Affordable flats at Peterborough’s former Bayard Place offices approved

Planning permission for 115 flats at the site - now called Bayard Plaza - has previously been granted by Peterborough City Council.

But now the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’ Housing and Communities Committee has agreed to convert 38 of those from market units into shared ownership units which are easier to afford.

The mayoral authority originally stated this would be 40 homes, however, that figure has now been amended.

The former offices were sold by the council for £5.95 million to Bayard Place Limited despite being on the market for £6.2 million.

The offices were used for people to access housing advice, customer services, the police and free self-serve computer access.

Those services were then moved into a new Customer Services building in Bridge Street.

In total, the housing committee on Monday approved £3.1 million to be spent creating 82 new affordable homes across Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

This includes 24 at Alconbury Weald.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer, leader of the combined authority, said: “I’m a passionate advocate for home ownership. It is simply not right that so many hardworking people are locked out of the property market through high prices and unattainable mortgages, which is why I’m pleased to see our affordable housing programme continue to deliver for the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, bringing forward another 82 new affordable homes.

“Delivering on affordable housing is about more than putting a roof over people’s heads. Safe, secure housing is linked to economic mobility, health and emotional wellbeing and family and financial security.

“I will continue to do everything I can to provide more affordable homes for the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, a cornerstone of a prosperous, inclusive society.”