Mayor launches plans for University of Peterborough to the public for the first time

Mayor launches plans for University of Peterborough to the public for the first time

Plans for the University of Peterborough have been unveiled to the public for the first time by Mayor James Palmer and Councillor John Holdich, Leader of Peterborough City Council, at an event at Peterborough Cathedral.

To celebrate the significant milestone towards delivery of the University of Peterborough, the Mayor and Councillor Holdich hosted an event to launch the plans and set out aspirations for how the University will help regenerate the city of Peterborough and the wider region.

Following the official launch, the University of Peterborough plans are on display to the public until 6^th February.

The plans include the suggested location for the University, building look and feel and how the University will integrate with the existing landscape.

People are also being asked to comment on the University’s sustainability strategy, including proposed measures to mitigate the effects of Climate Change, such as provision of solar shading and allowance for cross ventilation throughout the building to stop overheating.

The public are being asked to feedback on the plans, ahead of planning permission being sought for construction of the University, expected to begin in Autumn this year.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and leader of the Combined Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer said:

“This is an iconic moment in Peterborough’s cultural history. After years of false starts, today we lift the curtain on plans for the University of Peterborough, putting flesh on the bones for proposals for a new technical university that will drastically improve the life chances for people in Peterborough and beyond.”

Councillor John Holdich, Leader of Peterborough City Council and Deputy Mayor of the Combined Authority, said:

“A key part of our city’s development will be the creation of a dedicated university. It is the single biggest thing we can do to stop our talented young people from leaving Peterborough and to give our businesses a good crop of people to apply for jobs.

“The public exhibition is a really exciting step forward in our plans to deliver a fully-fledged university and I encourage people to go along and view the designs and tell us what they think, prior to the planning application being finalised.”

The University of Peterborough is being driven forward by the Mayoral Combined Authority in collaboration with Peterborough City Council.

The University of Peterborough is on track to open its doors to its first students in 2022.

The first three faculties of the University are set to include business, innovation entrepreneurship and professional services; information technology, digital and creative services and Agri-tech and environmental services.  Planned future faculties include health and social care, engineering, manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.

Courses will be delivered through a mixture of on campus lessons, in-work training and apprenticeships, with distance learning to improve accessibility and widen participation.

Peterborough has seen rapid expansion in both population and employment levels in recent years. Skills growth, however, has not kept up and skills levels in Peterborough are currently in the bottom 10% of the country.

The University will deliver courses that are targeted specifically towards industries across Peterborough where demand currently outstrips availability of skilled workers.