Council celebrates winning top industry award for Melton town planning project
Officers at Melton Borough Council are celebrating winning a prestigious award for a strategy they followed to guide future investment and development in the town centre.
They attended the RTPI East Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence presentation ceremony in Nottingham to receive the award for Excellence in Plan Making Practice 2026.
Judges were impressed with the innovative and collaborative nature of the council’s Melton Mowbray Town Centre Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
It recognises the work undertaken to create a shared vision for the future of Melton Mowbray town centre, informed by local residents, businesses, community groups, stakeholders and council teams working together.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Design Guidance was developed to support future improvements and investment in the town centre, including public spaces, shopfronts, accessibility, wayfinding and the overall visitor experience.
Residents, businesses, market traders, accessibility groups and other local stakeholders were invited to share their views and priorities throughout the process.
This feedback helped shape the guidance and ensured it reflected what people value about Melton Mowbray, as well as their aspirations for its future.
Councillor Don Pritchett, portfolio holder for planning policy, economic growth and town centre said: "We are delighted that the Melton Mowbray Town Centre Design Guidance has received this prestigious regional award.
"This is an important achievement for Melton Mowbray and reflects the value of local people, businesses, stakeholders, partners and council teams working together towards a shared ambition for the town centre.
"I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and engagement, as their contributions helped shape the final guidance.
"The document will support future improvements that respect Melton Mowbray’s unique heritage while helping to create an attractive, accessible and vibrant town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.”
The council adopted the guidance as a Supplementary Planning Document in September 2025, giving it greater weight when informing future development and investment decisions in the town centre.
The work brought together colleagues from the Local Plans, regeneration, conservation, communication and other council services, alongside specialist consultants Phil Jones Associates (PJA) and the wider community.
Local engagement was central to the project, with people sharing their views through perception surveys, stakeholder workshops, consultation events and a public engagement stall at Melton Mowbray Market.
The guidance now provides a practical framework for protecting and enhancing the town’s distinctive character while supporting future investment and economic growth.
It promotes better public spaces, heritage-led regeneration, improved accessibility, greener streets and a more welcoming town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.
Jon Tricker, placemaking director at Phil Jones Associates, said: "We brought a combination of technical expertise, creativity and collaborative working to the Melton Mowbray Town Centre Design Guide SPD and were pleased to work closely with Melton Borough Council throughout the project.
"Together, we tackled complex town centre issues, engaged with stakeholders and helped produce a clear, practical and visually engaging document that now carries planning weight as an adopted SPD."
The project will now progress to the national stage of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence, where it will compete alongside leading planning projects from across the UK.
National finalists will be announced in October 2026, with winners celebrated at a ceremony in London in December.