects in the area.

It comes a year after Network Rail announced it had also bought the Total Fitness site on Macon Way, with plans to use it for offices. The existing operators of the truck stop have taken a short-term leaseback on the site and will continue to use it ‘until Network Rail requires the site for its own operational uses later this year’. Speaking about the disposal, Matt Pochin, director at Legat Owen, said: “We originally acquired the site for our long-term client over 20 years ago and are pleased to have been involved in its subsequent sale.

“Crewe has a huge amount of future potential with a significant amount of investment and development in the pipeline, not least Cheshire East Council’s plans to redevelop the train station which is located only a quarter of a mile away from the Cowley Road site.” Guy Cooke, senior director of BNP Paribas Real Estate, which advised Network Rail, said: “This site is a strategic acquisition to support our clients ongoing future projects in and around the Crewe area. “This land deal follows the purchase of another prime six-acre site on Macon Way, Crewe, last year, which included the redundant former Total Fitness gym.”

The national fitness chain announced the closure of the Macon Way gym in July 2021. In a message to members, it confirmed the site would close that August after the property’s owner asked Total Fitness to leave the premises. Network Rail’s purchase of the truck stop comes shortly after Crewe missed out on the bid to become the home of Great British Railways (GBR), losing out to Derby.

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References

1. ^ Crewe (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
2. ^ New Matalan store plans approved despite town centre concerns (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
3. ^ Get all the latest news from Crewe and Nantwich by subscribing to our dedicated newsletter here (data.reachplc.com)