Cambridge - Milton Keynes - Oxford Growth Arc
Status:Final report complete.
Securing the long term economic success of an important economic region.
Summary
In March 2016, the National Infrastructure Commission was asked to consider how to maximise the potential of the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor as a single, knowledge-intensive cluster that competes on a global stage, protecting the area’s high quality environment, and securing the homes and jobs the area needs.
The Commission’s final report, Partnering for Prosperity, identifies opportunities to create well-designed, well-connected new communities and deliver one million new homes and jobs in the area by 2050, while respecting the natural environment and without making changes to existing Green Belt protections. Doing so would help create vibrant new towns, including the first new towns in the UK for 50 years.
Central to achieving this vision are completion of the new East-West Rail line connecting Oxford and Cambridge by 2030 and accelerating the development and construction of the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. In the short term, new rail services to Cowley in South East Oxford by 2019 and the opening of a new station at South Cambridge by 2022 are also proposed alongside long term local transport plans for other key towns and cities in the arc.
Next Section: Facts & Figures
These infographics illustrate the contribution made by the Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford economies and summarise the Commission's recommendations to harness their full potential.
Facts & Figures
These infographics illustrate the contribution made by the Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford economies and summarise the Commission's recommendations to harness their full potential.
Next Section: Recommendations
The report makes three recommendations for maximising the potential of the Growth Arc, which the government responded to at the Budget in October 2018. Although the rate of housebuilding has increased, there is still a long way to go and no clear plans have been brought forward to increase the delivery of new homes to reach the levels needed. There has been limited progress on the major decisions required both to improve transport connectivity across the arc, and to effectively integrate road and rail schemes with major new housing developments.
Recommendations
The report makes three recommendations for maximising the potential of the Growth Arc, which the government responded to at the Budget in October 2018. Although the rate of housebuilding has increased, there is still a long way to go and no clear plans have been brought forward to increase the delivery of new homes to reach the levels needed. There has been limited progress on the major decisions required both to improve transport connectivity across the arc, and to effectively integrate road and rail schemes with major new housing developments.
Transport should be designed to unlock major housing growth
- 1a: Government should progress work on East West Rail, the Expressway and new settlements through a single co-ordinated delivery programme, with cross-government ministerial commitment and oversight. The aim of this programme should be to unlock opportunities for transformational housing growth through the creation of well-connected new communities. As part of this programme Government should commit:
- £1bn to deliver the infrastructure necessary for a high quality and resilient rail commuter service between Bicester and Bedford, accelerating delivery of this section of East West Rail to a target date of 2023;
- to accelerate work on the development of the new East West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge, and commit to open the line by 2030; and
- to deliver the ‘missing link’ of the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, accelerating development work to deliver a clearly-defined and agreed route by 2025, enabling construction to begin as part of the next Road Investment Strategy (RIS 2) and be complete by 2030.
- Key milestones and decision points in the development of East West Rail and the Expressway should be subject to “in principle” agreement to the development of significantly more ambitious proposals for housing growth in the arc, including major new settlements and urban extensions, and subsequently, progress in identifying, evaluating and designating sites. “In principle” agreement should be provided within 12 months. The schemes should be futureproofed to ensure the potential for expansion and improvement is not permanently and prematurely closed.
- 1b: Government should seek to introduce fast, direct services to London to enable growth in the arc between Bicester and Bletchley and improve connectivity between London and Aylesbury. Any such improvements should be contingent on local authorities’ commitment to major development between Bicester and Bletchley and around existing settlements.
- 1c: Government should work with the private sector and the relevant local authorities to agree funding packages and progress schemes to support housing and employment growth now. These should include:
- essential works required to enable passenger services between Oxford and Cowley no later than 2019
- the acceleration of East West Rail phase 3 works around south Cambridge to enable the deliver of a Cambridge South station in 2022 as part of Control Period 6.
- Substantial private sector and local contributions, reflecting the benefits that these parties gain, will be required to enable the delivery of these schemes.
Government should work with local authorities
- 2a: Government and local authorities should work together, through a robust and transparent process, to designate locations for new and expanded settlements by 2020. This should involve:
- commissioning formal studies to identify and assess options for new settlements required, and potential locations for these settlements
- consultation with communities, statutory agencies, infrastructure providers, wider stakeholders and public examination of proposed sites
- formal designation of sites and the publication of such assessments as legally required.
- The Commission is optimistic that Government and local authorities will reach agreement on the scale and location of new settlements in the national interest. However, if agreement cannot ultimately be reached, the Secretary of State should designate these new settlements.
- 2b: Government should:
- work with local authorities to establish appropriate delivery vehicles for new and expanded settlements across the arc, considering the role that can be played by locally accountable Development Corporations, Mayoral Development Corporations, the Homes and Communities Agency and Urban Development Corporations
- establish New Town Development Corporations to deliver larger new and expanded settlements.
- In so doing, it should:
- work with local authorities to define and agree the objectives, membership and reporting arrangements for new development corporations
- provide a clear remit to support the economic success of large new settlements as centres of employment, and assist the development corporation by using wider policy levers to support local economic growth
- explore the full range of options for funding development corporations’ programme of land acquisition, including providing public funding with a view to unlocking substantial private investment, and balancing considerations of short term affordability and long term value for money.
Effective placemaking should deliver well-connected, sensitively designed new places
- Government should work with local authorities to put in place an independent design panel for East West Rail, the Expressway and new and expanded settlements across the arc by April 2018. This panel should work in concert with existing infrastructure design panels and new development corporations to specify, scrutinise and challenge settlement designs, plans and delivery, with a view to:
- making most efficient use of new and existing infrastructure (including transport and utilities)
- supporting positive social outcomes (including better mental and physical health)
- achieving net gains in biodiversity and natural capital across the arc
- improving quality of life for existing and future residents
- Government should establish arrangements for the long-term stewardship of valued community assets in each new or expanded settlement, placing responsibility and resources in the hands of the community – learning from both the Parks Trust in Milton Keynes and the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
- It should ensure that strategic infrastructure, including new elements of East West Rail and the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, are planned and developed to achieve net gains in biodiversity and natural capital across the arc.
