Peterborough's Station Quarter: what does £65m project involve?
With promises it will transform a city centre and unlock regeneration in the area, plans for a new "Station Quarter" in Peterborough have been endorsed by the government.But five years since a bid for funding towards the £65m project was submitted, works have yet to begin. What does the project involve and why is it taking so long?
The area now
Peterborough's railway station is about a 10-minute walk from the city centre, with the bus station and shops at Queensgate, Westgate and Cowgate on the other side of the busy Bourges Boulevard road.The city council said the current route from the station was "not easy or welcoming" for people to navigate, calling it a "maze of narrow pavements, dark underpasses and pedestrian bridges".Cars approach the station towards its entrance on the east, meaning those driving from the west of the city would cross the Crescent Bridge to get there.
What will the station look like?
There will be a new western entrance to the station, which planners say will reduce journey times for 30% of users accessing the station from the west.This will have a new junction, drop-off points and a multi-storey car park.The inside of the station will be refurbished and reconfigured to make it easier to get around.The existing station car park would be used to relocate the taxi rank, drop-off zone and accessible parking.
What will change around the station?
A new boulevard will direct pedestrians and cyclists between the railway station and the city. There will also be a landscaped pedestrian and cycle route leading towards Peterborough Cathedral.An underpass at the Queensgate roundabout, which leads to Cowgate, will be removed and replaced with a pedestrian-cycle crossing.The whole area will have more trees, vegetation and green space.
How much will it cost?
The total project is expected to cost £65m, with nearly £48m of this expected to come from the government's Levelling Up Fund.The rest will come from Peterborough City Council's Towns Fund money, and other partners such as Network Rail.
What has the reaction been?
The project has generally been welcomed by local people.Some local businesses are hopeful it will improve footfall and help regenerate the area.Andrew Pakes, Labour MP for Peterborough, said securing funding for the project was one of his priorities, adding: "This project will bring jobs, investment and opportunities to the city."The Conservative mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said it was a "generational opportunity" for the city.
Why is it taking years to begin?
This is a multimillion-pound project involving a number of public and private bodies, and a bid for government funding.An initial search for investors began in early 2020, after the city council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Network Rail and LNER all joined forces.In 2023, they put together an outline business case to secure the Levelling Up money, which was approved in March 2024.A full business case for the project was finally approved in May 2025 – but the Treasury spending review in the summer will be the final hurdle before the money is available and work can begin.
What happens now?
That depends on what is announced in the next spending review, but the first phase of works are expected to begin in late autumn.
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