Plans to develop town market given go ahead

A plan to turn part of a historic cattle market into a potential cultural destination for food lovers has been given the go ahead.

Melton Borough Council's planning committee has granted permission for redevelopment of The Stockyard at Melton's Cattle Market.

The work will include the addition of a new events space and four new buildings.

The council has said the scheme would create 110 permanent jobs, attract an estimated 50,000 extra visitors and support the growth of the food production sector in the town.

Three of the new buildings in the scheme are open plan hubs where businesses can produce food and sell it fresh to visitors.

The fourth will be the new three-storey anchor building, which planning documents say will be for manufacturing, production and educational uses.

A new car park and toilets will also be built and the existing trader hall will be improved.

The council said work was planned to begin in the spring and it is taking inquiries from potential occupiers of the new units.

It is part of a wider project with Rutland County Council under the Rural Innovation in Action scheme, which received combined UK Government Funding of £22.95m.

Council leader Pip Allnatt said: "The scheme is a transformational development that enhances the existing site.

"We will be able to increase and improve the food manufacturing and education aspects on site, and we'll also be adding new public toilets with a changing places area – a facility the local community has voiced the need for.

"The planning approval represents a significant milestone, and we'll be keeping stakeholders up to date on progress."

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

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