The major developments in Leicestershire that could take shape in 2026

Leicester has seen some major changes over the past 12 months - with projects like the long-awaited opening of the city's £16.8m new Roman museum.

However, more changes are in the pipeline across the city and wider county as councils and developers seek to press ahead with significant schemes.

Some ambitious plans had become stuck in the system, but politicians are hopeful progress is round the corner.

So what key proposals could take significant steps forward in 2026?

Leicester's old 1990s-built covered market place was demolished nearly two years ago with the promise of a newly revamped area "fit for the 21st Century" being created for traders and shoppers.

However, just a few months later, the £7.5m project was paused with the council announcing a radical rethink, which would see the area transformed into a space capable of hosting large-scale public events.

The market square has remained fenced off since and during the summer, archaeologists dug below the surface to uncover secrets of the city's Roman and medieval past.

Now the excavations have been completed, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has told traders and councillors he intends for the square to be repaved and ready for stallholders to return by December 2026.

The £22.6m realignment of Leicester's Victorian railway station is another major initiative with a stop-start past.

The city council secured £17.6m of government Levelling Up cash towards the proposal to pivot the building, moving its entrance from London Road back to its original location on Station Street facing the city centre.

Station Street will be closed to traffic and replaced with a new pedestrianised public plaza.

The station's existing covered entrance hall area will be turned into a new plaza for shopping, food and drinks.

It appeared the starting gun had been fired on the revamp when the Parcel Yard pub, next to the station, was flattened in October 2024.

However, the project stalled when initial attempts to find a contractor failed - but the city council has said fresh efforts to identify a specialist firm to carry out the work are being launched early this year.

Work on a £13.6m revamp of Melton Mowbray's historic cattle market is set to start in July.

The Melton Borough Council-led Stockyard scheme was reviewed in December and various alterations approved with the authority hoping to create a food and events hub.

The council said the project would create 110 jobs and draw in some 50,000 visitors annually.

Under the plans, a new "anchor" building would offer space for educational use or artisan businesses and food producers with an area for conferences and events.

The existing trader hall will be renovated to provide a space for markets, and there will be a square for outdoor events and performances.

Previous proposals to sell the site's car park, in Scalford Road, have been dropped with the council now aiming to retain the parking provision.

The latest phase of plans to regenerate Coalville town centre are set to start taking shape in 2026.

The former council headquarters, in Whitwick Road, was bulldozed at the end of 2025, and the site is to be transformed into a new public space called Stenson Gardens.

North West Leicestershire District Council has set aside £2m for the scheme, which is set to include a landscaped green space as well as 38 new homes in the long-term.

The nearby historic Stenson House registry office would be retained under the plans and continue to be used for weddings and council meetings.

A number of Leicestershire's district and borough councils are either reviewing, or preparing to update their local plans - strategies to help determine where houses will be built in the future to accommodate the county's growing population.

Developers have outlined proposals for a number of new towns and villages, of thousands of new homes, which they say will help the council meet government-set housing targets.

However, such large-scale schemes have attracted equally large-scale opposition from campaigners opposed to the potential pressure they would put on transport networks and public services.

Among the largest schemes on the cards is Norton Heath, a 10,000-home settlement earmarked for 1,730-acre (700 hectare) area of farmland at the edge of Norton Juxta Twycross, close to Twycross Zoo.

Developers said the "vibrant and active" community would include schools, sports and leisure facilities and shops located in local centres.

Opponents, however, warn the scheme would "obliterate" a large part of rural west Leicestershire if approved.

The majority of the new homes would sit on land in the borough of Hinckley and Bosworth, but part of the site also falls within the neighbouring North West Leicestershire district.

Planning applications are expected to be submitted to both authorities this year.

Planners at North West Leicestershire District Council are already assessing an application for 4,250 homes, a secondary and two primary schools, shops, hotels, leisure centre and sports facilities built on farmland to the south west of East Midlands Airport.

The community would be called Isley Woodhouse, and a decision on whether to approve it is due before an October deadline.

Blaby District Council is also anticipating a planning application for a garden village of up to 5,000 homes on 932 acres (377 hectares) of farmland either side of the M1 between Countesthorpe, Cosby and Willoughby Waterleys.

The scheme proposes a link to a new junction, 20a, on the M1, new schools, shops, services, warehousing developments and public open spaces.

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