Peterborough misses out on City of Culture bid - as Milton Keynes, Middlesbrough and Blackpool all make the longlist

The city was one of 17 locations – not all cities – to bid for the title.

However, the longlist of nine potential winners has now been drawn up – and Peterborough has not made the list.

The locations longlisted to win the title are Blackpool; Inverness-Highland; Ipswich; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; Portsmouth; Sheffield; Swindon; Wrexham

Along with Peterborough, the other locations that bid for the title, but were not long-listed are: Hertfordshire; Reading; Plymouth; Bristol; Carlisle; Exeter; Isle of Thanet

The UK City of Culture longlist was recommended by an independent expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond and supported by Deputy Chair, Claire McColgan. Panel members have been selected based on their wide range of expertise from across the UK.

When Peterborough’s bid was announced, there was hope it could provide the springboard to help put the city on the map.

“We will become bigger and better"

Leader of Peterborough City Council, Councillor Shabina Qayyum, said: "I would have loved to have seen Peterborough make it on to the long-list for City of Culture 2029 but we will take the many positives from the process so far and use this to push forward, with 2033 in our eye.

"One of the biggest positives is the way partners including the Peterborough Tourist Board, our MPs, community groups, residents and others have come together to express pride and passion in our city and their desire to see it recognised for the richness it possesses. It fills me with a sense of emotion that our great city has been starved of attention in the midst of such richness when it is such a great city.

"Mark my words, we will become bigger and better in future and we will continue to put our ambitions into action by shouting loudly about what the city has to offer. In doing so we will strengthen Peterborough’s identity, confidence and national profile, putting it properly on the map.

"I love this city and its beautiful patchwork quilt of diversity and I am proud that we are backing our communities and creativity. The City of Culture process has only strengthened my resolve to put Peterborough on the map, and I will not give up on our city and all that it holds. We owe it to our residents."

“We have started a new way of working and promoting the city"

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said: “I’m really pleased at the way so many people in the city came together for our City of Culture bid. Whilst we did not make the next stage this time, we have started a new way of working and promoting the city that will benefit us all. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard and backed our bid. I can’t wait to see what we achieve next.”

North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling added: “While it’s disappointing that Peterborough hasn’t been shortlisted, this process has shown just how much pride, creativity and ambition exists across our city.

“So many organisations and residents came together to champion our city, and that momentum is something we should hold onto.

“There is still a real opportunity to build on this work - strengthening our cultural offer, attracting investment and making sure Peterborough gets the recognition it deserves.”

“What this process has done for our city is extraordinary"

Stewart Howe of the Peterborough Tourist Board said: "Of course we would have loved to see Peterborough on the longlist, but what this process has done for our city is extraordinary. It has brought together creatives, community groups, cultural organisations, businesses and civic leaders in a way we have never seen before, all united by a shared belief in Peterborough’s creativity and potential.

"The most exciting thing is that this momentum does not stop here. If anything, it accelerates. The partnerships, ideas and energy that have emerged through this bid mean we are now moving forward with the most ambitious cultural programme Peterborough has ever seen.

"This is a city full of creativity, confidence and collaboration, and what we have built together during this process is only the beginning.”

Entering the competition did not cost tax payers a penny – and had the city been successful, a big cash windfall would have arrived.

All nine longlisted places will receive £60,000 each to help them to develop their full bids for the competition - up from £40,000 since the last competition.

The UK City of Culture 2029 winner will be announced later this year and will follow Bradford’s tenure as UK City of Culture 2025.