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Peterborough
A summary of the Peterborough Integrated Development Plan
Vision and scale of challenge
The vision incorporates an unambiguous welcoming of growth as bringing potential to the city, a commitment to improve the quality of life for all its people and communities and that everyone should benefit from growth. The aim is to create a truly sustainable Peterborough, the urban centre of a thriving sub-regional community of villages and market towns, make it a better place to live, work and visit and to become the ‘Environment Capital of the UK’.
The economic ambition is to exceed the jobs target, based on the growth of Peterborough’s environment cluster along with expansion of other existing clusters in the city (including knowledge based employment). It is recognized that this will require major promotion and will need a more attractive quality of life and housing in order to attract and retain the kind of skilled workers needed. The importance of the development of a University presence to both quality of life and the delivery of economic transformation is clearly recognized in the IDP.
Peterborough is set to grow by 25,000 homes and 20,000 jobs by 2021, although the target set within the IDP is for 25,000 jobs.
Challenges
Peterborough’s economy is relatively successful in both national and regional terms. Although there is a lower than average level of qualifications and skills and economic activity there is a healthy level of entrepreneurship, GVA growth above average and a slightly higher level of knowledge jobs.
Governance and delivery
Delivery of the growth agenda, and the IDP, is shared jointly with Peterborough City Council and Opportunity Peterborough (its Urban Regeneration company). Project delivery is managed through the Growth Programme Board, which is serviced by the City Council but also involves Opportunity Peterborough and some LSP partners such as the Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Packages
There are three spatial packages presented in the IDP and five thematic packages. Peterborough are also somewhat constrained by the progress of the LDF, a position which will be remedied in the summer, although the impact is largely on one package only (urban extensions).
The most significant package at this stage is Peterborough City Centre. It is a clear priority with huge potential and includes over 5000 new homes. The intention is to open up the area south of the river for employment and housing and improve its connections with the city centre north of the river. There is a focus on education and cultural activities, stronger retail and to use the Station Quarter more intensively. There are longer term plans to develop Fengate for housing which will require some transport improvement. Short term priorities include improvements to public realm and image, regeneration of the market area (and relocation of the existing market), and commencing development of the South Bank (including the carbon challenge site and as a possible location for a second Eco Innovation Centre) There are clear links to the University development and knowledge employment contained in other packages.
A longer term package for Neighbourhood Investment Areas aims to achieve growth in the new town District Centres through a combination of ‘densification’ (ie. infill), retail opportunities and renewal of community facilities. In total, this could deliver 4,000 additional homes. One project is ready to proceed but it will not seek EEDA funding.
The bulk of housing growth is likely to be delivered through an urban extension package with two developments delivering around 10,000 units. Currently these are provisional pending progress with the LDF.
A future utility package identifies some key interventions on energy supply (and renewable opportunities) and water and waste management. There are packages on Connectivity and Green Infrastructure with interventions likely to funded through CIF, GAF, EP or Peterborough’s own resources.
There is an Innovation and Business Centres package aimed at growing environment based industry plus financial, media, printing and publishing. Key projects include a locally funded ‘Digital Centre of Excellence’, a second phase Eco-Innovation Centre and the long term possibility of an ‘Inland Port’ – a high technology inland logistics hub and gateway.
The Lifelong Learning package picks up the schools and 16-18 agenda but also includes the establishment of a University presence in the city (which EEDA are already involved in) and the development of a financial business school.
EEDA involvement is likely to focus on the South Bank, including the Eco-Innovation Centre Phase 2, the University and the growth of innovation and business clusters. There is a request for EEDA funding to contribute towards City Centre Public Realm as part of the process of changing the image of Peterborough.
Fit with toolkit
- clear vision and good analysis and evidence base on economic and housing growth requirements
- good strategy/policy and project detail base
- clear effort to prioritise
- some potentially exciting packages and projects
- further work, medium term, on providing more cohesion within and between packages.
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