Greater Cambridge Development Corporation: Consultation

I am today setting out the next steps the Government are taking to unleash ambitious and high-quality sustainable growth in Greater Cambridge as part of our plans to supercharge growth in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

The economic growth of Cambridge over recent years has been a phenomenal success and the city and its environs are now home to the most intensive science and technological cluster in the world. We know that Greater Cambridge has the potential to make an even greater contribution to the UK economy and the Government are determined to make this happen.

While local partners share the Government ambition, there remain significant barriers to further growth. If we are to realise the full potential of Greater Cambridge, to the benefit of its existing communities and the country as a whole, we must tackle a range of challenges including infrastructure deficiencies, commercial accessibility and housing affordability.

These constraints are not new, and local leaders and institutions have worked hard to address them over many years. However, due to their nature, scale and complexity, overcoming these challenges in a way that enables the delivery of nationally significant growth in Greater Cambridge requires a delivery vehicle with the necessary powers, authority and access to finance.

I am therefore launching a consultation today on proposals to establish a centrally led urban development corporation for Greater Cambridge. This Greater Cambridge development corporation would align national capabilities with local expertise and insight to drive further growth across the area at the scale and pace required.

A centrally led approach would provide the stability, capability and capacity needed to co-ordinate complex infrastructure delivery across multiple local authorities, landowners, delivery partners and agencies, and to secure the significant public and private investment required to unlock growth at the desired scale.

Building upon the exceptional quality of place seen across much of Greater Cambridge, the objective of the development corporation would be to deliver exemplary development in the form of high-quality, well-designed, attractive, and sustainable homes and neighbourhoods.

The proposal to establish a centrally led urban development corporation for Greater Cambridge is intended to support the emerging Greater Cambridge local plan. In its initial phase, the proposed development corporation would build on the work of the Cambridge Growth Company, and work in close partnership with local authorities to increase both the pace and quantum of development at sites identified in that draft local plan. in the medium to long term, the development corporation would prepare a long-term spatial plan for Greater Cambridge, with a focus on providing major new strategic sites for growth.

The consultation invites general feedback on the Government proposal to establish a centrally led urban development corporation in Greater Cambridge. It also seeks views on a number of specific issues, including:

The proposed objectives and activities of the development corporation.

A proposed operational boundary for the development corporation that is aligned with the current combined administrative areas of Cambridge city council and South Cambridgeshire district council.

The proposed spectrum of powers that the development corporation could be granted, including plan making powers and development management powers for use in relation to sites of strategic importance.

The proposed approach to embedding local democratic representation in the governance of the development corporation.

I encourage all those with an interest in the future of Greater Cambridge to respond to the consultation and share their insights and knowledge. Your representations will help guide us as we work toward delivering high-quality sustainable growth in Greater Cambridge to the benefit of new and existing communities alike. The full consultation is available on gov.uk.

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