Corporate Housing in Cheshire West and Chester

Learn about the top employers in Cheshire West and Chester and their contributions to the local economy. This section highlights key businesses and organisations that play a significant role in the community and shape the city's vibrant economic landscape.

Stellantis (Ellesmere Port, formerly Vauxhall Motors)
A major automotive manufacturing plant in Ellesmere Port that has built Vauxhall/Opel and Stellantis group small family cars; historically one of the largest private-sector employers in the borough, involved in vehicle assembly, engineering and supply-chain activity.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The acute hospital trust serving Chester and surrounding areas, providing a wide range of hospital and some community health services; a large local employer of clinical, nursing and support staff.

Cheshire West and Chester Council
The unitary local authority responsible for local services across the borough (education, social care, highways, planning and others), employing large numbers of administrative, social care and frontline staff.

University of Chester
A higher education institution with multiple campuses in the borough, offering undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research and student services; a significant employer of academic, professional and support staff.

Tata Chemicals Europe (Northwich, formerly Brunner Mond)
A long-established chemicals manufacturer based in Northwich producing soda ash and other chemical products for industrial use; an important local employer in manufacturing and technical roles.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Cheshire West and Chester, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail - Chester is the principal rail hub in the borough (Chester station), with additional stations serving Ellesmere Port, Neston, Helsby, Frodsham, Northwich and Winsford; services provide frequent regional connections to Liverpool, Manchester, Crewe (West Coast Main Line interchange) and North Wales, and longer-distance connections via national operators.
- Rail operators - Major train companies serving the area include Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast and Northern (operating local, regional and some intercity services that link Cheshire West and Chester to the rest of the UK).
- Bus - A network of local and regional bus routes links Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford, Neston and surrounding villages; frequent services connect to Liverpool, Birkenhead, Warrington and nearby towns.
- Bus operators - Principal operators include Stagecoach and Arriva alongside smaller local firms and community bus operators that run scheduled and demand-responsive services.
- Park & Ride and interchanges - Park-and-ride sites and town-centre bus interchanges around Chester and other towns help reduce city-centre traffic and provide onward public-transit links.
- Demand-responsive & community transport - Community minibuses, dial‑a‑ride and volunteer transport schemes deliver social transport and first/last-mile links in rural parts of the borough, often run or supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and voluntary groups.
- Long-distance coach - National coach operators serve Chester and nearby pick-up points for longer-distance travel across the UK (complementing rail).
- Freight & waterways - Ellesmere Port and the Manchester Ship Canal are important freight corridors for the area; passenger ferry services are not a major local mode but the borough is within easy reach of Liverpool ferry services for river crossings.

Major Highways
- M56 - Primary motorway link east–west connecting the borough to Manchester, the M6 and onward national motorway network.
- M53 - Connects Ellesmere Port and the Wirral peninsula to the Mersey tunnel and wider motorway network.
- M6 - Accessible via connecting routes (provides the main north–south trunk route linking Cheshire West to the West Midlands and the north-west).
- A55 - Dual carriageway/trunk route running along the North Wales coast from Chester westwards, key for access into North Wales and Holyhead.
- A41 - Major A‑road running through the borough that provides a north–south trunk link toward the West Midlands and local distributor functions.
- A5117 / A540 / A559 (principal A-roads) - Important regional A-roads and distributor routes providing links between towns in the borough and access to motorways and the Wirral peninsula.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle network and greenways - A mix of signed on-road cycle lanes, off-road multi‑use greenways and promoted long-distance routes serve Cheshire West and Chester (including the Cheshire Cycleway and several Sustrans-linked sections); local council active-travel schemes and traffic-free routes around Chester, Ellesmere Port and the Weaver Valley provide commuter and leisure cycling options and are being extended and improved through council and national active-travel funding.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Crewe station upgrade (regional impact) - Major rail investment at Crewe (platforms, interchange and capacity improvements) improves regional connections for Cheshire West and Chester residents by shortening journey times and increasing service options to the West Coast Main Line.
- Winsford and Northwich town-centre regeneration (transport elements) - Town-centre redevelopment programmes include transport and public-realm improvements (better bus interchanges, parking and pedestrian/cycle access) to improve local journeys and support economic growth.
- Active Travel Fund and local cycle/walking schemes - Ongoing government-funded active‑travel projects and council schemes have delivered and plan further cycle lanes, pedestrian priority measures and safer junctions to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Station accessibility and passenger facilities improvements - Phased upgrades at several local stations (accessibility improvements, CCTV, waiting facilities and car-park work) to make rail travel easier to use and more attractive for commuters.
- Bus fleet renewal and low-emission measures - Operator and council-facilitated investment in newer, lower‑emission buses and associated infrastructure (including electric vehicle charging points at some interchanges and car parks) to cut local air pollution and improve service quality.
- Road junction and corridor upgrades - Targeted highway improvements and maintenance on key corridors and junctions (including works to improve links to motorways and industrial areas) to reduce congestion and support reliable freight and commuter travel.
- Ellesmere Port and port access improvements - Transport and access projects around Ellesmere Port and the Manchester Ship Canal focus on improving connections for freight, business parks and new housing developments, easing HGV access and local traffic flows.
- City/town movement strategies and traffic management schemes - Local authority movement plans and traffic-management schemes (including improved signage, pedestrianisation and bus priority measures) are being used to rebalance town centres towards sustainable modes and improve the experience of commuting and visiting across the borough.