PLANS to guide the future redevelopment of Peterborough’s city centre have been unveiled. The business community is being asked to provide its views on the plans.

The ideas, known as the ‘Consultants’ Recommended Option’, are part of the City Centre Area Action Plan (CCAAP), a joint initiative between Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough City Council to guide the development of the city centre up to and beyond 2021.

Steve Bowyer, Opportunity Peterborough director of strategic growth, said: “The ideas identify 13 areas in the city centre with a distinctive nature that captures the existing character and heritage of Peterborough, making better use of land available and creating enhanced connectivity and activity within the city centre.”

To make this happen consultant EDAW has proposed:

Housing:

• 4,700 new homes within the city centre by 2026.
• Providing a wide range of housing options, including affordable and zero-carbon homes.

Economic Development:

• Providing more than 150,000 sq m of businesses development – creating the station area as a focal hub for this development.
• Providing dedicated university facilities in the city centre.
• Developing the second phase of the Eco Innovation Centre on the South Bank.

Retail:

• Boosting the retail offer beyond the proposed North Westgate expansion.
• Connecting the city to the River by expanding the shopping offer across Bourges Boulevard.

Social infrastructure:

• Enhancing our education through new primary schools and a skills centre for 16-19 year olds.
• Developing a new primary health care centre.
• Creating better community facilities as part of residential development.

Sports, leisure and culture:

• Making best use of the city’s arts and heritage through museum and theatre regeneration.
• Creating a destination sports village with a new community stadium (incorporating the relocated Peterborough United Football Club), 50m swimming pool and gym, and a multi-use arena.
• Improving café, bar, restaurant, hotel and other leisure facilities in the city.

Councillor Graham Murphy, Peterborough City Council cabinet member for housing, regeneration and economic development, said: “The Peterborough City Centre Area Action Plan will provide the framework for the revitalisation and expansion of Peterborough City Centre to 2021 to ensure we have a city centre that meets the needs of our existing residents and the growing population.

“It is an exciting document, and we welcome it, as the first stage in the production of the final Peterborough City Centre Area Action Plan (CCAAP.)

“It includes the suggested re-location of Peterborough United and the regeneration of the North Embankment and many other schemes. It also includes schemes that are already in the pipeline including North Westgate and the South Bank developments.

However I must stress, that this is the very early stages. This is only a draft document, based on the recommendations of external qualified professionals. At this stage all of these proposals are just options and have not been adopted by Peterborough City Council or Opportunity Peterborough and will go through the proper planning process.”

You can get more information from the Opportunity Peterborough website: www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk.