Peterborough has spent years talking about needing more reasons to stay in town after shopping, work or an event.

The latest Goods Shed proposal is interesting because it is trying to answer exactly that problem.

“Peterborough City Council is being asked to approve the £300,000 sale of the former Goods Shed…”

The preferred proposal is for an independent food hall and entertainment venue.

The developer’s plan is for around 16 independent food and drink operators, with a mix of cuisines rather than one restaurant taking the whole building.

It also talks about live music, comedy evenings, cultural events and seasonal markets.

That changes the question.

This is not simply “do we need another place to eat?”

It is: Could this finally be the place where one person wants pizza, someone else wants curry, the kids want something different and everybody still ends up happy?

The location helps.

Fletton Quays already has apartments and offices.

Cygnet Bridge is being built finally.

The Sports Quarter is proposed nearby. The unfinished hotel has new owners talking about opening next summer.

None of that guarantees the Goods Shed will work.

Food halls need enough footfall, strong independent operators and a reason to return after the first curious visit.

But if Peterborough is serious about making the riverside somewhere people actually spend time, this is one of the more interesting pieces of the puzzle.

Who would you want to see inside a Peterborough food hall?