THE green light for the HS2 route which is set to run through Northwich and dissect Winsford and Middlewich, will be delayed by a year, it has been reported.

According to The Times, legislation needed to extend HS2 Phase 2b from Crewe to Manchester, is set to be delayed by 12 months.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it is important that the £55.7 billion project "takes full account" of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which is a scheme to boost east-west rail connections across the region.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced last summer that the tabling of a Bill in Parliament for Phase 2b - running from Crewe to Manchester, and Birmingham to Leeds - would take place next year.

But the Government is preparing to pause this until 2020, according to The Times.

The DfT would not confirm the delay, but issued a statement which said: "In order to maximise the huge potential of HS2, it is important to make sure it takes full account of the emerging vision for the other transformative project of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

"Phase 2b of the railway will connect the great cities of the North to boost jobs, housing and economic growth, and remains on track to open in 2033.

"We will update Parliament as part of our consultation this autumn."

The route is set to run through the centre of mid Cheshire, dissecting Winsford and Middlewich and going straight through Whatcroft, 200 yards from Whatcroft Hall.

It will carry on north from Whatcroft, crossing the A530 King Street near to the Morrisons Distribution Centre and Penny’s Lane, before running alongside the A556.

A four-kilometre-long depot will also be built in Wimboldsley as part of Phase 2b, nearby to Wimboldsley Primary School.

The news of the delay comes as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is travelling on the Northern Powerhouse Rail route to highlight his party's commitment to provide at least £10 billion to fund the scheme.

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, claimed it is "imperative" that HS2 is opened in northern England as scheduled.

She said: "Any delay in the process which will deliver HS2 to the north is concerning and it is essential that this does not have a knock-on impact on the timetable for construction or the opening of the eastern leg."

Phase 1 of HS2 - running from London to Birmingham in December 2026 - was approved 18 months ago Graham Dellow, of the Mid Cheshire Against HS2 campaign group, said he believes that the news shows the growing fragility over the project.

Mr Dellow said: “I think this shows that there’s a great big cloud hanging over the whole thing and I think there’s a good chance the whole thing could be called off.

“We’ve had the feeling for a while that they are starting to listen and that they are now starting to realise that what we’ve been saying about the long list of problems with building a high-speed rail through mid Cheshire, does have some substance to it.

“They probably can overcome these problems but it starts to become extremely costly and then it starts making the benefit to cost ratio look simply pathetic.

“Residents have been plagued with delays after delays with this and it just puts a hold over people’s lives for yet another year. So in a way this news is good for us because it casts more doubt over whether it will actually happen, but it’s more bad news for people who have to wait even longer before they can look to sell their property.”