New talks between East of England Showground owners and nearby residents over future of venue
Owners of the East of England Showground have been in talks with nearby residents over the future of the venue, it has been revealed.
Residents near the164 acre Showground have been outlining their expectations from any forthcoming moves for a housing development on the site to representatives of the venue owners, the East of England Agricultural Society.
The meeting comes about 15 months after two outline planning applications for a 1,500 homes and leisure village development of the Showground were first considered by the Peterborough City Council’s planning committee.
It led to a year-long wrangle before councillors eventually rejected the proposals after the failure of the site owners to agree a major Section 106 agreement.
Now talks with residents are taking place in line with the Society’s pledge last year that it would work with the local community in relation to the future development of the site.
Councillor Nicola Day said: “We welcome the opportunity to engage with the East of England Agricultural Society.
She said that any plans for the Showground were at an early stage and a timescale was uncertain.
Cllr Day added: "But it is good that residents’ views are being sought and we are grateful that we are being listened to at this early stage about our thoughts on family homes, affordable homes, social housing and the need for green space.”
She added: “We were disappointed by the previous application.”
Cllr Day, one of the city council representatives for Orton Waterville, said that if anyone wanted to join the residents’ group SPURR (Showground Plans Under Residents’ Review) group they should contact her at [email protected]
The East of England Agricultural Society has been approached for a response.
However, following the rejection of the planning applications, Duncan Furey, chief executive of the Society, said it remained committed to finding a resolution to the current position that secured the future of the charity and allowed the Society to continue its work across the region.
He said: “As part of that commitment, the Society will continue to work with Peterborough City Council and the local community in relation to the future development of this site and remains fully committed to helping deliver a positive legacy for the Showground site and so that it can continue supporting communities across Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, as it has done so for over 230 years.”
At a glance: Key dates for Showground planning applications:
October 15, 2024: A nine hour meeting of Peterborough City Council’s planning committee. It was agreed to approve AEPG’s outline planning application for 850 homes and a leisure village, hotel, school and care village. But approval was subject to AEPG agreeing a Section 106 agreement in six months’ time – the first deadline. But councillors rejected AEPG’s second application for 650 homes on an adjoining part of the East of England Showground. This included the area that had been the race track for the popular Peterborough Panthers speedway team.
October 23, 2024: The decision to reject the 650 home was ‘called in’ by three councillors.
January 13, 2025: Meeting of Appeals and Planning Review committee. Councillors overturn earlier refusal for the 650 homes. But they also set a deadline to July 17 for AEPG to agree Section 106 conditions.
April 22, 2025: Request for first extension to deadline for 850 homes outline application. This was approved and set to July 17 – the second deadline – to tie in with the deadline set for the second outline application.
July 16, 2025: Council reveals it is considering a second extension to the deadline, effectively creating a third deadline.
September 11, 2025: Council sets final deadline – the fourth deadline – at September 12 for S106 to be agreed
September 12, 2025: Final deadline is missed.
October 21, 2025: Peterborough City Council refuses to grant approval for two outline planning applications for Showground development