Opinion: ‘Peterborough developments lacking ‘wow’ factor’

It perhaps says something about local politics in Peterborough that it appears the most effective opposition doesn’t sit in the council chamber.

The group posing the most searching questions to the ruling Conservative Party is made up by the venerable men and women of the Civic Society.

Often seen as guardians of the past the society is also keenly concerned about the city’s future.

Development and growth is one of the city’s key political debates hence the lead the society has taken in challenging plans put forward by the council.

In recent months we have seen articles from the society in the PT raising important points, and sometimes objections, to ambitious schemes for the city. The society has also been vocal in calling for assurances that whatever plans are approved are done so with the input of interested citizens (and by that I think they mean more than the ‘public consultation’ lip service which is trotted out).

If you accept that growth is a good thing, then the city council has done a decent job over the past decade.

Faced with difficulties out of its control from austerity to coronavirus and also having to wrestle with its own financial pressures caused by brutal budget cuts, the council has ploughed ahead beginning with the revamp of the city centre.

The city had been waiting so long for the redevelopment of the south bank it had become a joke among residents, but this council made it happen albeit it renamed Fletton Quays.

And it looks set to succeed where others failed by delivering a long-awaited university.

So far, so so, but what has disappointed me (and perhaps I want the moon on a stick) is the lack of the wow factor with these developments.

Fletton Quays, we all thought, was going to be a vibrant go-to place crammed with shops, restaurants and arts and leisure venues.

But so far, we only have more flats and more offices.

And the council missed an open goal when it failed to include a foot/cycle bridge in the plans (although hopefully that will be rectified with new plans).

The artist impressions for the university are so far underwhelming. I’ve heard it referred to as the Toblerone building (and not in a good way).

Elsewhere in the city, growth seems to have largely consisted of more and more and bigger and bigger warehouses.

Even I don’t expect any architectural excellence there.

We’re still waiting for North Westgate although there is news of progress this week - a saga that is threatening to make the south bank/Fletton Quays look like a short story.

But there are plans for a new regional pool, an arts and library hub in the building occupied by TK Maxx and a leisure treasure trail.

Now if the council also got rid of the ‘Woolies wall’ that really would have the wow factor.