Your views are needed as work starts to shape Peterborough city centre for next 20 years

All users of the city centre are being urged to make their views known about how they want it to look and the facilities it should offer over the next 15 to 20 years.

It is part of the Peterborough Visioning Project to create an inclusive city centre which attracts residents, visitors and new businesses to invest.

The project is being driven by Peterborough City Council and is part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England to drive housing, economic growth and regeneration in the region.

Now an online survey and a series of pop-up events and stakeholder workshops are being held to gather the views and opinions about the city centre now, and what people think are its strengths and weaknesses.

Residents, shoppers, businesses, visitors and other interested parties are being urged to share their ideas on how the centre should develop, perhaps as a place where residents can spend time with friends and family, a visitors’ destination, a residential area, a thriving businesses district and somewhere that attracts people from far and wide.

Cllr Mohammed Farooq, Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration, said: “The city centre is the beating heart of any city and is such a vital component when people consider living, working or visiting.

“We want to create a city centre of which our residents and communities are proud, somewhere they want to spend time with their friends and families and that meets their needs with the right balance of shopping, working and other experiences to make it an attractive place to be.

“Our new vision will set a clear direction for an accessible, safe and vibrant city centre that supports quality of life, attracts investment, and reflects the needs and aspirations of the people who live, work, study and visit here.

“We want to hear from as many people as possible to help shape this vision.

“Your views will help inform priorities for the city centre, including how it looks and feels, how easy it is to get around, the mix of uses and activities, and how inclusive and welcoming it is for everyone.”

Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “It’s time to get moving on the regeneration of Peterborough city centre.

"This is about setting a clear direction for the next 15 to 20 years and backing it with ambition, momentum and delivery.

“If we want higher-paid jobs, stronger businesses and rising living standards, we need a city centre that attracts investment, talent and visitors.

“This visioning work is a vital step in turning people’s wishes into real progress.

"We’re aligning housing, transport and regeneration to transform the city centre and bring the accelerated growth that will make people healthier, wealthier and happier.”

Jo Nugent, acting executive director at Homes England said: “We're all focused on supporting how the delivery of sustainable regeneration and the acceleration of housing delivery can happen to benefit Peterborough residents, visitors and businesses for years to come."

A six-week engagement exercise is now being launched including an on-line survey and followed by a series of pop-up events in local schools, the university, with businesses and in the local community.