Cygnet Bridge will provide a sustainable travel connection across the River Nene between the Embankment, Fletton Quays and the City Centre.
The bridge will offer pedestrians and cyclists an alternative route across the river, away from the busy main road. It will create a good link from the south of the city to the new university campus.
Project objectives
The objectives for Cygnet Bridge are:
- Create a new pedestrian crossing over the River Nene
- Improve pedestrian journey times between Fletton Quays and the Embankment
- Improve the quality of sustainable travel links between Fletton Quays and the Embankment
- Improve the riverfront and create landscaped features to enjoy
- Protect and improve the biodiversity value of the area
- Assist in creating a walkable, liveable city
- Reduce pressure on City Centre traffic routes
Funding
The Government's Towns Fund has pledged a total of £2million towards the project. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has ring-fenced this money which means we can only spend it on this project.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has contributed £5.4million. The remainder will come from our own redevelopment budget.
The project budget is currently estimated to be £8.3m.
Current status / next steps
As part of the detailed design process:
- a planning application was prepared and submitted in May 2024.
- Planning was given approval in December 2024.
Site preparation work for the project started on Monday 11 May 2026. The initial work will see a compound, office and welfare facilities set up on site.
Main construction works will commence in the following weeks with footway closures in place on the Embankment from Monday 18 May. The footways will be closed for the duration of the works with signed diversions on site. The project is expected to take around 12 months to complete and the council will publish any updates on its social media channels.
As part of planning for the works, the council has been in regular contact with the organisers of major events that traditionally take place on the Embankment, including the Peterborough Beer Festival, Mart Fair and Great Eastern Run. These events will still go ahead as planned and will not be adversely affected by the works.
2023 consultation summary and chosen bridge name
In the summer of 2023, we ran a consultation asking for views on the pedestrian bridge, including options for an official name. The name 'Cygnet Bridge' was chosen as the preferred name from a list of five options.
As part of this, we published an online survey and carried out several pop-up events at the Nene Park Festival and outside the Town Hall.
In total, we received 566 completed online surveys which provided valuable feedback. We also engaged with approximately 165 people at the public pop-up events.
We held stakeholder group meetings with:
- Cabinet Members
- Ward Councillors
- Peterborough Civic Society
- Peterborough Cycle Forum
- Disability Access Group
Feedback received through the online survey
- 79% of the people who responded supported the bridge
- 55% of the people who responded said the bridge would encourage them to walk or cycle more
- 85% of the people who responded supported a new bin / new bins
- 86% of the people who responded supported a new bench / new benches
- The name 'Cygnet Bridge' was chosen as the preferred name for the bridge out of five options, with 28% of the vote
- 62% of the people who responded supported an art project (this would require additional funding)