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Council urged to start £3.5m city centre project

Joe Griffin
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Peterborough City Council An artist's impression of Lincoln Road, Peterborough, showing how it might look if a regeneration scheme goes ahead. It shows wide grey pavements on either side with people walking along them. A hedge and small trees border the road in the middle, which has zig-zagging white lines on the edges and in the middle of the road. Peterborough City Council
As well as widening pavements, the Lincoln Road scheme includes new bins, cycle parking and benches

A £3.5m works contract needs to be signed so a regeneration scheme for a busy city centre road can begin, it has emerged.

The scheme for Lincoln Road, Peterborough, includes widened pavements, a new pedestrian crossing and electric vehicle charging points.

Officials have told Peterborough City Council's cabinet "construction needs to begin as soon as possible" as the project was given the go-ahead in March.

The scheme is part of its £22.9m Towns Fund Programme, which aims to encourage more people to shop, walk and cycle in the area.

Google Lincoln Road, Peterborough, at the junction with Alma Road on the right. The road is bending to the left. It shows two storey buildings with shop fronts.Google
Lincoln Road is home to many small businesses and the new pedestrian crossing would be with Alma Road (on the right)

'As soon as possible'

It will be largely funded by £2.5m awarded from the government's Towns Fund, with additional financing from the council's budget and other sources.

Full construction costs were expected to be between £3.3m to £3.5m, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Officials highlighted a budget shortfall for the scheme, with the total overspend estimated at £440,000 to £642,000.

Measures to address the shortfall were being "actively pursued", including considering further grant funding from the Towns Fund.

In a report to be considered by the council cabinet on 11 February, they said: "Licenses to carry out works on private property have been granted but will expire in December 2025.

"Therefore, construction needs to begin as soon as possible in order to prioritise these activities."

The cabinet will also discuss the council's 2025/26 budget and its medium term financial strategy.

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