Peterborough Station Quarter and Homes for Ukraine scheme among key upcoming council decisions

A council’s cabinet acts as the main executive and decision-making body, responsible for day-to-day services and policies within the budget set by the full council.

Peterborough’s cabinet consists of the council leader, Labour’s Cllr Shabina Qayyum, and nine appointed councillors who each have their own area of responsibility.

These councillors are usually of the same political group as the leader, however, Peterborough’s administration is currently a coalition between members of the Labour, Peterborough First and Liberal Democrat groups.

Here are some of the key upcoming decisions to be made at the next cabinet meeting on October 1:

Station Quarter update

One of the main items to be discussed at the next cabinet meeting is a progress report on the Peterborough Station Quarter project.

The £65 million project got underway in May this year and aims to renew the areas around Peterborough Railway Station to create a more enjoyable and accessible space.

Its first phase, City Link, will create a more direct route for pedestrians and cyclists from Peterborough Railway Station to the city centre (via Cowgate).

The City Link phase will remove two of the three subways that run underneath the Queensgate roundabout (southern and western), creating direct access to the city centre.

The landscape will also be enhanced, making the area feel safer and more attractive.

This first phase is estimated to be completed by spring/summer 2027, with the full Station Quarter works set to be finished by the end of 2028.

Cabinet members will review the progress on this project on October 1.

Reallocation of Towns Fund grant

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the reallocation of Towns Fund programme grant funding.

Peterborough was awarded £22.9 million from the UK Government’s Towns Fund to drive sustainable economic regeneration, cultural improvements, and infrastructure upgrades across the city.

Projects benefitting from the funding include the Cygnet Bridge over the River Nene, Lincoln Road upgrades, Lakeside Activity Centre, the Station Quarter City Link phase and the Centre of Green Technology.

An estimated £9 million has also been allocated to the Vine project.

The Vine project was originally planed to be housed in the former TK Maxx store in Bridge Street, which the council bought for around £4 million using Towns Fund money.

But repairing the building was found to be too expensive and the building was sold for a near £2 million loss.

Now, the Vine community and cultural centre is to be split across three venues in the city.

These will be the Central Library, which is about to undergo a refurbishment; Peterscourt in City Road, which will be revamped next year; and the Victorian Goods Shed at Fletton Quays, which will deliver the food and beverage element of the Vine concept.

Approximately £2.3 million in remaining Towns Fund grant money is to be reallocated to other projects following the sale and redistribution related to the former TK Maxx building.

Budget and corporate performance

Cabinet members will be provided with a 2026/27 Quarter 1 update on the financial performance of the council’s revenue budget, capital programme, savings programme and reserves.

They will also be presented with a report on the council’s corporate performance, which highlights whether the authority is hitting its key performance indicators.

A cabinet meeting held in June heard how the authority’s year-end position for 2025/26 was an overspend of £2.6 million against a £202 million revenue budget.

Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, admitted at the time that the council’s financial position was not where they wanted it to be, but said there was a “significant improvement” in the authority’s fiscal affairs.

Members will discuss the latest budget report on October 1 which will provide information on the authority’s most up-to-date financial position, as well as a report into the council’s corporate targets.

Homes for Ukraine scheme

The ruling cabinet will be asked to approve Peterborough City Council’s administration and delivery of the Homes for Ukraine scheme since its introduction in 2022, including the management of government grant funding and all relevant payments and activities under the scheme.

Homes for Ukraine is a government scheme which asks members of the public to offer space in their homes for those fleeing the war.

This allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the country.

Once a Ukrainian national has received their named sponsor visa, they are free to travel to their sponsor’s property.

Ukrainians arriving under this scheme will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access benefits, healthcare, employment, and other support.

Refugees receive a singular £200 subsistence payment per individual after a welcome visit has been completed to help them to settle and purchase essentials.

Disposal of industrial site

Cabinet members will also be asked to approve the disposal, by way of either leasehold or freehold, of an industrial site in Peterborough.

The disposal is related to the former Unimetals recycling site located on Fourth Drove in Fengate.

It is not yet clear what the value of the site is, but the disposal has been marked as a key decision due to there being expenditure or savings greater than £500,000.

The site is currently listed as ‘under offer’ on the Savills website.

The listing states: “The property comprises a former metals recycling facility situated upon a rectangular parcel of concrete surfaced land, secured within four metre high steel panel and mesh fencing and benefitting from two access points onto Fourth Drove.

“The property includes two industrial buildings of steel portal frame construction, with eaves heights of 5.85 to 7 metres.”