Plans for Peterborough's Solstice bar to become student accommodation for new university

The plans are being brought forward by the building’s owners, MPB Structures, and if approved would represent the first private sector investment in student accommodation for the university.

The new University of Peterborough is set to open in September 2022 with its main buildings on the Embankment, north of the River Nene. Two thousand students are due to start their studies there in 2022 and it is anticipated that there could be up to 12,000 students at the university by 2030.

MPB Structures is proposing to start works at the bar in Northminster in late 2021 and construct a new block with 77 student rooms including communal facilities, space for two retail units on the ground floors and 56 self-contained, private apartments.

Drawing on its experience of building similar accommodation in Leeds, Liverpool and London, MPB and its appointed architects, NORR consultants, will create a building with student accommodation including bedrooms, communal space and a laundry room. There will also be a sedum roof with living plants on two levels of the building, providing benefits to the building and the environment.

If approved, the building will sit alongside Stanley Recreation Ground.

The Solstice is currently closed due to Covid-19 but will reopen for business when the Government allows it to trade. The Solstice will be trading until late 2021 when construction works will commence (subject to planning consent).

Speaking about the proposal, a spokesperson from MPB Structures said: “We are very proud of Peterborough and what we have achieved here. Solstice has been an important and successful part of Peterborough's leisure scene for many years and we thank all our loyal customers for their support.

"Our proposal to invest in creating student accommodation at this site is a clear demonstration of the private sector’s confidence in the success of the new university. This is an ideal place for students to live and we believe the new look buildings will significantly add to the overall regeneration of this area, including the local green space at Stanley Recreation Ground. Together with the new apartments and commercial units, it will breathe new life into this part of the city centre.

“We appreciate that many local people will have wonderful memories of the club and this is a new beginning. We want the Solstice brand to continue and to support the new university and we will be looking at how we meet changing leisure patterns.

“The council's Local Plan for Northminster has made it difficult for the club to operate, with critical paths and roads being closed preventing access to our venue, demolition works ongoing, and general lack of investment in the Northminster area for the past 20 years. As a local family and business, we are committed to leading the much-needed regeneration of this area.”

More details about the proposal are available at www.athene-communications.co.uk/the-solstice.

An online survey is also available on the webpage for people to give their views about the proposal, including ideas about the role that Stanley Recreation Ground can play in providing safe and accessible open space for its residents and for the wider community. People are being asked to provide their feedback by the end of April.