Melton Borough Council has announced significant progress on the Stockyard Redevelopment Project, following a comprehensive review of design, procurement, and operational plans.
The project aims to transform the Stockyard at Melton Cattle Market into a regional destination for food, drink, markets, and cultural experiences. This progress, and proposals to enlarge the project, are to be presented to Cabinet on 17 December, which if accepted, will be a milestone step for the project.
The proposals position the redevelopment as a place that will create a vibrant destination where businesses, visitors, and learners can thrive.
It includes:
- The Anchor Building – A gateway to the site, offering flexible, fully fitted floors with potential spaces for educational purposes or artisan businesses and food producers. The top floor will become an event space for conferences and celebrations, with scope for workshops or training sessions to support skills development.
- Nottingham Road Studios – Four modern, energy-efficient units designed for creative industries and start-ups, fully equipped for immediate use.
- Trader Hall – A revitalised food and market hall with weather protection, perfect for markets and pop-up food experiences.
- Production Hubs 1 and 2 – Professional spaces for food and drink production businesses to grow, complete with heating, accessible facilities, and expansion options.
- The Square – An outdoor event space with “plug and play” infrastructure for festivals, performances, and cultural activities.
- Banqueting Suite and Exhibition Hall – To be developed into a Cultural Hub designed for educational activities, performances, exhibitions and conferences.
- Changing Places Facility – The location of this facility has been relocated to a more central and inclusive position, with additional improvements to an increased number of toilet facilities onsite.
These proposed revisions will deliver a combined total 5,733 sq m of space that will cater for food production, education, event and cultural activities.
The review of Stockyard came at a pivotal moment, enabling the Council to formally consider a Cultural Hub as part of the redevelopment. It complements the existing work the Council is doing to strengthen both heritage and cultural assets and promotion across the Borough. The partnership with Loughborough College Group will look to secure a home for their performing arts courses, ensuring students continue to learn and perform locally.
Located within the Banqueting Suite and Exhibition Hall, the recently announced hub will offer versatile spaces for performances, exhibitions, conferences, and education. By combining community and corporate use, it could become a financially sustainable, inspiring venue that strengthens Melton’s cultural identity.
The Council has committed to working collaboratively to develop the Cultural Hub and will be supporting community and stakeholder engagement to enable the development of the design.
Following an extensive review as to how the site will operate once the work has finished, the recommendation to Cabinet is for Melton Borough Council to take direct responsibility for estate and facilities management, alongside support by specialist expertise for markets and events management, tenant engagement and offer development, business, marketing, and promotional planning.
Furthermore, to support visitor access and operational needs, the Cabinet meeting will consider retaining Scalford Road car park, reversing a previous disposal decision. This ensures adequate parking capacity for traders and visitors.
The proposed change to the redevelopment project will still allow for the work to begin in July 2026, following procurement and mobilisation phases.
Councillor Pip Allnatt, leader of the Council, said: “I am recommending the improvements partly because it will enable the Trader Hall to be included. Repairs and improvement are long overdue and neither the Trader Hall nor the Banqueting suite were part of the old LUF programme. We have listened to our traders. We have also listened to the many residents who have asked us to retain the Scalford Road car park.
“This project is about more than buildings- it’s about people and creating a destination that celebrates Melton’s heritage, supports local businesses, and offers cultural experiences for all. The inclusion of the Cultural Hub and improved designs will make Stockyard a place where business, creativity, and community come together.”
