Peterborough Local Plan called in due to concerns around Showground and Drysides developments
Councillor Steve Allen says the issues are too significant to pass without a proper review
A Conservative Peterborough councillor backed by her group has called in a cabinet decision to approve the latest version of the Local Plan.
Peterborough City Council’s cabinet members met on Tuesday, August 25 and approved the final draft of the city’s Local Plan – titled the ‘Proposed Submission’.
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.
Cabinet’s decision enabled a six-week consultation to take place in September and October 2026 before the plan is submitted to the government for final approval – but this decision has now been called in.
Conservative councillor Kirsty Knight said in her call-in request that she wanted a scrutiny committee to examine the evidence supporting the removal of the proposed industrial development for Drysides near Stanground from the Local Plan.
She also wanted the committee to examine the implications of removing this 115.5 hectare site for the overall supply and distribution of employment land, how future employment needs would be met elsewhere, and whether alternative options were realistically considered.
It comes after a last minute amendment was made at the recent cabinet meeting to remove the proposed Drysides site, a development which Peterborough First councillor Chris Harper had been passionately campaigning against.
Cllr Knight also wanted a scrutiny committee to establish whether the combined impact of 2,070 homes planned for the East of England Showground had been adequately assessed in relation to highways and transport, education, health provision, drainage, utilities and other necessary infrastructure, including the timing and deliverability of that infrastructure.
Her call-in was backed by the Conservative group and signed by Cllr Steve Allen and Cllr Asim Mahmood.
“We called in the Local Plan decision because the issues involved are too significant to pass without proper scrutiny,” a Conservative group spokesperson said.
“Cabinet removed around 115 hectares of strategic employment land at Stanground at the same time as Peterborough is planning for substantial housing growth.
“We want clear evidence showing how the city’s future employment needs will still be met and why such a major change was justified. (It is a great concern that after months of meetings and discussions, cabinet changed their mind at the eleventh hour during the meeting itself. This doesn’t appear to be robust decision making.)
“We are also concerned about the cumulative impact around the East of England Showground.
“With around 1,500 homes already proposed and a further 570 identified in the Local Plan, the wider area could see approximately 2,070 homes. We want to be satisfied that the combined impact on roads, schools, health provision, drainage and other infrastructure has been properly assessed.
“This is not about opposing development. It is about ensuring that decisions of this scale are transparent, evidence-led and properly scrutinised before they are allowed to shape Peterborough for years to come”.
Explaining what happens next, Labour councillor Numan Ali, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “We can confirm that we have received a request to call-in the cabinet decision to approve the council’s Local Plan Submission version and progress to a final public consultation period.
“This call-in means that the decision will be reviewed by the Economy, Inclusive Growth and Environment Scrutiny Committee later this month September 24.
“This committee may then make recommendations for consideration, including potentially asking cabinet to reconsider its decision.
“If a further report is agreed to be considered by cabinet, it is anticipated that this will take place on October 1 when cabinet is already meeting.
“We will be better able to advise on any further implications for the Local Plan following this.”
The Local Plan has gone through many changes in recent years following various consultations in order to get to this final stage before government gives its approval.
The city council has been praised for listening to its residents during the Local Plan process.
For example, a proposed 3,000 home development at Castor and Ailsworth was removed from the plan after severe public backlash, as well as a proposed development at the much-loved Green Backyard charity site in Peterborough.
However, some contentious sites still exist in the plan meaning some remain unsatisfied with its latest version, including the Conservative group.
The proposed submission of the Local Plan must be handed to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by December 31 this year.