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High quality streets, squares and parks are essential to creating a
vibrant heart of the city. Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough
City Council are therefore pleased to announce that they have
jointly commissioned LDA Design, a nationally respected practice of
urban and landscape designers based in Peterborough to prepare
proposals to achieve this.
The strategy will focus on the whole
of the city centre and will set out how our streets and spaces can
be enhanced to create a new identity for Peterborough. The team will
also develop, through consultation, a vision and specific design
proposals for the streets and squares in the core retail and
business area around Cathedral Square, demonstrating how these can
become great places to visit, day or night.
Annette Joyce, city centre director
for the city council, said: “We want to create a place at the heart
of Peterborough which will make it a destination not only for
residents but also for visitors from further afield. Raising the
profile and quality of the city centre will bring benefits to the
local economy, and vibrancy of Peterborough as a whole.”
Steve Bowyer, head of projects at
Opportunity Peterborough, added: “As the city embarks on a period of
unprecedented growth it is crucial that our city centre is one of
which all our citizens can be proud and which everyone can enjoy. It
has been demonstrated throughout the country that improving the
public realm can kick-start regeneration and be a major attractor to
investment.”
Following a comprehensive selection
process LDA Design has been appointed to undertake this project. The
company has a proven track record of working with communities to
create high quality urban areas and, having been based in the city
for over 25 years, they have extensive knowledge of the city centre.
Andrew Harland, partner at LDA
design, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to work on
this project. We passionately believe that the quality of the
streets, squares and parks can have a significant effect on the
perception of a place for visitors and residents alike.
“This project represents an
opportunity to emphasise the many assets of the city centre and
address those areas that detract from these. We believe that
Peterborough deserves a dynamic centre which demonstrates and
reflects the aspirations for the future of the city.”
Councillor Graham Murphy, Cabinet
member for the Environment and Community Safety at the city council,
added: “This is an excellent opportunity to enhance the heart of the
city and I welcome the involvement of LDA Design, especially because
of their extensive knowledge of Peterborough and its city centre. We
want to make Peterborough a better place in which to live and work,
as well as a first class destination for visitors, and I look
forward to seeing their proposals.”
Work is just getting underway on the
project and details of consultation with key stakeholders and the
public will be released nearer the time.
November 2007 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
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