Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will car parking be affected?
Two new multi-storey car parks will be created at the corner
of Bourges Boulevard, Thorpe Road and Station Road and along Bright
Street. The existing multi-storey car parks at Queensgate will be
demolished, but not until the new car parking is provided. Between
early 2009 and early 2011 a new temporary public car park would be
created on railway land to the west of the Crescent Bridge. Subject
to later detailed designs the proposed development would provide
about 240 spaces for disabled drivers, all of which would be
accessible at ground level. A new Shopmobility centre would be
located in the new Bourges Boulevard/Station Road car park.
Replacement parking for the rail station will be provided within
the new multi-storey car park alongside Bourges Boulevard and
Station Road.
2. How many car parking spaces will there
be?
The proposed development would open in early 2013 with about
3,300 car spaces very similar to the existing level of car parking,
although the number of long-stay spaces provided will reduce and
the number of shoppers' spaces will increase.
The spaces would be provided in the two new multi-storey car parks.
Access to those car parks will be made easier by providing new
electronic city centre car park 'Spaces Available' signs. Both car
parks will be built to modern 'ParkMark' standards, with good
lighting, security and other features that shoppers and visitors
should expect upon arrival at Peterborough city centre
3. Will there be a Debenhams in the
development?
The development will be anchored by the large new M&S
store. The identity of other retailers will not be known until
leases have been agreed with the developers.
4. Where will the new Marks and Spencer store
be?
In the North West corner of the development, by the corner of
Bright Street and Bourges Boulevard and at the northern end of the
new shopping street. It would be reached via the new street and a
new pedestrianised Westgate thoroughfare, past Westgate Church and
through the new Westgate Square.
5. What will happen to the existing M&S Stores in
Bridge Street and Queensgate?
Undertakings have been given that the existing M&S store
in Bridge Street will not close until after the new M&S in the
NWG development has been opened.
6. Where will the new bus station
be?
Bourges Boulevard would be remodelled as
part of the proposed development and the new bus station would be
on its eastern side, connected to the retail part of the
development with improved pedestrian links to and from the city
centre and rail station to the west. There would also be better
pedestrian links from the bus station to Bright Street on its north
side, and Cowgate to the south. A detailed design will be submitted
for reserved matters approval but there would be 19 bus stands, a
waiting room, public toilets and other facilities, with undercover
passenger waiting areas and seating for local bus
services.
7. What will happen to bus services between closing
the existing bus station and opening the new bus
station?
Between early 2011, when the existing bus station would be
demolished, and late 2012 when the new bus station would open, a
temporary road-side city centre bus station would be created around
a loop comprising Park Road, Westgate and Lincoln Road. A temporary
"travel centre", public toilets and waiting areas will be provided
along with sign posting to help people to locate the temporary bus
station when walking to and from other parts of the city
centre. These temporary bus station arrangements
will require a high standard of management and cooperation from
local bus operators and bus drivers.
8. What will happen to the Brewery Tap and other
properties affected?
The proposals show that the majority of buildings within the
development site will be demolished to allow the development to
take place.
9. What will I be able to do in North Westgate?
The development would include a variety of large and small new
shops, including a large new modern Marks and Spencer store as the
key retail attraction. There would be a new multi-screen cinema and
new cafés and restaurants to revitalise the city centre into
the evening. A new public square would be created around all sides
of an extended and refurbished Westgate Church. This would create
new public sitting out and eating areas. There would be a new bus
station alongside Bourges Boulevard, between the proposed
development and the Peterborough Rail Station.
The area around the rail station will be redeveloped
separately and is not part of this planning
application. The
existing 25-year-old Queensgate shopping centre is to be
refurbished and updated at the same time as the proposed
development. This is a separate project and not part of the
planning application now being considered. By 2013 there will also
have been a number of improvements to other streets and public
spaces within the city centre all aimed at increasing the quality
and identity of Peterborough as a whole.
10. How long would building works
take?
The developer aims to start on-site preparations in early 2009
and to open the finished development by mid 2013.
11. Is
the proposed development 'green' and
'eco-friendly'?
There are several answers to this question:
- The proposed new buildings would all be constructed to unusually high energy and environmental standards. At least 10 per cent of the energy used will be from renewable sources generated within each building or from decentralized renewable sources. (Solar panels, wind turbines and energy from heat pumps are all likely to be used).
