People in Peterborough have been invited to share their views on how they would like to transform the city by 2044 including new schools and infrastructure.

This is part of the city’s Local Plan public consultation and this year, for the first time, the council is asking young people and those on social media for their views.

A questionnaire for secondary schools and a ‘Local Plan Top 5 poll’ will take place alongside the usual formal public consultation which is legally required.

The Local Plan is an important document for the city, setting out where and how it will grow over the coming decades.

It will ensure that Peterborough can demonstrate it has enough land for housing. Planning in a considered way such as this, will help the city to achieve its carbon zero aims by making sure all new buildings and developments have easy pedestrian and cycle links and are energy efficient.

It also ensures employers can find out which land is available for them to occupy, bringing more jobs to the city, and allows new national policies in areas including climate change and biodiversity to be considered.

Moreover, it also gives more time to plan where new infrastructure - including schools, roads and health facilities - will need to be built.

Residents will be able to have their say in a variety of ways throughout the next two years before the new Plan is implemented in 2026. These include:

  • July 28 – September 15 - Public consultation on general themes that the Local Plan should and shouldn’t include and a call for sites seeking land for a variety of uses including housing and employment.
  • Summer 2024 – Public consultation on preferred policies and list of preferred sites to be included in the Local Plan
  • 2025 – Public examination of the Local Plan

Cllr Marco Cereste, cabinet member for growth and regeneration at Peterborough City Council, said: “Peterborough is the second most improved city in England and Wales and our city is on the cusp of a huge wave of redevelopment the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 1980s.

“The decisions we make today will shape the city our children and grandchildren live in. We want Peterborough to grow in a way that supports them and helps them to live healthy and long lives, with economic prosperity - A good Local Plan can go a long way to delivering this.

“This year, for the first time, we have introduced a Local Plan Top 5 Poll, so that everyone can take part in this important debate – in particular younger residents and those who don’t have the time to fill in the longer, more formal public consultation.”

To take part in the consultation, visit here.