00:00So I've come to Peterborough today and I hear about the really exciting plans that they've got alongside Network Rail and LNER to invest 48 million pounds of government money in rebuilding the station here and regenerating the whole area around Peterborough Station because I think at the moment the station feels as if it's got its back turned on the rest of the city and we could use the land that is owned by Network Rail so much better
00:29to create some new employment spaces, some new high quality offices, perhaps get some student accommodation built here as well as well as providing new homes and that new multi-storey car park and just make sure that we're creating a real heart to Peterborough around the railway station.
00:47I mean the fact that we've got that 48 million pounds to do the initial highways works, the station rebuild, re-provide the car parking so that people who are obviously driving into Peterborough to use the train station that they can still do that.
01:03We are looking at what the opportunities are beyond that around other land that is owned by the public sector in the round in Peterborough because if we can unlock regeneration around the railway then that can really be the kickstart if you like for wider regeneration in the city.
01:26And the thing that strikes me about Peterborough is it's a beautiful city, you know, you've got the cathedral here, it's on the east coast main line going and so if we can not only make sure that the station environment and the area around it is better for people that are using the station every day but also it's going to be a really high quality experience for visitors to the city.
01:46You know, I think it's a no-brainer so, you know, our ambition doesn't stop at a new station building but there's a lot more detail to work through and the key thing is I think to get spades in the ground because I know that people in Peterborough do feel as if this has been spoken about for a long time now and they actually want to see, you know, they want to see construction getting underway.
02:06The country does have a housing crisis at the moment, we simply haven't been building at the rate we need to meet demand and I think that in addition to a new towns programme we can create new towns in existing cities.
02:24There's a lot of opportunity in cities like Peterborough, a lot of untapped potential and I think that's what I'm determined to unlock as the Transport Secretary, how do we use the assets of the railway in a better way?
02:37So we all want to see this move ahead rapidly, see those hoardings go up around the site so that people in Peterborough can be confident that we're cracking on and getting this scheme delivered.
02:47Have you been impressed by the plans that you've seen so far?
02:50I've been really impressed and what has been particularly reassuring to me is the real close collaboration between Network Rail, between LNER who operate this station and the local council and I think the vision that has been displayed by the local Labour MP Andrew Pakes as well as the leader of Peterborough City Council and their determination to get on and deliver this is what is really impressive.
03:19And I feel hopeful about the future of Peterborough.
03:23It was really brilliant to have Heidi in Peterborough today, not just to talk about the funding that's now been agreed by the new government, but to really roll up our sleeves and give her a sense of what this project means for us as a city.
03:34So we spent today looking at the plans in more detail, understanding how it works, but really importantly this was about how the project will be delivered because we need the Department for Transport and the Minister to have confidence in Peterborough to deliver, but also about what comes next.
03:48The new station building we've been talking about for a long time, we've now got the money for it, I want to know what comes next.
03:55So talking with Network Rail, LNER, the Minister and the Council about the future projects for the city, we've always said that this is about a new station, but it's also about unlocking investment in Peterborough as a whole.
04:06So when it comes to investment in new housing, new business infrastructure, expanding the university, even a new pool, I want all of government to know that Peterborough is open for business and we can get the job done.
