Can a cinema complex help transform a city centre?

Shoppers including Angela Irwin (centre) don't believe a new cinema will be enough to save Queensgate

Peterborough’s Queensgate Shopping Centre is hoping the addition of a cinema will give it a new lease of life.

According to a planning notice to Peterborough City Council this week, the Odeon Group plans to take over the new £60m, 10-screen cinema under construction in the city centre.

Previously, independent cinema chain Empire was chosen as the operator. But last year, the company went into administration leading to uncertainty over the Peterborough development.

Queensgate's owners declined to comment about the planning notice.

The empty units were occupied by John Lewis before it shut in 2021

Will the cinema be enough to revive the centre?

Shopper Angela Irwin said she did not think a new cinema would be enough to transform Peterborough city centre as a shopping destination.

She said: “It needs a lot more and better shops to pull shoppers back in.

“I come in very rarely - what’s the attraction for us?”

Other shoppers said the centre was "tired" and in need of modernisation.

The bus station, which is part of the centre, has also been a “frustration” for some.

"It gives a bad image to commuters," one woman said.

The escalators have been broken since December. There have also been concerns about the leaky roof and lack of toilets.

Toby Wood, Civic Society vice chairman, said: “It [the leaking roof] needs to be sorted out. You can’t go on like this with buckets to collect the water.”

The Body Shop at Queensgate is scheduled for closure

John Lewis closed its city centre store in 2021, despite the completion of a £12m refurbishment.

Marks & Spencer and The Body Shop have reecently announced their stores in Queensgate are to close.

Cosmetic brand MAC, kitchen retailer Lakelands, and fashion stores Joules and Next have already left Peterborough.

There has also been welcome news for the centre with some empty units replaced by other retailers including TK Maxx.

Retail giant Frasers has announced it will move into the former John Lewis store by 2025.

Indoor golf venue Puttstars and Black Sheep Coffee were recent additions.

Invesco Real Estate, which owns Queensgate, called House of Fraser's entry a “significant step” in its transformation.

Shoppers said they had "very little reason" to come to Queensgate

Queensgate said the broken escalators were being repaired as a "priority"

Buckets were placed around the bus station to collect rain water from leaky roofs

As a new addition, the centre now has sofas for shoppers to relax on.

Heather Campbell, who was sitting on one of the sofas, called the centre "disappointing".

"There is not much happening in Queensgate," she said.

“These sofas are nice though, I just got off the bus and am having a sit.”

Sofas have been described as a "nice addition"

There is no timeline on when Odeon will start operating at Queensgate.

The BBC has contacted Odeon Group for comment.

A spokesperson for Queensgate said the escalators were a "priority" and refurbishment works for the bus station commenced on 4 March.

The work would last for 11 weeks, helping "to create a better visitor experience".