Disappointment as Peterborough nature spot still at risk of major industrial development
An area totalling 115.5 hectares which borders Stanground has been kept in the latest proposed Local Plan for Peterborough as a location for a major commercial and industrial development
Plans for a major industrial development at a Peterborough nature spot are still on the cards despite backlash.
An area totalling 115.5 hectares (285 acres) known as ‘Drysides’ which borders Stanground has been kept in the latest proposed Local Plan for Peterborough as a location for a major commercial and industrial development.
The site runs from the London Crane Depot at Horsey Bridge, along the back of Park Farm up to Stanground Wood.
It is home to a large variety of wildlife including deer, foxes, pheasants, voles, frogs, toads as well as a variety of birds such as swans and owls
Drysides is also a popular walking/dog walking area, especially for residents in Stanground.
The Local Plan is the key document which allows local authorities to guide development in their areas, with around 20,000 new homes and 196 hectares of new employment land planned for Peterborough in the next 20 years.
The council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the final draft of the Local Plan next week, to enable a six-week consultation to take place in September and October 2026 before it is submitted to the government for approval.
Councillor Chris Harper, who represents Stanground South, has campaigned against the proposed Drysides industrial development.
He said that while the news of the development still being listed in the proposed Local Plan was “very disappointing”, it was still an opportunity for people to make their opinions heard for one final time.
“The battle is far from over,” he said
“Rather this will now give everyone and in particular those that have only recently become aware of the campaign, another opportunity to send in comments.
“The officers are in my opinion out of touch on this and backing the easy option when other land has been proposed in the first round but then disregarded.”
Cllr Harper said he would be writing to all cabinet members to request that they refuse the recommendation to send the latest version of the Local Plan to consultation at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 25.
He added: “The current administration has a chance now to pursue and leave a lasting legacy for our children and children’s children by protecting this area and allocating a more suitable site/s rather than be seen and remembered as one that ignored the people and chose to destroy it.”
Within the latest proposed Local Plan, it stated that planning permission for the Drysides development would only be granted once appropriate solutions to a number issues were demonstrated and proved to be deliverable.
This included transport issues, flood risk, historic environment issues, impacts on biodiversity, mineral issues, pollution, and visual and landscape impacts.
Representations received in the Local Plan’s final consultation stage will only be considered by an independent planning inspector, not Peterborough City Council.
The council cannot amend this version of the plan before it is submitted.
Peterborough’s Proposed Submission Local Plan must be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by December 31.
Councillor Numan Ali Iqbal, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “A Local Plan is at the heart of the planning system and provides a framework for guiding decisions on individual planning applications and identifies land for development, as well as areas where development should be restricted.
“We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the consultation process so far which has enabled us to continue to refine the plan until we have this Proposed Submission Document.”