Community champions chosen to lead £40m regeneration

Two community champions were chosen to lead independent boards tasked with regenerating two neighbourhoods.

In September 2025, the government announced £40m for Peterborough as part of the Pride in Place programme, to be spent on two deprived areas of the city.

Jonathan Jelly, MBE, has been appointed to chair the Paston, Gunthorpe and Welland area, while Ejaz Moghul will chair the Orton Malborne and Orton Goldhay area. Each area will get £2m each year for a decade.

Both the chairs, who said they were "honoured" to take up the roles, will be expected to bring residents, community organisations and businesses together and co-create a long-term plan for the areas.

The city council and MPs selected both community champions.

Jelly said: "These communities have proud histories, strong identities and real potential, and their future must be guided by the voices of those who live and work here.

"This programme gives us the chance to invest not only in places, but in people, opportunity and pride, leaving a lasting legacy the community can see, feel and be proud of."

Moghul said: "My priority is to understand the real concerns, aspirations, and everyday experiences of people across the Ortons.

"I look forward to working with local partners and the community to help the Ortons grow into a vibrant place where opportunities are accessible, and futures can be built from within."

Peterborough Labour MP, Andrew Pakes, said: "[The funding] is transformative for Paston, Gunthorpe and parts of Dogsthorpe with the opportunity not just to invest in the area but also to involve the community in deciding how it is spent."

Sam Carling MP for Northwest Cambridgeshire, which covers the Ortons, said: "This funding from the government will provide a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and make Orton Malborne and Goldhay the best possible places to live, work and grow up in."

Councillor Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "Both Jonathan and Ejaz have the knowledge, skills, passion and commitment to ensure this huge investment in our city is well spent and leads to lasting change for our communities."

The government investment will see 169 areas across the country receive £2m every year for a decade, while a further 95 places will get a one-off payment of £1.5m.

Spending will only be approved if community groups and local organisations have been involved in deciding how the money will be spent, the government says.

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