Masterplan will be scrutinised

Experts at Peterborough City Council face months of painstaking work to check the viability of proposals in the newly released Embankment masterplan. Council officers have now been tasked with analysing the blueprint’s findings and recommendations in a bid to move the project forward.

Council leader, councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, said: “The Embankment Masterplan is a key document which could provide a blueprint for a large area of our city centre - we recognise and respect that everyone will have differing views on its future. “That’s why throughout the whole process we have gone to great lengths to make sure that the Embankment Masterplan process is as independent and transparent as possible and that it involved as many views from residents and other key stakeholders as it could. “We have now received the Embankment Masterplan report back from the independent consultants and have published this immediately, as we recognise it is in the public interest.

“It will, however, need careful consideration from officers over the coming months to determine if the proposals are viable and the next recommended steps.”

The council’s Labour group leader, Shaz Nawaz, said: “I’m pleased the masterplan for the Embankment has finally been published even though it’s later than promised.

“We only have one shot to get it right.

“It’s imperative that the Embankment is developed in a way that best serves the need of the people of Peterborough.

“It belongs to them and it needs to enhance what the city has to offer.

“Our view is to keep all options open and under review. “We will continue to consult widely with ward councillors and the community to get their input.

“We will work with everyone across the board to get the best outcome.”

Toby Wood, deputy chairman of the heritage and design watchdog, the Peterborough Civic Society, said: “We welcome the fact that the plan has been delivered as promised by Cllr Fitzgerald.

“It is 114 pages long and therefore will take quite a while to assimilate any recommendations.”