Discover how we helped turn a longstanding transport challenge into an opportunity to support growth, improve active travel connections and enhance the natural environment.
Melton Mowbray, a historic market town in Leicestershire, has long experienced congestion and delays on key routes through the town. With housing and employment growth planned for the area, improving the transport network was critical to supporting development without adding further pressure to already congested roads.
The North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR) was developed to provide an alternative route around the town, easing congestion and improving connectivity while supporting future development.
Opened to the public in May 2026 as Pork Pie Way, the £135 million scheme comprises seven kilometres of new single-carriageway road, six roundabouts, and river and railway bridge crossings. The scheme also creates 10 kilometres of new walking and cycling routes, alongside river restoration, habitat creation and improved flood resilience.
Appointed by Leicestershire County Council, we provided project management and highway design, together with route assessment, business case development, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement, from early option development through to detailed design and delivery.
Designing for a sensitive environment
Delivering a major new road through a sensitive landscape posed significant challenges. The route crossed the River Eye Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), requiring careful consideration of environmental impacts, flood risk, construction practicality and stakeholder expectations.
Extensive engagement with Natural England, the Environment Agency and other statutory consultees was essential to developing an approach that balanced these competing requirements. The River Eye crossing was particularly complex: conventional approaches risked greater impacts on the SSSI, more difficult construction and additional utility diversion costs.
Collaborative value engineering identified more than £8 million in construction savings, while stakeholder engagement helped secure planning approval with only one objection at public inquiry.
An integrated approach
We brought together project management, engineering, environmental assessment and advisory expertise to develop the scheme. Route assessment and optioneering combined environmental, engineering and cost appraisals to identify the preferred solution, while detailed design covered the highway, bridges and river diversion. Environmental Impact Assessment and Water Framework Directive compliance work supported the approvals process.
We also used drone surveys, 3D visualisation and computer-generated models to help communities and stakeholders understand the proposals. Acting as Designer and Principal Designer, we coordinated disciplines throughout the project lifecycle to maintain momentum through planning, approvals and delivery.
Turning the River Eye challenge into an opportunity
The River Eye presented one of the project’s most complex challenges. After assessing multiple alignment and crossing options, a river diversion emerged as the preferred approach.
This allowed the bridge to be constructed away from the live river in dry conditions and avoided the need to divert overhead power lines. It also created an opportunity to restore and enhance a degraded section of the SSSI.
Flood resilience was also embedded within the design by including compensatory flood storage, river realignment, and sufficient clearance beneath the bridge to accommodate high river levels. Rather than simply mitigating the effects of the new infrastructure, this turned a complex engineering constraint into an opportunity to improve the river environment.
Creating lasting benefits for Melton Mowbray
The benefits of the NEMMDR extend beyond the road itself. Not only is the scheme designed to reduce congestion, improve journey times and support economic growth, it also expands active travel opportunities through 10 kilometres of new walking and cycling routes.
Collaborative value engineering identified more than £8 million in construction savings, while stakeholder engagement helped secure planning approval with only one objection at public inquiry. The scheme’s environmental improvements also gained strong support from statutory agencies.
The project has received industry recognition throughout its development, including the East Midlands Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment, and in the Large Project and Social Value categories at the 2026 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) East Midlands Merit Awards.