‘Westgate Market Hall’ - a proposal from Peterborough Civic Society

Built well over 100 years ago it has imposing frontages along Park Road as well as Westgate (see comparative photograph). Adjacent to Queensgate it stands at the heart of Peterborough’s shopping district and deserves to be saved.

The intended redevelopment of the combined sites of the Peterborough Market and multi-storey car park and the closure of the Beales store in Westgate House requires some in-depth analysis and imaginative thinking.

The Civic Society feels that here is an opportunity to put the two changes to positive use by promoting an exciting partial but major repurposing of Westgate House, which would have long-lasting benefits for the city centre. What we suggest is a relocation of the market to a new covered market hall within the shell of the existing building on Park Road and Westgate. This notion was first suggested in the letters page on May 21 by Judy Jones, incidentally a member of the society.

It should be feasible to retain the existing frontage buildings on both Park Road and Westgate for a relatively shallow depth and remove everything else behind. The complete frontage to Park Road appears to have been built originally as a narrow strip of several separate buildings for the full frontage.

The central area behind the retained frontages as far as the North Street area could become the basis of the ‘Westgate Market Hall’, a 21st century version of the Corn Exchange. Permanent market stalls of traditional size would be set out around a central open space which would be ideal for outdoor eating and occasionally for performances. The whole would be covered by a roof allowing in much natural light, constructed in a form and style to bring some excitement to the street scene.

It could, of course, look spectacular from within the hall itself.

The retained frontage buildings would be converted to small retail and food/drink units, with further units on the North Street side. The first floor would have a balcony running around two sides, access being gained via one or more escalators. The upper level units would provide additional space for the more specialist services such as opticians, solicitors and other small offices, a gym and several residential apartments.

Parts of the second floor and loft space could also be converted to apartments. The end result would be a vibrant mixed-use development of a cherished building.

This idea is illustrated in the accompanying sketch and cross-section drawings.

If the existing market site is to be redeveloped the market has to move, in any case, to enable redevelopment to take place. Why not build the new market on a permanent fresh site so that it does not have to move twice? The Westgate House site is ideally located to ensure a sustainable future. It is close to those things which will attract shoppers and traders and close to the true core of retailing next to a ground level pedestrian access to Queensgate. It is also easily accessible to bus and train stations and large capacity car parks. There would also be space for ground level parking on the site. It is also on a route well known to existing Peterborough shoppers, many of Beales’ (and the Co-op’s) old customers being well used to travelling to the Park Road area.

There are many existing local residents living within walking distance and many more to come when north Westgate is eventually developed, with at least 300 new homes.

Implementing such a scheme, assuming it is financially viable, would require the co-operation of a number of agencies; the owners of Westgate House; the city council and the market traders association.

The Civic Society would like to see a feasibility study commissioned as soon as possible to explore this idea involving as wide a range of those individuals and organisations which have a concern for the future of both the Peterborough Market and Westgate House.

Come on Peterborough. For once, let’s use our imagination and make this work!