The Cambridge city region is home to the most intensive innovation ecosystem in Europe and is the UK’s most innovative city. Cambridge has the capability to drive UK growth, productivity, and competitiveness for decades to come.
Cambridge has embraced and stepped up to this role, recognising the national contribution it makes. Local partners have worked across institutions and sectors in a growth-positive and ambitious way for many years, delivering phenomenal levels of growth as a result.
Cambridge is outward looking, also recognising the supporting role it can play in others’ own success across the UK. The Manchester/Cambridge Partnership, the OxCam Growth Corridor, and the Growing Together Alliance are all examples of these proactive and deeply collaborative joint enterprises.
Despite this strength, delivery has not kept pace with ambition. Complexity and under-investment have constrained progress and quality of life in Cambridge. The next chapter of the Cambridge Phenomenon therefore requires a decisive, game-changing intervention.
We support the creation of a centrally led development corporation with the powers to provide clear strategic direction, accelerate delivery, and secure long-term financing.
This development corporation must be focused on the long-term local interests of Cambridge and its region as well as in the national interest. There must be an immutable obligation for the development corporation to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits local communities, and setting the scale and location of future growth (plan-making) must be done in partnership with the local planning authority.
