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Station Quarter development: New chapter for rail gateway to the city
Artist's impression: Station Quarter development looking across Bourges Boulevard.
AMBITIOUS plans for a multi-million pound retail and offices complex at a gateway to Peterborough were given the green light yesterday (Tuesday).
The £50 million development that is expected to create up to 630 jobs, will be built on the former Royal Mail sorting office site in Bourges Boulevard and will play a key role in the creation of the city’s long awaited Station Quarter development.
The Station Quarter is a £500 million blueprint drawn up by Peterborough City Council and city regeneration company Operation Peterborough to develop a cluster of offices, shops and accommodation on a huge swathe of land around the rail station, creating an impressive entrance way for visitors to the city and attracting investment and jobs.
Members of the council’s planning and environment protection committee approved the outline development for the Royal Mail by seven votes to two.
They were told it would help create a pedestrian route from the train station into the city centre, as well as provide jobs and investment in Peterborough.
The site will contain 6,000 square metres of office space, a 4,300 square metre supermarket and other stores, and it is hoped could create up to 630 jobs when finished.
Councillors said the project would be a ‘new chapter’ for Peterborough in its efforts to attract new business and visitors to the city.
Councillor Peter Hiller said: “I think this will be great for the city. It joins up with the expansion of the Great Northern Hotel and the station expansion. It is a new chapter for Peterborough.”
Cllr Marion Todd said: “Anything that improves the Station Quarter is a good thing.
“It looks an utter mess at the moment, and people think it is a dump.”
Council leader Cllr Marco Cereste said: “In this difficult economic climate many cities have put their growth plans on hold.
He added: “However, in Peterborough we are pressing ahead with our plans as we realise how important growth is to the city’s future.”
Tim Webb from developers ING Real Estate, said the firm was already in discussions with supermarket chains about the possibility of filling the building.”
Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said: “I’m glad the developers have listened to the concerns about the size of the supermarket and that the retail unit will be a lot smaller than originally planned and that we have a number of offices and car park spaces.
“With a remodelled railway station and the plans for the Great Northern Hotel, the Station Quarter is looking to be quite a strong asset for the city.”
Station Quarter developments
THE approval for the new development comes hot on the heals of a planning application to expand the Great Northern Hotel, opposite the train station.
The plans include a seven storey expansion, creating 13,000 square feet of new office space, coffee shops and even roof top gardens.
And works are currently underway to improve Peterborough Railway Station.
The works at the station will see new and improved platforms, a new foot bridge and a £3 million upgrade on the station concourse.
What do you think?
Contact our news team by email eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, telephone 01733 588719, on Twitter - @peterboroughet or use our Have Your Say form
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 30 comments to this article
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FrankJWilson
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 09:32 AMET, can we have an in-depth editorial on Operation Peterborough? (Assuming it's not a metaphor for keeping the population anesthetised while surgically remove our most valuable organs for sale on the black market). An expose on the personalities, their mandate?, where their resources come from?, what we can expect from them?, whom do they answer to? What plans do they have for the future? and how we can be involved?
FrankJWilson
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:16 AMThis debate will be removed by the ET police on Saturday. I thought we lived in a country where 'freedom of expression' was right.
FrankJWilson
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 12:55 AMOh Redacted!...The Council's Budget was approved on Wednesday together with item 5.3 on the Medium Term Financial strategy re "property rationalisation". This development granted planning. Next move is the Leader will dust off his December 'failed' er 'busienss plan1?' for the Council to take this 60,000sqft at an exorbitant rent for the next 30 years. My crystal ball tell me he will keep the Town Hall in order to passify the previous rebel Tory's and force the decision through in March. This will still cost the Council tax payer £20m more than the most economically advantageius solution! Oh....make sure we all head to Ladbrokes to put our years salary on this one!.
Gorgeous George
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 02:10 PMTwitter, email, usenet, ham radio, citizenpower, plugin2peterborough, peterborough.net ... where is this virtual town square meeting being held then? I remember there used to be an industrial unit in Shoreditch. I don't know if it's there now. It was called "Perseverance Works" Very nice name.
Gorgeous George
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 08:10 AMComrades! facebook page? phpbb?
J J Carter
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 06:48 AMI looked at the site today and found the pedestrian crossing will take folks directly the toilet block of the pub they demolished a few weeks back.
maded
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 01:00 AMThis new et cabinet have only been in existence for a day and are already a bunch of glory grabbing gobby jumped up pathetic spineless idiots. Oh no change there?
Gorgeous George
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 04:14 PM@21 Mavis : I am staggered and delighted that you place this confidence in me. I could do with the money.
J J Carter
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:49 PM@21 I don't seek hgh office, but if I can be of some assistance to fellow Pottyboroughonians I shall accept the role!
Mavis Enderby
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:30 AMBrianposh2003 @12 - Brilliant idea! Can I suggest we form an alternative ET Cabinet and sack all the planners (I do wonder how they occupy their days - Once I plan something it stays planned - I don't go back and fiddle with it year-in, year-out). How about this: Leader: The Admiral; Deputy Leader: Redacted; Cabinet member for Growth: Rob-B; Cabinet member for Green issues: JJ Carter; Head of Planning: Hound of the Watervilles; Finance: Mean Mr Mustard; Community: Trigger; Education: Postie supporter; Health: Bamboozler; Whip: Darlek Sek; Police: Rebel Woman. I will do the tea & biscuits. Who have I missed?
gogetit
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:55 PM@12 get your own ideas dont nick mine
Gorgeous George
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:10 PM@16 Your reasoning is fiendishly accurate. He will be able to see directly into the penthouse suite at ET Towers and semaphore his instructions for world domination.
Pondy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:39 PMMore shops equals more nails in the coffin of Queensgate & other city centre shops. In the long run there are no more extra retail jobs, they will just be moved around a bit.
Hound of the Watervilles
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:28 PMIt's a very optimistic computer graphic, showin two cars an a lorry on Bourges Boulevard. I assume it depicts the site at 0400 on Midsummers' Day. In reality, this crossing is going to cause terrible traffic problems on an already congested route. There has been a real outbreak of common-sense on this forum with the suggestion of using the site for a new bus station and re-locating the market into the current bus station area. This really would spearhead the regeneration of the city centre with a showpiece covered market.
J J Carter
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:28 PMI'll eat my hat if Operation Peterborough isn't stuffed with Il Duce's chums (plus consultants of course!). Once it's lain empty for 12 months, the Dear Leader will take over the penthouse offices.
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