The SolsticeA new role at the heart of

Peterborough’s future

The SolsticeIntroduction

A long-standing feature of Peterborough’s leisure scene, the Solstice building on Northminster is about to enter a new era, if plans are agreed to transform it into the first private sector investment in student accommodation for the city’s new University.The building’s owners are proposing to construct a new mixed-use block with 77 student rooms including communal facilities, space for two retail units on the ground floors, and 56 self-con-tained, private apartments.

1

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

The site is located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of the proposed new University buildings.

The new University of Peterborough is set to open in September 2022 with its main buildings on the embankment, north of the river Nene. Two thousand students are due to start their studies there in 2022 rising to 5,000 by 2025. By 2030 there could be up to 12,000 students.

Although many of these students will be drawn from the local population of Peterborough, there will, nevertheless, be a need to provide dedicated student accommodation.

Some of this will be provided by the University itself, but there will also be a need for private sector provision – otherwise there is a risk of adding to the existing shortage of affordable accommodation in the city centre.

If any of this accommodation is to be ready for September 2022, plans to deliver it need to start now.

The decision by the Solstice’s owners, MPB Structures, to invest in creating these new units is a clear demonstration of the private sector’s confidence in the success of the new University.

The site on Northminster Road is well suited for student accommodation. It is within walking distance of the future University buildings and of the city centre’s shops and leisure facilities as well as the bus and train stations.

Plans to deliver it need to start now.

2

This view shows the proposed new building in relation to Northminster House (front left) and the newly converted accommodation at Bayard Place (front right). St Mary’s Court is the tall building behind the Solstice re-development.

Drawing on its experience of building similar accommodation in Leeds, Liverpool and London, MPB and its appointed architects, Norr (who designed the Fletton Quays development on the south bank of the River Nene, Peterborough), will create a building with quality accommodation for the new students including bedrooms, communal space and a laundry room. There will also be a sedum roof on two levels of the building.

It will be an L shape with three storeys on one side and seven on the other. The highest point of the building will be lower than the nearby Hereward Tower, Bayard Place and St Mary’s Court buildings.

The view of Peterborough Cathedral and the immediate streetscape has been carefully considered in the design development of this scheme. Sight lines from the nearby Stanley Recreation Ground have been largely preserved with just one small section of the new building intruding on winter views when the trees are bare.

...quality accommodation for the new students

3

Illustrative layout of the development.

STANLEY RECREATION GROUNDIf approved, the building will be near Stanley Recreation Ground. This is a key part of the city centre’s open space and green infrastructure that has, perhaps, in recent years been under used.

If planning permission is granted, the owners will commission a scoping study to develop costed recommendations on what improvements could be made to make this space better for people and for nature and to ensure its long-term management. Also subject to planning permission, the owners would then commit additional funds to help take forward its recommendations.

As part of the development proposals, the owners of the site want to understand the role the recreation ground can play in providing safe and accessible open space for its residents and for the wider community. Feedback on this is invited through the questionnaire that can be found on the website – www.athene-communications.co.uk/the-solstice

The proposed new building viewed from Stanley Recreation Ground.

...the owners of the site want to understand the role the recreation ground can play in providing safe and accessible open space for its residents and for the wider community.

4

Sight lines from Stanley Recreation Ground and the proposed development.

5

MPB Structures is one of the UK’s leading premier concrete frame specialists. A market leader that has built its reputation on an innovative proactive approach to construction. The company’s mission is to become the preferred construction company of choice.

Founded by Michael Boyle in 1987, MPB offers its clients a complete construction service. The company’s experience covers universities, colleges, shopping centres, car parks and many award-winning buildings.

MPB has considerable experience of building student accommodation.

The company won Peterborough Telegraph’s Award for Large Business of the Year in 2018.

ABOUT THE OWNERS

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL

THE SOLSTICE

Early April 2020Consult on proposals

April 2020Submit planning

2022Open for first students of University

TIMELINEInvestment in our national economy will be crucial after the Coronavirus pandemic, and this scheme can play an important part in Peterborough’s economic recovery.

MPB Structures is consulting about the proposal in early April and will be submitting a planning application in the near future. If successful, work would start on site in late 2021, ensuring that accommodation can be available for the first students at the University in 2022.

6

Late 2021Start work (subject to planning permission)

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SOLSTICE?The Solstice has been a successful business at the heart of Peterborough’s leisure offer for many years. Many local people will have wonderful memories of the club. However, leisure patterns are changing; Northminster multi-storey car park is being demolished and there is an increase in residential use in this part of the city centre - actively encouraged in the Council’s Local Plan.

It seems fitting to redevelop the site in a way that will put it at the heart of the new University while retaining some commercial uses on the site.

The Solstice is currently closed due to the Coronavirus emergency, but will reopen as soon as possible. It will remain open until building work commences in late 2021.