As the year draws to a close, it feels like the right moment to pause and take stock - to reflect on what has been achieved so far, and to say a sincere thank you to the many people and organisations who have worked with us during the Cambridge Growth Company’s first year.
Over the past twelve months, I have been struck again and again by the generosity of time and insight we have received from across Greater Cambridge. It has helped shape our thinking, sharpen our priorities, and ground our work in the lived experience of the people who know this place best. I am extremely grateful for it.
This has been a year marked by important milestones. In February, we established our Advisory Council, bringing together local elected leaders and experts to provide insight, challenge and guidance, and to ensure our work reflects local priorities. That same month, we began building the evidence base needed to support a long-term, infrastructure-first approach to growth.
In May, I spoke with more than 400 residents at Great St Mary’s Church, at an event hosted by the Federation of Cambridge Residents Associations. The discussion focused on what good growth looks like for Cambridge, and the questions and perspectives shared provided valuable insight.
In July, the government established the Defra-led Water Delivery Taskforce, which will consider the water and wastewater challenges facing Cambridge as part of its wider focus. This reflected growing national recognition of the pressures already being experienced locally, and of the importance of addressing these constraints to support planned growth.
In September, I appeared at the Cambourne to Cambridge busway public inquiry, underlining our commitment to supporting sustainable transport solutions and local plans for growth.
October marked a particularly significant milestone, with the government’s announcement of a package of measures to support regeneration and infrastructure in Cambridge. This included £400 million of further government funding to accelerate infrastructure and regeneration; £15 million for the University of Cambridge Innovation Hub to support new laboratory space for science start-ups; work with the Combined Authority and local partners to explore mass rapid transit options; and further action to accelerate water infrastructure upgrades and improve water efficiency.
Alongside this, we published A Place of National and Global Significance, setting out the progress made so far and our approach to supporting high-quality, sustainable growth in the years ahead.
Most recently, our team attended Cambridge City Council’s Performance, Assets and Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee. We look forward to meeting with South Cambridgeshire councillors early in the new year.
None of the progress this year has been achieved by the Cambridge Growth Company alone. It reflects close collaboration between local and national partners, and the strength of those partnerships will be essential to the work still to come.
As we look to the year ahead, attention is turning to what comes next for Greater Cambridge, and how this long-term approach can be put on a firmer footing. As part of the October announcement, the government confirmed its intention to consult on the establishment of a centrally led development corporation for Greater Cambridge. That consultation will represent an important moment for the area.
The year ahead will also be an important one for us as an organisation. We will recruit a Chief Executive, strengthen our team in Cambridge and welcome new voices to our Advisory Council.
I would like to thank our partners, colleagues and communities for their help over the past year. There is much more to do, but we move forward with stronger relationships, greater clarity, and a shared determination to deliver lasting benefits for the people of Greater Cambridge.
Peter Freeman CBE, Chair, Cambridge Growth Company
Over the past twelve months, I have been struck again and again by the generosity of time and insight we have received from across Greater Cambridge. It has helped shape our thinking, sharpen our priorities, and ground our work in the lived experience of the people who know this place best. I am extremely grateful for it.
This has been a year marked by important milestones. In February, we established our Advisory Council, bringing together local elected leaders and experts to provide insight, challenge and guidance, and to ensure our work reflects local priorities. That same month, we began building the evidence base needed to support a long-term, infrastructure-first approach to growth.
In May, I spoke with more than 400 residents at Great St Mary’s Church, at an event hosted by the Federation of Cambridge Residents Associations. The discussion focused on what good growth looks like for Cambridge, and the questions and perspectives shared provided valuable insight.
In July, the government established the Defra-led Water Delivery Taskforce, which will consider the water and wastewater challenges facing Cambridge as part of its wider focus. This reflected growing national recognition of the pressures already being experienced locally, and of the importance of addressing these constraints to support planned growth.
In September, I appeared at the Cambourne to Cambridge busway public inquiry, underlining our commitment to supporting sustainable transport solutions and local plans for growth.
October marked a particularly significant milestone, with the government’s announcement of a package of measures to support regeneration and infrastructure in Cambridge. This included £400 million of further government funding to accelerate infrastructure and regeneration; £15 million for the University of Cambridge Innovation Hub to support new laboratory space for science start-ups; work with the Combined Authority and local partners to explore mass rapid transit options; and further action to accelerate water infrastructure upgrades and improve water efficiency.
Alongside this, we published A Place of National and Global Significance, setting out the progress made so far and our approach to supporting high-quality, sustainable growth in the years ahead.
Most recently, our team attended Cambridge City Council’s Performance, Assets and Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee. We look forward to meeting with South Cambridgeshire councillors early in the new year.
None of the progress this year has been achieved by the Cambridge Growth Company alone. It reflects close collaboration between local and national partners, and the strength of those partnerships will be essential to the work still to come.
As we look to the year ahead, attention is turning to what comes next for Greater Cambridge, and how this long-term approach can be put on a firmer footing. As part of the October announcement, the government confirmed its intention to consult on the establishment of a centrally led development corporation for Greater Cambridge. That consultation will represent an important moment for the area.
The year ahead will also be an important one for us as an organisation. We will recruit a Chief Executive, strengthen our team in Cambridge and welcome new voices to our Advisory Council.
I would like to thank our partners, colleagues and communities for their help over the past year. There is much more to do, but we move forward with stronger relationships, greater clarity, and a shared determination to deliver lasting benefits for the people of Greater Cambridge.
Peter Freeman CBE, Chair, Cambridge Growth Company