Plans approved for Crewe’s Lyceum Square

Planning permission has been granted to transform Crewe’s Lyceum Square into an exciting events and performance space as part of the town centre’s regeneration.

Crewe Town Board has been allocated £750,000 from the government’s Accelerated Towns Fund for an improvement scheme for the Lyceum Square and adjacent areas.

The scheme – called Ly2 – will see the centre of Lyceum Square becoming a mixed-use space to host events, festivals, performances, and activities throughout the year.

As well as a new events stage with an integrated digital screen, the scheme includes colourful and multi-functional street furniture and improvements to key gateways into the square, including the installation of overhead festoon lighting, floor graphics and a wall mural.

The vision for Ly2 was developed by the Crewe Cultural Forum – a collaboration of more than 100 residents, organisations and businesses in Crewe – and it aims to enhance the setting of the Lyceum Theatre and Crewe Market Hall and create a cultural heart for the town centre.

The Ly2 project is being delivered by Cheshire East Council and overseen by Crewe Town Board. It is also being supported by Crewe Town Council.

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “It’s really positive to announce this news. 

“The Lyceum Theatre and Crewe Market Hall – which will shortly be celebrating the first anniversary of its opening – are already bringing many people to visit this part of the town.

“This regeneration project in Lyceum Square will encourage more people to visit Crewe and when they do, to spend longer there. 

“Ly2 will be an inspiring, engaging and inclusive space to be for residents, businesses and visitors.”

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: “The Ly2 planning decision is brilliant news and gives us the go ahead to start work on this exciting project.

“The government announced last year that Crewe had secured a ‘Town Deal’ – a deal that comes with an allocation of up to £22.9m of funding, which will go a long way towards making transformational changes in Crewe. 

“I’m thrilled that with the additional financial boost of the Accelerated Towns Fund, we can make a start on the Ly2 project soon and continue to keep that positive momentum building in the town.”

The closure of the Lyceum Square car park to enable the delivery of the Ly2 project was subject to consultation recently.

As part of the newly-approved plans for Ly2, the current disabled parking bays on Lyceum Square will be relocated towards the edge of the square to fit in with the new vision of the space as an events hub. 

To find out more about completed, current and future regeneration projects in Crewe, please visit:

Crewe Town Board