Hanging baskets, more greenery, new toilets, moveable market stalls and more attractive seating is planned for the city centre with £1.5 million Government funding.
The Government announced in September 2025 that Peterborough had been awarded it £1.5 million as part of its national Pride in Place Impact Fund.
The aim of the projects is to help create a more welcoming city centre with improved community and public spaces that encourages residents and visitors to spend more time there.
Since the announcement was made last year the council and Andrew Pakes MP have been consulting a wide range of partners including local businesses via the Bondholder network, Peterborough Positive and the Peterborough Tourist Board as officers look to develop projects that will help to boost the area.
Now more detailed plans are being worked on to introduce new accessible toilets, more greenery, movable market stalls that will bring uniformity but also allow more flexibility when hosting market events, and other new features to encourage people to play and stay in the city centre around Cathedral Square and St John’s Square.
Cllr Numan Ali Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration, said: “The city centre is the beating heart of Peterborough and this funding is the latest step in our major regeneration of this area to attract more investment, encourage new shops and increase our retail offer, and provide high-quality homes where families and people of all ages want to live. We also want Peterborough city centre to be a destination of choice for both our residents and visitors, somewhere that is fun, interesting and entertaining to spend time.
“The Pride in Place Impact funding is just part of the investment we want to attract into the city centre to create a healthier, more attractive, and inclusive city centre environment.
“Quality uniform market stalls to allow more pop-up markets in the city centre, more toilets right in the centre for people who are coming to shop or attend events, and more greenery for people to enjoy. These are the first steps we are taking to ensure the area is vibrant and welcoming for residents, shoppers, visitors and businesses alike.”
Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough, said: “Flowers and planters are making a return to the city centre. Hanging baskets, more greenery, help to restore a more regular market and new toilets are coming to the city centre due to funding from the government.
This is all about making the city centre a more attractive place to visit and building on some the great work already underway by Peterborough Positive, businesses and local groups. I’d like to thank the government for listening for the funding case I made for these changes and for backing Peterborough with increased investment.”
Over the next few weeks, new hanging baskets will be appearing in the city centre, as the first stage in the greening of the area. Officers are also investigating options for introducing more planting to create more shade and quiet cooler areas within the city centre.
Designs are also be drawn up for ‘playful structures’ which could be climbed and sat upon to bring a child-friendly fun element into the city centre while also providing additional seating.
The council is also looking to purchase around 20 uniform temporary market stalls to attract more traders and a wider range of specialist and artisan markets into the city centre
The Pride in Place Impact Funding projects will complement the work that is also underway on the City Centre Visioning Project that will pull together a vision for how the city centre will be revitalised over the next 10 to 15 years.