Station redevelopment plan given amber warning

An artist's impression of how the area leading from the station to the city centre could look

A warning has been issued about plans to redevelop land by a railway station.

The Peterborough Station Quarter project had to be completed by March 2026 to be eligible for funding from the government's Levelling Up Fund.

Documents presented to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's Investment Committee said there were concerns about the project meeting timescale deadlines and keeping to the budget.

The authority, which is tasked with delivering the project, issued an amber warning. This meant there were challenges, but they could be overcome with the right interventions.

'Postpone'

The Peterborough Station Quarter Steering Group agreed to postpone the full business case submission from October 2024 to January 2025.

The amber status reflects "significant" risks and challenges in maintaining a programme that delivers a completion date of March 2026, as per levelling up funding conditions and the challenge of delivering the station buildings within the budget, said the report.

The project was awarded almost £48m from the Levelling Up Fund with the city council and Network Rail providing the rest.

A consultation was launched about the scheme and residents have until 27 September to complete it.

The authority's investment committee, which looks at how projects are progressing, is due to meet on Thursday.

It will discuss how the deadline can be met as well as plans to build a new entrance on the western side of the station.

The quarter plan was not the only project to be given an amber warning, the bus reform programme and the net zero programme also got the same rating.