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Residents and tourists in Melton Mowbray and Leicestershire will benefit from more than 拢49 million in government investment to reduce congestion, improve air quality and provide faster local journeys, the Roads Minister Richard Holden announced today (9 March 2023).

The new road scheme 鈥� part of a 拢115.2 million total investment between the government, local council and private investors 鈥� will help unlock the full potential of Britain鈥檚 鈥榬ural capital of food鈥�, stamping out 鈥榬at running鈥� car and lorry traffic from Melton Mowbray and making it easier for residents and tourists to access its historic town centre.

With the town famous for its Melton Mowbray pork pie heritage 鈥� a protected status 鈥� the project will generate an estimated 拢144 million in economic opportunities by boosting local tourism and supporting over 3,400 new jobs.聽This will help level up local communities and deliver on one of the government鈥檚 5 priorities to grow the economy.

The scheme consists of a single carriageway road and extends from the A606 Nottingham Road at the north-western edge of the town to the A606 Burton Road in the south, crossing Scalford Road, Melton Spinney Road, A607 Thorpe Road and B676 Saxby Road to Burton Road.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

For too many years, Melton has been plagued by disruptive and polluting traffic congestion which has made it difficult to reach its historic town centre, grow our economy, and savour its delicious pork pies and Stilton cheese.

That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e investing nearly 拢50 million to boost local connectivity and tackle congestion, supporting more than 3,400 jobs to help Britain鈥檚 鈥楻ural Capital of Food鈥� truly reach its full potential.

Melton Mowbray鈥檚 historic town centre network is at the convergence of 6 major routes and sees some of the highest congestion levels on a per mile basis in Leicestershire, mainly because of a high number of heavy lorries passing through the town centre.

The new road will take traffic away from the town centre, allowing residents and tourists to visit Melton鈥檚 celebrated Market Place more easily while boosting local air quality and connectivity.

The project will pave the way for better active travel opportunities by providing a 3m wide combined cycle and footway along almost all of the scheme鈥檚 length. It will also improve bus punctuality by taking lorries and heavy traffic away from the town centre.

As local authorities predict growing demand for travel into Melton Mowbray, local traffic congestion is expected to increase which could seriously affect the attractiveness of the town to tourists and hamper economic growth.

This scheme is just one part of a wider transport strategy for the town which will include other measures to address localised traffic issues, public transport improvements, as well as walking and cycling connectivity.

The new single carriageway road will be funded by 拢49.5 million in government investment, alongside 拢51.7 million by Leicestershire County Council and 拢14 million by private funding.

Councillor Deborah Taylor, deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, said:

Shorter journey times and reliability are absolutely crucial in securing new business investment, and this new road is vital to support the future growth of the Melton economy.

I鈥檓 very pleased that, by approving our full business case, the government recognises the importance of this road with the award of this hugely significant funding.

We鈥檙e delighted to welcome the Minister to Leicestershire and we can now look forward to the major construction work starting in the next few weeks.

With the opening scheduled for Summer 2025, the project will create new junctions with the radials on its route and provide crossings over the railway line and the River Eye.

This measure aligns well with national policy objectives to tackle congestion, encourage economic and housing growth as well as delivering better bus services and improved infrastructure to boost cycling and walking.

Leicestershire County Council is working hard to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses, with a 鈥榤eet the contractor鈥� event being hosted by construction group Galliford Try on Friday and Saturday 17 and 18 March where attendees can find out more about the project.

Paul Bennell, Managing Director, Samworth Brothers Supply Chain, said:

This announcement is good news for Melton, helping to reduce traffic congestion and delays.聽 Much work has also been undertaken to position Melton Mowbray as a successful 鈥楻ural Capital of Food鈥�, including by our team at the Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe.聽 This development will help the town further build on its successful efforts in this area and create more economic benefits.