Civic Society seeks backing from Mayor and council for Westgate House redevelopment

The society has unveiled ideas for a major repurposing of the vacant Westgate House by relocating the city’s market to a new covered hall within the shell of the existing building on Park Road and Westgate.

With the market’s current site set for redevelopment and it needing a new home, the society sees it as a solution to two major changes in the city centre with potentially long-lasting benefits.

The Civic Society has written to the Leader of the City Council, Coun John Holdich to share their ideas and copied in every councillor, as well as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor, James Palmer, as he may have the necessary influence and funding pot to kick start the scheme and make this development a reality.

Vice-chairman of the Civic Society, Toby Wood said it needs to be part of a coordinated strategy: “We are involving the council because, whoever owns the place, the council should be taking the lead as part of the city centre plan, which looks towards regeneration and the balance between retail and residential. We want the council to drive any initiative that happens in the future, not just leave it to private owners to do what they want when they want.”

“We realise this is all about money and depends on what the owners of Westgate House want to do, but we are concerned about it staying empty for a period of time - that is a fate worse than death.”

Nor did he want to see an opportunity missed by piecemeal conversion into flats and accommodation.

The society says the grand frontages of Westgate House could be retained, occupied by small retail, food and drink units.

The upper level units would provide space for more specialist services such as opticians, solicitors and other small offices, a gym and several residential apartments. Parts of the second floor and loft space could also be converted to apartments. The central area behind the frontages would become a covered permanent market hall beneath a large glass atrium, with an open space for seating, eating and live performances, according to the Civic Society’s proposals.

Mr Wood said they had become concerned over the past few months about the number of shop closures in the city centre and conversion into living spaces. He said: “There is nothing wrong with that on the whole, but then we have had the planned closure of Peterborough Market on the site it has been on for well over 50 years. Simultaneously the Beales department store goes bust and is empty.”

Generally he believed the same customers frequented both sites and so it seemed the perfect alternative location for an indoor market.

“It would be safe, secure, manageable and would solve a lot of difficulties,” said Mr Wood.

He accepted the ongoing demise of the high street could be a challenge to filling the converted space, but that was the reason for it being a mixed-use development, including as an arts venue. Mr Wood said: “Even if the proposal is not a permanent solution, it certainly is a damn good temporary one.

The society also saw it as vital to link this proposal with any redevelopment around the railway station and North Westgate. “They all have to fit together and not be looked at in isolation,” said Mr Wood.