Road and footpath closures to be unveiled in days as first phase of Peterborough's £65 million Station Quarter works starts

Work on the new look City Link pedestrian and cycle route between the train station and Cowgate is expected to start in earnest in May but before the diggers can move numerous in preparation works have to take place.

The news comes after the completion of a public consultation on proposals to axe 35 trees on the eastern side of the railway at the the Queensgate roundabout to deliver the City Link improvements.

More than 50 trees and shrubs will be planted and a rain garden and stone walls installed as part of the new footpath.

Two subways that run underneath the Queensgate roundabout.will be removed and the landscape enhanced to make the area feel safer and more attractive and improve connections between the station and city centre.

.As well as the release of details of road and footpath closures, work will also start to prepare a compound for the construction equipment and to put up hoardings around the area.

The creation of the City Link is the first stage in the £65 million Station Quarter regeneration.

Councillor Mohammed Farooq, cabinet member for growth and regeneration for Peterborough City Council, said: "Details of highways, footpaths and cycleway closures and diversions are due to be published next week.

"It is our intention to cause the minimum disruption possible as far as path closures are concerned."

He said: “Having allowed the required time for consultation regarding tree removal at the Queensgate Roundabout, we will be able to start the next phase at the end of March (exact dates to be confirmed) which will include removal of trees and vegetation.

"Our contractor will also be putting up hoardings and temporary buildings as part of the site set-up/mobilisation.

"The works programme anticipates diggers moving onto site from around the start of May to begin shifting large volumes of earth and rocks, to change the levels of the ground on the Queensgate Roundabout, in preparation for filling in underpasses and creating an improved and safer route from the Station to Cowgate.

Cllr Farooq added: “The Station Quarter project is going to be a real game-changer for our city and this first phase of works will improve access to our train station.”

What is the Station Quarter regeneration?

The £65 million Station Quarter project was allocated £47.8 million by the Government in October 2023 through its Levelling Up funds to improve the station and surrounding areas.

The remainder of the funding is expected to come from private investors.

Designs for the Station Quarter have been put together by Ove Arup, which is the company selected by the project partners – Peterborough City Council, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, train operator LNER, and Network Rail - to draw up a masterplan and business case for the Station Quarter.

The Station Quarter development will feature:

• New western entrance that creates a double-sided station for improved accessibility from the west side of the city.
• Multi-storey car park that will be located on the western side to support the new entrance.
• A new station square which will be a public area designed to be a gateway to the city.
• Refurbished eastern station buildings with improvements made to the existing station buildings on the city centre side.
• New pedestrian and cycle routes with a landscaped route, including a new link to replace the Cowgate underpass, connecting the station to the city centre and the Cathedral.
• Infrastructure improvements that will feature new junctions and drop-off points to reduce traffic congestion.
• Future development: The project also aims to unlock land currently used for surface parking for future commercial and residential development.