£6.3m footbridge will link Fletton Quays and Embankment, Peterborough

The bulk of the estimated £6.3m cost of building a pedestrian bridge linking the Embankment in Peterborough with Fletton Quays will come from the Government and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

A total of £2million has been pledged by the Government’s Towns Fund, part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has contributed £3.4million, with the remainder coming from Peterborough City Council.

The new bridge will be a pedestrian and cycling alternative route across the river.

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The city council believes it will create a good link from the south of the city to the new university campus and Embankment area.

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The estimated timeline would see construction start in mid-2024 and finish in mid-2025.

Design image for the £6.3m pedestrian and cycling bridge that will link the Embankment with Fletton Quays, Peterborough. PHOTO: Peterborough City Council

More than 500 people took part in a consultation held between 15 May – 5 June, which included an online survey and a series of public events.

Cygnet Bridge was chosen as the preferred name for the bridge out of five options, with 28 per cent of people voting for it.

Other options were to call it:

• King Charles Bridge
• Embankment Bridge
• Charles Swift Bridge
• Walter’s Bridge

The survey opened on Monday 15 May 2023 and ran until Monday 5 June 2023.

Project objectives

The objectives for Cygnet Bridge are:

• Create a new pedestrian crossing over the River Nene
• Improve pedestrian journey times between Fletton Quays and the Embankment
• Improve the quality of sustainable travel links between Fletton Quays and the Embankment
• Improve the riverfront and create landscaped features to enjoy
• Protect and improve the biodiversity value of the area
• Assist in creating a walkable, liveable city
• Reduce pressure on city centre traffic routes

Seventy-nine per cent of people who responded were in favour of the bridge, with 55 per cent stating that it would encourage them to cycle or walk more.

A total of 86 per cent were in favour of a bench/benches being installed nearby and 62 per cent were in favour of an art project.

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Feedback from the consultation will be incorporated into the final designs for the bridge where possible and the council is also exploring options for an art project at the site, subject to funding.

Perfect start to a perfect day in #Peterborough , A name for the planned Embankment active travel /pedestrian bridge – Cygnets and Swans in real life , @pborocathedral bells , and a home match for @theposh – All with @UKLabour family and – @LabourHousing pic.twitter.com/vlxUZrvtj2

— Mayor Dr Nik Johnson (@NikJohnsonCA) September 16, 2023

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough said: “I would like to add my thanks to everyone who took part in the consultation, allowing residents to share their views and stamp their mark on this exciting project.

“The bridge will help reduce motor traffic, boosting public health and air quality for everyone.”

Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “We can now look forward to seeing Cygnet Bridge being developed and, if approved, the positive effects it will have on our city.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation, providing invaluable feedback which we can incorporate this into the final plans, where possible, before the design goes to planning.”

FACT FILE

An online survey was carried out several pop-up events at the Nene Park Festival and outside the Town Hall.

In total, the city council received 566 completed online surveys; they also spoke to 165 people at the public pop-up events.

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The council also held meetings with Peterborough Civic Society, Peterborough Cycle Forum, and the Disability Access Group

📷 The results of the public consultation of the pedestrian bridge linking the Embankment with Fletton Quays https://t.co/Iii9Z8aId1

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79% supported the bridge, with the preferred name being the Cygnet Bridge. The bridge is due to be completed in 2025. pic.twitter.com/AhLsPvR1a1

— Peterborough City Council (@PeterboroughCC) September 14, 2023

Feedback received through the online survey

• 79% of the people who responded supported the bridge
• 55% of the people who responded said the bridge would encourage them to walk or cycle more
• 85% of the people who responded supported a new bin / new bins
• 86% of the people who responded supported a new bench / new benches
• The name ‘Cygnet Bridge’ was chosen as the preferred name for the bridge out of five options, with 28% of the vote
• 62% of the people who responded supported an art project (this would require additional funding)

NEXT STEPS

The city council says it will incorporate the feedback from the consultation into the final designs for the bridge where possible. They are also exploring options for an art project at the site (subject to funding).

The #CygnetBridge on #TheEmbankment at #FlettonQuays will be less than 500m from the existing bridge⁉️
🤫 PS – The money is coming from #Taxpayers, NOT "the government" #JustSaying
😯 Around 0.03% of the city's population took part in the "consultation". #ToriesAtTheTownHall… pic.twitter.com/7RucFgG7ql

— Darren Fower ✊✊🏿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@Darren_Fower) September 13, 2023

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Detailed design phase to be concluded with the full business case and planning application is expected to be submitted in early 2024.

Visit the River Nene Pedestrian Bridge consultation page to see the information from the consultation we ran.