- At present a large number of local people travel to Norwich, Northampton, Leicester or other centres, because these places have better shopping. By improving the range of shops and facilities in central Peterborough, those people would no longer need to travel and would reduce their own carbon footprint. Peterborough would claw back a lot of local spending lost to other centres over the last ten or 20 years.
- A much wider range of better facilities in central Peterborough will make it easier for local people to make 'linked trips' (just one journey for several different reasons) and so reduce their need to travel and their carbon footprint.
- Peterborough city centre is the most accessible place to reach for pedestrians, cyclists and by public transport (buses and trains). By providing a wider range of facilities in the city centre, including a new and more conveniently located bus station, fewer people should need to always rely on using a car.
The new bus station would include computer based signals at
the new bus station and 'airport' style displays around the city
centre to let people see which buses will arrive and leave within
the next few minutes. This should make local bus travel easier with
less waiting and less delay.
12. How does North Westgate fit into the wider plan
for Peterborough city centre?
It is an important part of the bigger picture and would be the
first of the city centre's four 'Opportunity Areas' to begin on the
ground - in early 2009. Apart from creating jobs (see 16 below) and
new homes (see 15 below), it would substantially increase the range
of shopping and other facilities in central Peterborough. It would
also claw back local trade lost to other centres over the last
decade or so.
Next month the council will be publishing the Station Quarter
Development Brief for consultation. This updates the public
consultation that was carried out in 2005 covering the area around
the Rail Station to the west of Bourges Boulevard and extending as
far as Midland Road.
Plans for the South Bank area are also coming together and a
developer is now being selected for the south bank 'Carbon
Challenge' development. This will involve about 450 new "zero
carbon" homes close to the Peterborough United stadium. The council
will be consulting with neighbours and the public about that
development as soon as proposals become clearer.
13. Would the development be open air and free from
traffic?
The main squares will be open air and free from road traffic.
The new shopping street and bus station would have modern canopy
roofs which allow natural ventilation but offer some protection.
The developer intends to spend about £6 million on high
quality surfacing, landscaping, lighting and seating to create a
high quality of public spaces within the development and
surrounding streets. When North Westgate is scheduled to open in
2013, Cathedral Square and the other main streets in the city
centre should also have been similarly upgraded. The developers
intend to provide new secure cycle parking for the public around
North Westgate but, in the interests of pedestrian safety, they
propose that cycles should not be ridden within or through the new
development. The development also includes better and safer
pedestrian/cycle crossings across Bourges Boulevard. Pedestrian and
cycle links connecting North Westgate and Cowgate to the area of
the Rail Station and the Hospital/Thorpe Road area would improve
further when the area around the Rail Station is redeveloped.
14. Will this increase my council
tax?
No. The new businesses and new jobs would add to the number of
people and businesses in Peterborough who share in paying council
tax for local services and other taxes to the Government.
15. How many new homes will there be?
New homes could be at two locations within the North Westgate
development - one alongside Lincoln Road/Bright Street and one
alongside the proposed multi-storey car park fronting Bourges
Boulevard and Station Road. The number of new dwellings will be
subject to a further detailed reserved matter planning application.
However, the development will include affordable homes which mean
low cost rent or shared ownership (low cost purchase).
16. How many new jobs would the development
create?
The exact number of new jobs is difficult to estimate because
it depends on the businesses and employers who would occupy the
development when completed in 2013. The likely number is between
1,840 and 3,010 employed directly within the proposed development.
The indirect effect of those new businesses would also create a
significant number of other local jobs.
17. How would the development help local
businesses?
The proposed development would help Peterborough to claw back
a good deal of trade and spending which has been lost to other
centres over the last ten to 20 years. Prospects for local economic
growth after 2013 would improve significantly.
Changes to trading patterns in the city centre after opening of the
proposed development in 2013 would create opportunities for new
local retail and other businesses. A number of new small
'incubator' shops on the frontage to Bright Street would be offered
at subsidised rents to new local businesses, in the hope they
can
later grow and prosper elsewhere in the
city.
18. Will there be a lot of disruption while the
development is being built?
Some disruption is unavoidable but all of the proposed works would be subject to high standards in terms of avoiding noise, dust, disruption and the control over hours and days when work can take place. Safe and clear pedestrian routes between key parts of the city centre including a temporary bus station and the railway station will be maintained while building takes place. The provision of public toilets and shopmobility will also be maintained. There will need to be good temporary sign posting to help people find their way around while building is on-going. The new multi-storey car parks would be phased before demolition of existing car parks to ensure that existing car park numbers are maintained during construction.