People across the Oxford Cambridge Arc, and all with an interest in the area, will have the opportunity to contribute to the long-term development of the area, as part of a newly launched government consultation.
A new plan aims to enhance the infrastructure, environment and new developments in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. It will be developed by government, informed by engagement with local communities and stakeholders, and will have sustainability at its core.
This public consultation is the first of three that will guide a new Spatial Framework over the next two years, and a digital platform has been created that will make it quick and accessible for people who live, work, and have an interest in the area to make their voices heard.
Comments received in the consultation will help create the Spatial Framework’s vision for the area to 2050, and will help guide local planning and investment decisions in four areas; the environment; the economy; connectivity and infrastructure; and place-making. Visit: https://placebuilder.io/futureofthearc
The consultation is also seeking views on the work the Government has done to set the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1003975/Sustainability_Appraisal_Scoping_Report.pdf
The Government has additionally today announced a new expert panel to advise on sustainable economic and housing growth in the Arc. The panel will be chaired by leading development and regeneration expert Emma Cariaga and will advise the Government on issues ranging from design and sustainability to delivery and investment models.
The panel’s primary area of focus is between Bedford and Cambridge, where the government is examining opportunities to bring forward well-designed, inclusive and sustainable places.
Other members will consist of industry leaders, local representatives and subject area experts from a range of disciplines, who will work with local government and other partners to inform the panel’s advice. The full panel will be confirmed in due course. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/oxford-cambridge-arc-expert-advisory-panel
Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said: “Today is a big step forward for the OxCam Arc as we have launched an innovative digital consultation with the public, including those that live and work in the Arc, so that everyone has a chance to have their say.
This is a fantastic opportunity for people across the Arc to make their voice heard and help create the future for their community that they want to see.
Both the Spatial Framework consultation and Expert Advisory Panel will help us to ensure the Oxford-Cambridge Arc to be a great place to live and work – now and in the decades to come. “
Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “The East West Rail project plays an important role in enabling connectivity within the OxCam Arc and will help us build back better from Covid-19.
“We’ve committed £760m to the first phase of EWR which will support improved access to jobs and other opportunities in the area as well as boosting economic growth in the region more widely.”
Cllr Barry Wood, Leader of Cherwell District Council and Chair of the Arc Leadership Groups said, “The bold economic and sustainability ambitions we have set out for our region need to be matched by well-planned, long-term and coordinated investment into our towns, cities and rural areas. Inclusive growth, with high environmental standards so that all our residents can benefit, remains at the heart of what we seek to achieve.
“By progressing the Arc Spatial Framework, Government will look at how and where we need to connect and build new infrastructure, whilst enhancing our environment to deliver the sustainable growth that our region is capable of. To start, we must shape a shared vision for the type of growth we want to see.
“This is why it’s so important for every single resident to be able to have their say directly to Government on what matters most to them. How we create opportunities for people to prosper, today and in the future, is an important matter for everyone.”
Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director, Harwell Campus Development and High-Tech Clusters, UKRI-STFC said: “The Oxford-Cambridge Arc has a unique combination of world-class scientific, technical and knowledge capabilities that can drive forward the economy, improve quality of life and benefit all the residents of the United Kingdom.
“These capabilities are crucial for attracting talent to further science and technology excellence across a number of business sectors and therefore making the UK highly competitive on a global scale. It is important that we do not squander the opportunities thus created, and that means fashioning an environment in the region where people can thrive, be engaged and deliver their best.”
Clare Walton, Chief Executive, Community Action: MK said: “The success of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc will be measured by the experience of the communities who live there. The key to creating inclusive and sustainable communities will be partnership working and investment in community support.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Government to think differently about how large-scale housing developments can design out inequalities. The Arc offers great potential to innovate and embrace science and technology, but our collective prosperity must be paramount. We must create opportunities for all people regardless of income, gender, race, disability, age, and this requires commitment to social infrastructure. Enabling the Voluntary and Community Sector to thrive in these new communities will help create vibrant sustainable places that people feel invested in and a part of.”
Emma Cariaga, Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel, said: “I am delighted to be chairing the new panel exploring opportunities for sustainable economic and housing growth in the Arc. The past eighteen months have highlighted the importance of the quality of the places in which we live, work and enjoy ourselves. So it is great to see those opportunities to bring forward well-planned places that make the most of existing, proposed and emerging infrastructure are being properly considered.
“As a panel, we will explore a range of subjects – including design, finance models and sustainability – that will be vital for these places to get right if they are to serve present and future communities. I look forward to getting started” “This regional success will build on the work of the United Kingdom Government that has helped millions of people continue to provide for their families as part of its Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment.”
