Westminster Life: Working together for the best for Peterborough
Putting Peterborough on the map for investment is a key part of my role, as is working with others to achieve that, writes Andrew Pakes MP.
This week I had the opportunity to invite Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP to Peterborough to see for herself the regeneration projects now starting to take shape in our city. Her visit was a chance to showcase what happens when local determination is matched by government backing, and to underline my priority in Parliament: securing investment that delivers real benefits for people in every part of Peterborough.
The visit highlights the opportunities we have as a city when we work together, so I was delighted that Mayor Bristow also joined us for much of the day. Not everything needs to be about party politics. So, when the MPs, Mayor and council pull together, it makes a positive difference.
The day started at the Station Quarter, where work is finally beginning on the £65 million transformation of the area around the railway station. For years, people arriving in Peterborough have been greeted by an underwhelming gateway that does not do justice to our aspirations as a growing city. The Station Quarter plans will change that, creating a modern, welcoming entrance, better routes into the city centre, and the space for new jobs and investment.
From there, the Minister joined Peterborough Positive for a whistle‑stop tour of the city centre. Their work, from putting on events to tackling antisocial behaviour, is vital to making the heart of our city feel safer, busier and more welcoming. Peterborough has been allocated up to £1.5 million to back projects that build pride and footfall in the city centre, and the Minister heard how that money can support better public spaces, events and a stronger business community.
A key stop on the visit was ARU Peterborough, our university campus which is fast becoming one of the engines of our local economy. Opened in 2022, the campus is employment‑focused, with local employers helping to design courses so that students are trained for the jobs our economy needs. At University House, we were able to show the Minister how investment is creating opportunities for young people to study, train and build their futures here in Peterborough rather than having to move away.
Later in the day, we headed to Paston Farm Community Centre to focus on what regeneration must mean for our neighbourhoods as well as the city centre. Paston, Gunthorpe and Dogsthorpe are set to benefit from up to £20 million over the next decade through the Pride in Place programme, with a further £20 million for the Ortons. This new funding is designed to give residents a direct say over the future of their area through neighbourhood boards, and I am determined it is shaped by local people, not imposed from Westminster.
What struck many of us on the visit was a shared message: Peterborough works best when we work together. There is still a long way to go, but the direction of travel is positive, and my job as your MP is to keep Peterborough at the top of the agenda and to make sure every ministerial visit turns into real action for our city.