Peterborough Sports Quarter, 20,000 home plan and Goods Shed all to be discussed at cabinet meeting
A Peterborough City Council cabinet meeting will take place next week with a number of important issues on the agenda.
Members will be asked to approve the final draft of the Local Plan which will see around 20,000 homes built in and around Peterborough by 2044.
They will also be asked to approve the sale of the Goods Shed which looks set to be transformed into an independent food hall and entertainment venue.
Also on the agenda are plans for Peterborough’s new Sports Quarter leisure development which are set to take a step forward as cabinet looks to accept an anticipated £20 million government grant.
Local Plan
Cabinet members will be asked at the meeting on Tuesday, August 25 to approve the final draft of the city’s Local Plan.
This will enable a six-week consultation to take place in September and October 2026 before it is submitted to the government for approval.
The Local Plan is the key document which allows local authorities to guide development in their areas.
It outlines what areas should and should not be developed and how land should be protected. The aim of the plan is to ensure there is a balance between development, environmental protection and public interest.
The plan will see around 20,000 homes built in and around Peterborough over the next 20 years.
It has been in development since 2023, with a number of public consultations to determine what the final version should look like.
For example, the most recent consultation stage saw huge backlash on plans for 3,000 homes allocated north of Castor and Ailsworth – which were eventually scrapped from the plan.
This final consultation in September and October is a legal requirement and objectors must state why the plan is ‘unsound’ and what needs to be done to address the matter.
Any representations received will only be considered by an independent planning inspector, not Peterborough City Council. The council cannot amend this version of the plan before it is submitted.
Goods Shed
Cabinet members will also be asked next Tuesday to give approval to sell the Goods Shed building at Fletton Quays to Brick and Bond Properties Ltd.
This could see the historic building transformed into an independent food hall and entertainment venue.
The council-owned property was put up for sale on the open market earlier this year, with several bids received from interested parties.
Brick and Bond Properties Ltd is proposing to redevelop the Goods Shed into a premium independent food hall incorporating around 16 independent food and beverage operators offering a diverse range of cuisines to appeal to all sections of the community, from dining through to entertainment.
The company has also stated they intend to host regular live music, comedy evenings, cultural events and seasonal markets at the venue and offer opportunities for local musicians, artists and performers.
Cllr Numan Ali Iqbal, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “I am recommending the cabinet agrees to sell the Goods Shed to this developer which has a vision to transform this historic building into a vibrant food hall creating another place where residents and visitors will be able to come to socialise with friends and family and enjoy high quality food and entertainment on the redeveloped south bank of our river.”
The current work constructing Cygnet Bridge from Fletton Quays to the Embankment is thought to complement the Goods Shed development once all has been completed.
Sports Quarter
An anticipated £20 million government grant will also be discussed at the cabinet meeting.
If accepted, this would see Peterborough’s new Sports Quarter leisure development proposal take a big step forward.
The money would be put towards the cost of a new eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool in the city.
It follows the submission of a planning application in July for the new leisure development which will form part of a sports quarter for the city.
Plans also include a 20m activity pool, café, family play, health and wellbeing rooms, a 150-station fitness suite and two studios, plus a spin studio.
The new facility is due to be open in the autumn of 2028.
Members will also be asked to approve additional budget for the development, with expected costs exceeding the £37.1 million initial budget envelope agreed by full council in February 2026,
The new development budget will be in the region of £43 million.
Councillor Zameer Ali, cabinet member for communities and public safety, said: “Our residents deserve to have access to high-quality swimming facilities, and this new leisure centre will give them a modern, accessible place to swim, exercise and enjoy activities with family and friends, while supporting better health and wellbeing across the city.
“It cannot come soon enough and that is why cabinet will be asked to agree the proposals so that we can begin site clearance in November, ready for main construction to start early in the new year.”