The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
1 ,100 NEW JOBS AS FIRMS INVEST IN OUR CITY
Range of employers making recruitment plans for developments in Peterborough...
Hundreds of jobs are to be created in Peterborough as multi-million pound plans are drawn up to attract a range of employers to the city.
Work for 300 people is expected to be provided with the construction of a huge industrial unit for a food processing company at Peterborough Gateway.
The development has just secured planning approval although the name of the company has not yet been released. A spokesperson for economic regeneration company Opportunity Peterborough would only confirm it was involved in ‘highly confidential’ work with an ‘investor’.
But a report to Peterborough City Council planners states: “It is considered the food processing facility would contribute significantly to the employment opportunities provided for local residents providing up to 300 jobs.”
The application, submitted by Roxhill Peterborough, shows the development at Plot 113, Forli Strada, Alwalton Hill, is to be carried out in two phases creating a total floorspace of 59,118 square metres with a 266 space car park.
There will also be a two storey office block and a singe storey transport hub with a total of 32 HGV parking bays. Staff will work across three shifts over 24 hours, seven days a week.
It comes as supermarket giant Lidl has also confirmed it is still looking at an August opening for its new distribution centre at Peterborough Gateway, which is expected to create up to 500 jobs.
A further 257 jobs are expected to be generated with the proposed development of the Dogsthorpe landfill site, in Welland Road, in Eye.
The creation of 55 jobs was announced last week by the telecommunications firm Opals Group, which has just moved into £2 million premises in Morley Way, Woodston.
The provision of more jobs will come as a relief to political and business leaders after new Universal Credit claimant figures revealed for the first time the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on the financial wellbeing of residents.
Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show a 25 per cent increase in the number of claimants in the Peterborough local authority area.
It took the number of claimants for the month to April 9 to 16,993 people - a rise of 3,413 claimants on the 13,580 in the previous month.
A DWP spokesperson said: “The increase is a mix of those people who lost their jobs, those who were furloughed and on reduced wages and the self-employed.
“The increase at the start of the lockdown was significant and the volume of applicants was something we had not seen before.”
Peterborough MP Paul Bristow said: “Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the country and our city’s economy, the future for Peterborough is still bright. New companies are coming here and existing companies are expanding and creating jobs. These announcements prove this.
Mr Bristow added: “We are on the main road and rail arteries moving north, international brands have made Peterborough their home, but our biggest advantage is our skilled and hard working people. As the great British economy is cranked up again, Peterborough needs to take advantage.”
New companies are coming here and existing companies are expanding.
Paul Bristow Peterborough MP