Shopkeepers say £3m upgrade has not improved street
Business owners reflect on a busy shopping area six months after a regeneration project ends.
Shopkeepers on Lincoln Road are expressing disappointment with a £3.4 million upgrade, stating that the area has not improved and "nothing has changed."
The refurbishment of a section of Lincoln Road in Peterborough, specifically between Windmill Street and Searjeant Street, concluded in February. The project, which commenced in April 2025, introduced wider pavements, a new pedestrian crossing, cycle parking, benches, and bins.
Peterborough City Council has maintained that the scheme has had "a positive effect," enhancing safety for road users.
Shopper Heather Matzk, however, offered a more positive view, remarking that the road now looks "much better." She added, "People are spending a lot of money opening businesses in this area and it's pulling it up. It looks really nice. In Cambridge, they celebrate Mill Road for its diversity and I think Peterborough needs to do the same."
Krzysztof Krol, a shop owner, acknowledged the improvements but noted a worsening of rough sleeping in the vicinity.
Hussain, who operates a clothes shop and chose not to disclose his surname, reported a decline in business since the road's reopening. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, "Business has been very hard this year. The biggest problems here are drug users and the homeless." Regarding customer traffic, he added, "The last two to three years it keeps going down and down and this year it is the worst year. It is not very busy."
Peterborough resident Paul Smith, observed that Lincoln Road has felt "less busy" recently while utilizing the newly installed seating.
The project was funded by over £3.4 million, including a £2.4 million contribution from the government's Towns Fund.
A spokesperson for the city council reiterated that the scheme has had "a positive effect, improving safety for motorists and pedestrians in a busy area that has a high volume of traffic." They also addressed concerns, stating, "However, we are aware of concerns around littering and staining of some pavements and are currently in the process of arranging for these areas to be cleaned. We would also urge residents to report any concerns around rough sleeping and littering to us, or any criminal activity to the police."