Progress being made on Station Quarter redevelopment

A decision on a contract to deliver the Station Quarter redevelopment will go to Cabinet when it meets on Monday (19 June).

If approved, the contract would be awarded to a specialist company to pull together the detailed business case and masterplan which are required to deliver the Station Quarter redevelopment.

Ove Arup Limited would be tasked with working on the designs and assessments to support the masterplan and writing of the business case, allowing access to over £47million of Government Levelling Up Fund funding.

The business case and masterplan would set out a number of options for the project which will deliver a new Peterborough Station and Station Quarter precinct. This would involve gathering data, creating future-proofed design options and consulting with stakeholders. It is due to be submitted to the Government by the end of 2023, with construction beginning as early as 2025/26.

The Station Quarter redevelopment is led by Peterborough City Council in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Network Rail and LNER. It will be funded by the Government Levelling Up Fund funding and other match funding, bringing the total budget up to over £64million (£64,855,000).

Key to the project is the creation of a new western entrance to the station with a car park – to create a double-sided station – with a new wider footbridge over the train lines. This would alleviate pressure on city centre roads, making it easier and safer to travel around the city by foot or bike. Green areas with biodiversity, community spaces and better connections to the city centre will make it safer and more attractive for bikes and pedestrians too.

The enhancement of Peterborough Train Station will improve rail passenger journeys and encourage more rail travel, which will have a positive economic impact on the city, and regionally, as the city is already well connected to key areas of East England and the rest of the UK. In addition, it will support Peterborough in attracting knowledge-intensive and high-level employers through its improved transport links.

Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “We are a city of national importance already and so it’s vital that we build on this, and also make sure the area around our train station is fit for purpose. The contract is proposed for approval at Cabinet as Station Quarter is a huge project and so we need to make sure the business case – the foundations of this project – are done right. Once complete, the redeveloped Station Quarter will bring millions of pounds of further investment into our city centre, in the form of new businesses relocating here and private investment.”

David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with colleagues at Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Network Rail to deliver this key scheme to make Peterborough railway station even more welcoming and accessible.

“The enhancement of the railway station and the surrounding area will create a great first impression of the city for visitors and commuters and encourage even more rail travel.”

Stephen Hind, head of business development at Network Rail, said: “We are working closely with our partners to progress such a vital programme of work, that will hugely enhance the travel experience for passengers that use Peterborough station. This project will help transform the surrounding area and create a vibrant gateway to the city.”