Terms of Reference
The terms of reference for this study were published by the government in March 2016. They were as follows:
The aim of this review is to provide the Government with proposals and options for the long-term infrastructure priorities to unlock growth, jobs and housing within the Cambridge-Milton Keynes Oxford corridor over the next 30 years. Together with Northampton, the area contains four of the UK’s fastest growing, and most productive, places. It encompasses global centres of research expertise in Oxford and Cambridge and advanced manufacturing and logistics in Milton Keynes.
The review will make recommendations to maximise the potential of the area as a single, knowledge intensive cluster that competes on a global stage, whilst both protecting the area’s high quality environment and securing the homes, and jobs, the region needs.
The review will be comprised of two stages. The first stage of the work will focus on the following areas and will lead to the production of an interim report:
- Review the economic case for investment in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor – including key planned infrastructure such as East-West Rail and Expressway
- Map existing and planned national and local investment, including key improvements to the A14 and A34, and on public sector land
- Identify infrastructure constraints that are impeding: economic growth; the regeneration of communities; sustainable travel; quality of life; and the delivery of new housing
- Identify the environmental assets, and opportunities for sustainable growth, within the corridor.
The second stage of the work will focus on the following areas and will lead to the production of a final report by Autumn Statement 2017 with recommendations for:
- Priority infrastructure to:
- Improve connectivity – both physical and digital – across the corridor. This will include recommendations to improve connectivity within, and between, the area’s towns and cities, including public transport and a consideration of the interdependencies with social infrastructure requirements
- Create more and better jobs; drive the regeneration of communities, spread the benefits of economic growth along and beyond the corridor, and ensure effective links with related hubs
- Develop sites (including public sector land) to meet existing and expected housing need, create new developments which are smart and sustainable, and provide commercial space for existing companies and inward investment
- A framework to ensure new infrastructure is of a high quality, maintains and/or protects the area’s environment and cultural assets (including the Green Belt)
- Institutions to strengthen governance across the corridor, which will enable integrated planning and infrastructure decision making across the wider area in a timely manner, and will ensure joined up delivery – whilst ensuring local democratic accountability is preserved. The Commission will want to consider emerging proposals for sub-national transport bodies
- Support devolution and local economic growth
- How the impact of the investments will be measured.
In taking forward this work the Commission should work with Network Rail, Highways England and the Homes and Communities Agency, local government, business leaders, including the Local Enterprise Partnerships, Further and Higher Education Institutions and other local stakeholders. The Commission will contribute towards, but will not seek to reopen or delay, existing work being undertaken by any of the groups listed above. This will include taking existing studies about enhancing this corridor, including the work of the East West Rail partnership, the DfT strategic study into the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, and the strategic study into the A1 in the East of England as inputs.
The review will make long-term recommendations that take account of affordability, considering the wider fiscal position. In parallel with developing the Commission’s remit in the light of consultation, HMT will propose affordability scenarios for this study. The recommendations should fit within the Commission’s wider fiscal remit, once set. In making recommendations, the Commission should evaluate options for funding and financing in a way that minimises the tax payer burden, and ensures those that benefit most bear a fair share of the cost. The review will not look to reconsider investment already committed under established programmes, such as regulatory settlements, Control Period 5 (including the Hendy Review of CP5, and any follow-on activity) in rail and the first Road Investment Strategy.
Next Section: Supporting evidence
The study was supported by an open call for evidence and seven expert papers:
Supporting evidence
The study was supported by an open call for evidence and seven expert papers:
- Running out of Road: Investing in cycling in Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford, by Andrew Gilligan
- Consultation responses to our call for evidence
- A first-last mile strategy assessment for the region by Steer Davies Gleave, alongside individual reports for Oxfordshire, Northants, Greater Cambridge and Milton Keynes
- Research on wider transport network impacts, also by Steer Davies Gleave
- Property market analysis by Savills
- Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford Future Planning Options Project, by 5th Studio
- An AECOM paper on Planning and Delivery Analysis
- Economic Analysis Growth Corridor
Partnering for Prosperity: A new deal for the Cambridge - Milton Keynes - Oxford Arc
The report calls for a new deal on infrastructure and housing between local authorities in the arc and central Government.
Latest Updates
Bridget Rosewell speech to Westminster Social Policy Forum: Next steps for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc
The following is an edited transcript of remarks given by Bridget Rosewell, National Infrastructure Commissioner, at a virtual conference held on 26 March 2021 to discuss progress on the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Arc. “As we gather again to discuss progress on the Oxford-Cambridge arc, it is perhaps helpful to remember the exam question the Commission was...
Commission welcomes next steps on Oxford-Cambridge Arc
The National Infrastructure Commission has welcomed government’s announcement of next steps in developing a spatial framework for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. The Commission explored the potential of the Arc and made recommendations for how to maximise the economic opportunities for local communities and businesses in a major study published in 2017. This week, government set out...
Northants first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base which informed the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Milton Keynes first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base which informed the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Oxford(shire) first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Greater Cambridge first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Growth corridor first-last mile strategy analysis
Analysis by SDG which formed part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
CAMKOX Corridor data
Data on population, skills, jobs, housing and 'gross value added', in the Cambridge-Oxford-Milton Keynes corridor.
Property market analysis for the CaMKOx arc
A report reviewing the residential and commercial property markets within the Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Northampton corridor.