Assael’s design gets the go-ahead for a new residential quarter in Melton Mowbray

The development, by Worthearly Ltd and designed by Assael Architecture and Assael Exteriors, is rooted in placemaking, with careful consideration of Melton Mowbray’s architectural heritage. Located on a former brownfield site previously home to JELD-WEN manufacturers, the new scheme will feature three distinct character areas, each offering a unique identity while staying true to the town’s heritage.

The design incorporates predominantly two and three-storey houses, alongside apartment buildings, which step in alignment with the natural topography of the site. Arranged in three distinct character areas, including central zones – that feature taller homes with pitched gable ends and wider tree-lined avenues, creating a grander streetscape; home zones – with lower-scale mews streets characterised by shared surfaces, fostering a sense of community; and riverside woodland zones – set in a natural landscape, with timber and red brick homes that draw on the local vernacular, to enhance the area’s connection to its surroundings.

A new network of pedestrian, cycle, and vehicle routes will weave throughout the site, increasing accessibility and improving connectivity to local schools, the nearby park, and the town centre. The well-considered street layout creates a permeable, accessible environment that strengthens the link between the development and the broader community.

The development also places a strong emphasis on green spaces, with a variety of landscaped areas and public realm features. Key spaces include a community square which creates a gateway to Melton County Park, which will provide a new, inviting entrance to the park to the north, and an enhanced riverside edge to the south. Additionally, a pedestrianised play street will provide spaces for play and places to stop and dwell. Significant biodiversity improvements will also be made, with enhanced habitats and the protection of existing woodland areas.

The masterplan features a rich and diverse planting scheme, incorporating a variety of native and climate-resilient species. Low-level scrub and ornamental planting are distributed throughout the site, with biodiversity and visual appeal serving as key design drivers. Along the river’s edge, swales are integrated into the landscape to manage floodwaters while creating open, inviting public spaces for people to relax and picnic.

Architecturally, Assael’s design is defined by a thoughtfully selected material palette that includes two complementary shades of red brick. Distinctive features such as rusticated brickwork, ‘hit-and-miss’ detailing, arched doorways, and soldier course headers take inspiration from the area’s historic buildings, blending the contemporary design with the local character.

This development represents significant benefits for Melton Mowbray, offering high-quality, sustainable homes while preserving and enhancing the town’s unique character and natural surroundings.

“We are delighted to receive this planning consent, that represents a positive step forward for the town centre. It will bring new high-quality homes to this a location that is both sustainable and rich in heritage, and offering benefits for local people by opening up the site to the wider community as well as providing a variety of thoughtfully designed landscape spaces. We are proud to have contributed to this project and are excited to see it take shape.”

Emily Newton, Associate Director of Assael Architecture.