Current project status
The public engagement period for Peterborough Station Quarter closed on Friday 27 September 2024. We are collating the responses received into a report which will feed into the Full Business Case.
About the project
This is an exciting opportunity for those who live, work, visit or own a business in Peterborough. The project aims to reclaim, reinvigorate and renew the areas around Peterborough Railway Station - also known as the 'Peterborough Station Quarter' - to create a more enjoyable and accessible space for everyone.
The project aims to improve the existing station and surrounding areas.
All the information about this project is available on this page. However, if you wish to see more visuals, please visit the Commonplace website.
The proposed scheme
The project aims to:
- Create a welcoming and vibrant destination on the east and west sides of the station
- Make the station easier to access with a new entrance on the western side
- Make the station more attractive by enhancing the nearby surroundings to be more friendly and inviting for residents and visitors
- To improve station to city connections in all directions, bringing the surrounding communities together around the interchange
Project aims and benefits
The project aims to benefit both residents and visitors of Peterborough by:
- Improving connectivity between the station and city centre
- Enhancing public spaces
- Improving accessibility
- Providing a more attractive first impression of the city
- Improving station capacity and facilities
Eastern entrance to the railway station
The proposals for the eastern entrance are to improve the space and access, creating a more welcoming gateway to the city by:
- Improving the existing station building
- Delivering a new station square, allowing for easier onward journeys
- Better connecting rail and other travel modes
- Reducing the amount of land required for car parking by building a new multi-storey car park which will be located on the new western entrance of the station
To achieve this, we propose the following changes:
- Relocation of taxis, drop-off and accessible parking to an area within the current car park. This will free up space in front of the station for the new station square, allowing for better onward connections.
- Refurbishment and extension of the existing station building for a better customer experience through the station.
- Reconfiguration of the gate line and relocation of the stairs to the existing footbridge over the train tracks. This is to help address passenger congestion on Platform 1 and provide passengers with a better station experience.
Western entrance to the railway station
The proposals for a new western entrance and railway station building will improve access to platforms and other benefits, including:
- Reducing vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist interaction
- Decreasing congestion across Crescent Bridge to help reduce emissions, improving air quality
- Providing a new suitable junction and infrastructure for the new entrance with drop-off points and a multi-storey car park
The new western entrance will reduce journey times for 30% of users accessing the station from the west.
City to station link
This package of works aims to improve all types of connection between the city centre and railway station.
The railway station is approximately 10 minutes walking distance of the city centre. Currently the route is not easy or welcoming for people to navigate with a maze of narrow pavements, dark underpasses and pedestrian bridges.
The proposals will make the route and paths more accessible and attractive by filling in one underpass at Queensgate roundabout to provide a level pedestrian crossing to Cowgate.
A new station square and open public spaces will also help create a better link from the railway station to the city centre. The perception of safety is also a concern with the space currently poorly lit with little natural surveillance.
The upgrades to this route will also improve the connection to the nearby Queensgate bus station for easier onward public transport connections.
The environment
The project aims to make Peterborough a greener and more sustainable city with healthy wildlife habitats by:
- Consolidating a large area of surface car parking to unlock land for future uses
- Improving biodiversity through planting of trees, vegetation and landscaped green space
- Special consideration will be given to any new drainage arrangements and connectivity to the nearby waterbodies / watercourses such as the River Nene to avoid any volume, flow or water quality changes which could impact negatively on biodiversity
- There is potential to implement Sustainable Drainage Systems as part of the drainage design for the scheme
Engagement survey
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey, attended a workshop or visited one of our public pop-up events.
Feedback from the survey will go into a report as part of a Full Business Case to Government in early 2025.
Alongside our projects partners - the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, LNER and Network Rail - we are working together on the transformational project to revitalise the area surrounding the railway station to enhance connectivity, accessibility and overall experience for residents, businesses and visitors.
The Government allocated the project £47.8 million to improve the station and surrounding areas.