Peterborough City Council (PCC) have drafted a new ‘Local Plan’ for development of the city and surrounding villages from now until 2044. ‘Local Plan’s are there to provide a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities in their area.
This draft is now publicly available and is open for public consultation, meaning anyone resident or working in the area or affected by it in any way can comment back to PCC. This consultation is open until midnight Thursday 29 May 2025.
This plan supports a ‘New Settlement’ of 1055 houses and associated mixed use development in Deeping Gate. It fills the agricultural land between the A15 and the B1524, up to the boundary with Market Deeping at the stone bridge in the town centre, and borders directly onto the parish boundary with Maxey, meaning there is no natural break between the parish areas. This is outside the village envelope and would be a 500% increase on the existing 209 properties in the village. It is classified as a ‘New Settlement’ (like Hampton in south Peterborough for instance) which PCC claim means it is outside the policies which normally restrict rural development of this scale. It includes a proposed Primary School, but no stated provision for Secondary School places, GP Surgery or Leisure Facilities. Concerns are varied but include changing the visual entrance to Market Deeping which is protected in their Neighbourhood Plan, stresses on local education and health services, and increased traffic to local roads, particularly the B1524, A15, Deeping St James Road, and routes through Glinton, given that the main employment space for residents will probably be Peterborough. The ‘New Settlement’ will be built on a flood plain, with concerns over flooding, the loss of existing agricultural land, and the damage of rare habitats supporting endangered species of wildlife.
The draft of the Local Plan can be found here: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/planning-and-development/planning-policies/local-plan-review
The land agent is Richborough and more details about the site details are on their website: https://www.richborough.co.uk/projects/?_gl=1*s1h4hi*_gcl_au*NTcxNDMxODczLjE3NDQ1NTE3NTg.
The ‘Local Plan’ a lengthy document and be assured your Parish Councillors are interpreting every element of this and how it will affect Deeping Gate. If you need a paper copy, please contact us.
We are running an event for the public on Saturday 10 May 2025 at 11:00 in the Northborough & Deeping Gate Village Hall, Cromwell Close, PE6 9DP (this is specifically to cover the ‘New Settlement’ in Deeping Gate). There are various other events for the public being run by PCC covering the whole ‘Local Plan’, details of which are available in the link above.
Anyone can comment on the ‘Local Plan’, and we would like to hear your views, both at the event, and in separate communication if you are unable to attend the event. We encourage you to get involved, and either express your support, or challenge the development.
Remember, you can only influence the change if you get involved and comment. Otherwise, what has been proposed will happen.