Peterborough Station Quarter: Redevelopment

Wendy Morton Excerpts

Tuesday 6th September 2022 Westminster Hall

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Wendy Morton)]

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Paul Bristow) for raising this important matter, and for setting out the proposed project so clearly. I also celebrate my hon. Friend’s work in campaigning for Peterborough. I know how hard he works, not only in relation to the levelling-up fund round 2 bid to develop the Peterborough station quarter, but for wider investment across his constituency. It is clear from his speech that he deeply understands the rich history and the present needs of the community in Peterborough.

This Government’s central mission is to level up the United Kingdom by spreading opportunity more equally across the country, bringing left-behind communities up to the level of more prosperous areas. I am therefore delighted to have this opportunity to set out our ambitious plans to address this and ensure the success of the whole country, realising the potential of every place and every person across the UK.

As a Government, we have already made progress towards levelling up, but, as I am sure hon. Members will agree, we must continue to focus on delivering this crucial priority. That is where the levelling-up White Paper comes in, to build on the billions of pounds already invested in local areas over the last few years. Such funding has benefitted places across the United Kingdom, including my hon. Friend’s constituency of Peterborough. This is our plan for reversing the country’s inequalities and for improving the United Kingdom.

While the strategy is set, I know that many hon. Members are interested in what it means for their local places and communities. Importantly, new initiatives announced in the White Paper will build on the success of a wide array of funding schemes that are already in progress. Through programmes such as the levelling-up fund, mentioned by my hon. Friend, the Government are already providing crucial capital investment in local infrastructure across the United Kingdom.

I will talk in more detail about the levelling-up fund and touch on what is already being done to level up local places and invest in our communities. My hon. Friend called this debate to discuss investment in infrastructure that will help to improve everyday life for local residents, and I commend him for his sincere and passionate support for the ambitions of Peterborough to develop the station quarter. As we are in the middle of assessing round 2 bids, it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail or make judgments on individual bids. However, I welcome the bid for future funding and the thought that has gone into it. We are clear that the second round of funding will look to build on the success of round 1, which saw £1.7 billion awarded to 105 successful projects across the UK.

I am pleased that Peterborough is one of the five places in the east of England that will receive a share of the £87 million awarded to 12 successful projects from the first round of the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund. In round 1, Peterborough received a significant £20 million Government investment that will help to build part of the new Anglia Ruskin University campus and really put Peterborough on the university map—I can see my hon. Friend is nodding, and rightly so. It will also boost the economy and create more than 500 jobs. The local community and 1,700 students will benefit from a new interactive science lab and education space, called the Living Lab.

Regeneration of the city centre brownfield site forms the centrepiece of the new University Quarter Cultural Hub, which is expected to attract 50,000 visitors a year. Part of the space will also be open to the public, showcasing the city’s net zero future through exhibitions and events, including festivals of ideas, immersive displays and evening classes. The project will also help to upgrade, create and connect existing and new museums, an arts venue, two theatres and two libraries in 50 acres of renewed, open green space, part of the regeneration of the river embankment that will open up a key leisure area for the city centre.

We recognise that community pride, such as that in Peterborough, is really important. This is why the levelling-up fund is focused on regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport and investing in cultural and heritage assets. These are themes that I know hon. Members and their constituents are interested in and a key part of the levelling-up agenda.

My hon. Friend will be aware that Government investment in Peterborough has been considerable. The 2017 Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority—the CPCA—devolution deal includes significant benefits for the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It includes a new £600 million fund—£20 million annually for the next 30 years—to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs, and a directly elected mayor. The £6.3 million investment in the A47/A15 junction 20 eased congestion at Peterborough Parkway and unlocked community infrastructure. Peterborough City Council secured £22.9 million from the towns fund, which is delivering better sustainable transport links and connectivity for city.

Looking at transport in particular, local transport in the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority has received considerable support. That includes £4.3 million of funding from the zero-emission bus regional area scheme, and a new vehicular bridge between Whittlesey and Peterborough, which opened in July after a £30 million investment, to improve travel times by replacing a level crossing. The CPCA was also awarded £1.7 million in active travel funding to support short journeys by foot or cycle. Works include widening pavements, reallocating traffic lanes to accommodate cycle lanes, and installing cycle parking. Those are just a few examples of how this Government are investing in the area, and I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that, in Peterborough, we are well on the way to levelling up the transport infrastructure and improving the experiences of residents and visitors alike.

As hon. Members may know, the levelling-up fund is competitive, with funding distributed to places across the UK on the basis of successful project selection. I know that many places, including Peterborough, have prepared applications to the fund after the launch of round 2. As my hon. Friend has outlined today, local investment really has the power to change local lives, create jobs and create further investment for places. The aim of this funding is to empower local areas to identify and bring forward genuine local priorities. It will fund projects prepared in collaboration with local stakeholders that have clear benefits to the local community and are aligned with a broader local economic strategy. I am pleased to hear that Peterborough has submitted a bid for round 2 funding, but, as I have said, this is currently being evaluated, so it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics during this period of the competition. What I can say is that we look forward to announcing successful bids for the second round of the fund later in the year.

To close, I once again extend my thanks to my hon. Friend for bringing forward this debate. I am in no doubt that he will continue to be a passionate campaigner and advocate for his constituency.

Question put and agreed to.