Free Parking, Youth Zone and swimming pool funding to be discussed by Peterborough City Council Cabinet
Peterborough City Council will discuss free parking in the city centre and funding for repairs at Jack Hunt School’s swimming pool at a cabinet meeting today (July 21).
The meeting, which is being held at Sand Martin House, will see a number of high profile issues discussed by senior politicians.
The meeting starts at 4pm, and can be followed on the council’s Youtube channel
Free Parking
Leading the agenda will be the proposed Free Parking scheme in Peterborough city centre.
The plans for the scheme would see parking available in four city council car parks (Bishops Road, Car Haven, Riverside, Pleasure Fair Meadow) after 3pm on weekdays (Monday-Friday).
To make the scheme financially viable, Peterborough City Council would receive funding of £891,667 from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
If the council gives the pilot scheme the green light, it is expected that the free parking scheme would begin on Monday, August 3.
Jack Hunt Pool
Cabinet will be asked to approve plans to accept almost £800,000 of grant funding to go towards a major £3.8 million refurbishment of a the Jack Hunt swimming pool.
While the city council continues to progress plans for a new leisure centre and indoor pool on the Embankment, this investment plan aims to ensure the city’s existing swimming facilities are maintained and upgraded to ensure they can be enjoyed by residents and visitors for many years to come.
Cabinet will be asked to accept a £794,000 grant from Sport England towards the refurbishment works at Jack Hunt Swimming Pool in Ledbury Road, Netherton.
The work is expected to start in Spring 2027 and be completed by September 2027.
Youth Zone
The cabinet will be asked to approve the next stage in planning for the proposed Youth Zone on the Embankment.
The Council is proposing to invest up to £410,000 to support the next phase of development, including detailed design work and the submission of a planning application. This will ensure the project is well positioned to take advantage of forthcoming external funding opportunities, including the Government’s Better Youth Spaces Fund, helping to maximise investment into Peterborough.
Cabinet approval is sought for a grant agreement of up to £360,000 with OnSide to progress the design and planning stages. A further report will be presented later in 2026, providing an update on funding, governance arrangements, and the next
steps towards delivering this transformational facility for the city’s young people.
The proposed £13 million Youth Zone would provide safe places to socialise, play sports, learn skills, get support, and take part in activities outside school hours.
Once built, the facility could offer over 20 different activities including a sports hall, boxing ring, dance studio, sensory room, arts and craft, fitness, performing arts and a wellbeing room.
The council proposes to apply for Better Youth Spaces funding towards the project. This is a fund being released in late 2026 and administered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). A further report will be presented to Cabinet in late 2026 setting out a proposed legal relationship structure and providing a financial update for delivering a Youth Zone in Peterborough.
Disposal of Bretton Court
The sale of the four storey Bretton Court could be approved by members of the cabinet.
Councillors are being advised to surrender the local authority’s two leases in the property in a move that will allow the owner, Medesham Homes, to sell Bretton Court to a local developer, which has already made an offer for the premises.
Bretton Court and the surrounding area has become an eyesore for people living nearby for years.
Much of the building is boarded up and covered in graffiti and the surrounding land is overgrown.
The blame for the appearance has been put on an ongoing ownership dispute by the council and Cross Keys Homes, which had joint control over Medesham Homes.