Rounding Up Our Engagement in Peterborough

As summer gives way to autumn, we’re reflecting on a busy and inspiring few months in Peterborough. ECF has been supporting Peterborough City Council on three major projects since last year, each with its own character, challenges, and creative ways of engaging people. From lively pop-ups to youth workshops full of ideas, it’s been a joy to see the community get involved and share their vision for the city.

Peterborough Station Quarter
Our engagement around the Station Quarter wasn’t just about asking questions, it was about sparking conversations. Our engagement for this project comprised four pop-ups over 21 days where we spoke to over 150 people. From the city centre to the Peterborough Station itself, we spoke to people rushing for trains, arriving in the city for the first time, or taking a moment on their daily commute. The mix of new voices and familiar local faces gave each pop-up the feeling of a true community gathering, reminding us how much pride people have in their city.

Through these conversations, we found broad support for the scheme, alongside practical suggestions such as improving active travel links and adding more dropped kerbs near key locations like taxi pick-up points. This feedback underlines the importance of engaging with communities, learning from lived experience, and ensuring a wide range of voices shape inclusive and practical solutions.

Peterborough Youth Zone
Few things are as energising as hearing young people share their ideas. For the proposed Youth Zone, a facility designed for 8 to 19 year olds and up to 25 for those with disabilities, we engaged directly with young people through schools across the city, using a range of tools and methods. Creative workshops gave them the chance to share their views on the site location, what facilities they wanted included, and what considerations should be prioritised, placing young voices firmly at the centre of the process. This work culminated in a major youth event where several schools came together for games, activities, and collaborative brainstorming. The energy in the room was electric, and the feedback clearly demonstrated how strongly young people want and need a space to call their own.

Peterborough Local Plan
When it came to shaping the future of Peterborough more broadly, we set up shop in the Museum of Peterborough for drop-in sessions. Here, residents shared their hopes and concerns, from housing to heritage, sustainability to community spaces. We also went into schools to conduct ‘A Day as a Planner’ postcard workshops where students imagined what a greener and safer city with homes for everyone could look like. Their ideas ranged from practical solutions to bold dreams, a reminder that the next generation already has a clear eye on the future.

As we round off this our engagement in Peterborough, we want to thank everyone who took the time to talk to us, whether on the station forecourt, in a classroom, or at the museum. Each perspective has added a vital piece to the picture of what Peterborough can become.

If you would like to learn more about how ECF can support your engagement, email us at info@engagecf.co.uk.