A new free parking trial in Peterborough city centre is set to begin later this year after an agreement was reached between the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council.
The scheme, championed by former Peterborough MP and now Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow, will introduce free parking after 3pm, Monday to Friday, across four council-owned car parks in the city centre.
The car parks included in the trial are Bishop’s Road, Car Haven, Riverside and Pleasure Fair Meadow.
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes welcomed the breakthrough, saying an agreement had now been secured between the Mayor and Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum.
Pakes said: “Free parking — it’s coming. We have a deal between the Mayor and Shabina Asad Qayyum at Peterborough City Council.
“Well done to everyone for getting together and working the deal out.”
The initiative forms part of Mayor Bristow’s wider pledge to revive town and city centres across the region by encouraging more visitors, increasing footfall and supporting local businesses struggling against out-of-town retail and online shopping.
The Combined Authority has committed £1.5 million across two years to fund free parking schemes in Peterborough and Huntingdonshire, with the Peterborough city centre trial expected to be one of the first major projects delivered under the policy.
Mayor Bristow said the health of high streets had been “under huge pressure for years” and described the scheme as “a shot in the arm” for the city centre economy.
He said: “I want to encourage people to come into the city centre, support our local businesses, increase footfall, and bring more visitors to our heritage and leisure sites.
“Free parking after 3pm is a chance to do just that and we’ll be watching the evidence closely to see what a difference it makes.”
Council leader Shabina Qayyum said the move complemented the council’s wider vision for a more inclusive and attractive city centre.
She highlighted Peterborough Cathedral, the Museum, Key Theatre and the Lido among the attractions that could benefit from increased visitor numbers under the scheme.
The free parking pilot remains subject to final approvals from both the Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council, but leaders say they expect it to launch later this year.
The trial also forms part of broader regeneration ambitions for Peterborough city centre, including plans for a Mayoral Development Corporation and major construction work around the Station Quarter development.
