Popular market could be redeveloped under new plans

Under the plans, The Stockyard, which is already home to food producers, will be redeveloped

A major redevelopment of a historical Leicestershire market has been announced.

A series of food production buildings could be created under the plans to renovate Melton's Cattle Market.

Melton Borough Council has also proposed creating an open space to host big events, which will double as car parking when required.

Pip Allnatt, leader of the council, said "the scheme is a truly transformational development".

The largest food production "hub" would serve as the "backdrop" to Festival Square, the application said

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said The Stockyard part of the market was already home to independent food producers including Round Corner Brewing, Samosa Wallah, and Brentingby Gin.

The site hosts events including the East Midlands Food Festival, Piefest and the Artisan Cheese Fair.

The scheme would create 110 permanent jobs and attract 50,000 extra visitors to the town each year, a spokesperson for the council said.

If the plans are approved, the largest food production "hub" would serve as the "backdrop" to the open space, dubbed Festival Square.

Two other hubs would border the space, with one being an extension of the existing Trader Hall.

A three-storey "anchor" building would be built as the entrance to The Stockyard.

Mr Allnatt said he was "especially pleased" the proposals "increase and improve the availability of public toilets"

The planning application also shows a single-storey building in Nottingham Road that was once a public toilet, but has been empty for a decade, would be revamped.

It would be used as "micro production units, arts and craft workshops or artists’ studios".

Two large seating areas off the square are also planned, and the market's toilets would be redeveloped.

The council would also like to refurbish more existing buildings as part of a second phase of development.

The authority was awarded £12m from the second round of the government's Levelling Up Fund.

This was to fund both The Stockyard redevelopment and the refurbishment of the SMB College Group's Melton Campis theatre, however the council has since said the college is "not able to deliver the improvements to the theatre as planned".

"The council are continuing to support the college regarding their current financial challenge and local provision, but in relation to the levelling up funding, the choice was to either return the money to government or identify alternative options which could meet the grant requirements both in terms of outcomes and an ability to deliver within the timescales," a council spokesperson said.

"Accordingly, the only viable option was to transfer the funding towards the extension of an existing project, enabling the trader hall at the cattle market to be renovated and repurposed into a covered multi-functional space that could host cultural events and activities throughout the year."

Mr Allnatt added the market redevelopment would "enhance the existing site and build upon our brand of being the Rural Capital of Food".

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