Peterborough has a reputation problem. The cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, 48 minutes from London, is often named among the worst places to live in the UK. Locals on social media have called it 'dismal', saying it once was 'incredible' in the 70s and 80s but now has an 'atmosphere of misery'.
The decline of the high street is a common complaint. John Lewis closed permanently in 2021, and M&S was lost in 2024. Others say there is little to do in the city, leaving it feeling 'dead'.
£65m Station Quarter
Several projects are now aimed at reviving the city. A £65 million transformation of the area between Peterborough railway station and the city centre is being delivered by Peterborough City Council, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Network Rail, Platform4 and LNER.
Plans include a new 'City Link' walkway providing safe, direct access between the station and Cowgate for pedestrians and cyclists, removing the need to use the current 'dark' underpasses. The station will get a reconfigured layout, new entrances and a multi-storey car park, while the existing car park is expected to become a pedestrianised square with a taxi rank, drop-off point and accessible parking.
Leisure centre and youth zone
A £36 million swimming pool and leisure centre is also planned as part of the Embankment programme, south of the university. It will feature a 25m pool with eight lanes, a 20m activity pool, a café, a fitness suite and soft play.
A state-of-the-art youth centre is proposed close to the lido, with designs being developed alongside the youth charity OnSide. The space would be designed for young people aged 8 to 19, or up to 25 for those with disabilities or additional needs. In July, it was revealed that the purpose-built Youth Zone would cost £13 million, with £410,000 of council funding needed to progress the designs.
Bridge and government funding
Work worth an estimated £8.3 million is being carried out on the new Cygnet Bridge over the River Nene, giving pedestrians and cyclists a direct route between Fletton Quays, the Embankment and the city centre.
Peterborough is also receiving up to £40 million from the Government's Pride in Place programme. The funding will be split between Orton Malborne, Orton Goldhay, Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland, and invested in services such as education, health and employment.
In addition, £13 million from the Towns Fund has been awarded for The Vine Project, which will refurbish Central Library and create two other spaces: a flexible workspace for small businesses and an education and community space.
Amazon creates 1,400 jobs
Amazon has announced a £107 million distribution centre in Peterborough, due to open in September and create 1,400 jobs.
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said the city had been 'underrated' for too long and they were going to show off its 'best side' to the world. He told The Daily Express: “Despite a tough economic outlook, we are getting investment into the city, and that will help put money back into people's wallets and purses.”
He added: “We've certainly got some challenges as a city that is seeking to rebuild itself. Sadly, we're not going to be able to turn the clock back to before the days of internet shopping, and we're not going to bring John Lewis back. But we've got a huge amount going for us.”
Growth shows signs of momentum
Earlier this year, Peterborough was named the UK's fifth fastest-growing city. Job growth rose 23.9% from 2014 to 2024, and population growth over the same period reached 14.2% — twice the national average.
