Funding deal agreed for part of relief road
COUNTY EXPECTS TO GET £18M FOR SCHEME
THE southern leg of the Melton bypass is set to go ahead after funding was finally accepted by Leicestershire County Council.
The Melton Mowbray Distributor Road was at risk earlier in the year due to a dispute between Melton Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council over funding that would see homes and schools built to support the road development.
The county council now expects to receive up to £18.2 million from Homes England towards the overall cost of £37.5 million.
It will provide the balance – which it hopes to recover from developers – while Melton Borough Council will contribute up to £1.75 million towards additional education costs.
The councils were at loggerheads earlier in the year, with the county council set to reject government funding because there was no guarantee a further £35 million could be secured to pay for schools.
The council had been unable to agree a deal with the Conservativerun borough council.
The councils have now resolved the issues, with County Hall now officially accepting the funding from Homes England.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, deputy leader of the county council, said: “This is good news and I’m pleased we’ve been able to get this over the line.
“There’s still some way to go but, if successfully delivered, the roadway is expected to ease traffic congestion in Melton and unlock the construction of significant amounts of homes.”
Borough council leader Joe Orson said: “After many months of incredibly hard work by all involved, I am delighted that Leicestershire County Council has signed the agreement for funding with Homes England and now has given the green light for the southern section of the road.
“We know this has been such an important issue for our community, and, given the financial risks involved, it has not been easy.
“But I am so proud of the way we have all worked together to ensure this could proceed.
“This has the potential to unlock up to £160 million of investment in Melton, alongside thousands of homes and jobs.
“It’s great news just before Christmas and could be just the boost we need for our town centre and economy as we recover from the impact of Covid.”
The next steps for the county council are to acquire the land to build the road and secure planning permission.
The road could be constructed by 2025.
The county council is also proposing to construct the north and east section of the bypass, which is subject to a final business case being submitted and government approval. A decision is expected by the end of next year.
It’s great news just before Christmas and could be just the boost we need for our town centre
Joe Orson