Cambridge Growth Company (CGC)
History
The CGC is a company limited by guarantee and a subsidiary of Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency.
On the 30 October 2024, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, appointed Peter Freeman to chair the CGC.
At the same time, the government also committed £10m of funding to enable the CGC to develop an ambitious plan for the housing, transport, water, and wider infrastructure Cambridge needs to realise its full potential.
The CGC is supported by an Advisory Council consisting of elected local leaders and experts. It works with local and central government, convening and leveraging central government resources to promote and unlock key projects and to support local authorities and landowners to deliver the infrastructure needed to help unblock barriers to sustainable growth.
CGC Activity and Plans
The CGC has established itself as a government supported, pro-growth company working closely and collaboratively with local elected leaders to overcome obstacles to growth and to promote sustainable, infrastructure-led development and economic growth.
Since the CGC’s inception, Peter Freeman has met local MPs, The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor, Leaders and Chief Executives of all local authorities, business leaders, landowners, developers, and representatives from Cambridge’s universities, life science, technology, and innovation groups to draw up a picture of the local issues, ambitions, and opportunities.
CGC set up an Advisory Council in February 2025. (see the signed Memorandum of Understanding between CGC and the Advisory Council).
CGC appointed a team of consultants led by Buro Happold and Prior + Partners to assist in the development of a vision for Greater Cambridge in February 2025 (see News item within the Library).
The Buro Happold and Prior + Partners led team are holding regular meetings with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service who are developing a Local Plan for Greater Cambridge, to explore alignment and complementarity.
CGC is continuing recruitment for and the setting up of its dedicated Cambridge office while developing its Branding and Identity and a website to aid communications. The CGC website was launched on 6th May as an information sharing site. It will grow in the months ahead to be more interactive and to take on board the views of stakeholders and community groups as the vision takes shape.
Within the CGC and across government, Peter Freeman is leading a team of professionals across a range of disciplines including commercial and housing, economics, transport, water, the environment, and land supply to develop ambitious plans for Greater Cambridge.
The intention is that the CGC in its current form may transition into a growth and delivery vehicle, that has the capacity and capability to take a long-term approach to delivery. No decisions on a future delivery vehicle have been taken at this stage.
The CGC will continue to place the highest value on working collaboratively with elected leaders, local councils, and stakeholders through a programme of engagement that will include the general public, business communities, and local groups. The CGC commits to acting with integrity and respect with every stakeholder and interested person or group and to add value in a collective ambition to realise Greater Cambridge’s unique potential.
The Board
The Board of the CGC is composed of six officers including the CGC and Advisory Council Chair, Peter Freeman (former chair of Homes England) and Director, Beth Dugdale, an experienced officer at Homes England.
Other officers are drawn from senior positions at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Peter Freeman CBE
Chair of Cambridge Growth Company
Peter Freeman CBE is a respected leader in urban regeneration and place-making, best known as co-founder of Argent and a key figure behind the transformation of King’s Cross — widely recognised as one of the UK’s landmark regeneration projects. Over his career, Peter has consistently championed mixed-use, infrastructure-led development and collaborative, inclusive approaches to creating vibrant, economically resilient places. He is passionate about creating public open spaces where people can come together. He served as a Director of Argent from 1981 to 2024 and of the Kings Cross Central Partnership from 2008 to 2024.
From 2020 to 2025, he served as Chair of Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, where he encouraged an increased focus on “place” and regeneration. He now chairs the Cambridge Growth Company, where he has been actively engaging with local stakeholders to help fulfil the government’s vision for the long-term future of Greater Cambridge — with a strong focus on supporting its communities and ensuring the area’s continued success.
Beth Dugdale
Director, Cambridge, Homes England
Beth Dugdale is a Director at Homes England, where she oversees the Cambridge Growth Company and leads efforts to support the city’s future growth. With over 20 years of experience in land, infrastructure, and regeneration, and as an accredited project manager, Beth brings extensive expertise in delivering complex development projects and supporting places to grow in a sustainable and inclusive way.
Before taking on this role, Beth held senior leadership positions at Homes England, including Director of Delivery Enabling Services and Director of Land Business Management. She has led the design and delivery of national development and investment programmes, managed significant public land portfolios, and worked with government and local partners to bring forward housing, infrastructure, and regeneration projects.
Joanna Key
Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning, MHCLG
Joanna Key is Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Joanna was previously Director of Growth and Infrastructure at HM Treasury and Director for Domestic Affairs at the Cabinet Office. Prior to the Cabinet Office, she spent three years working as a director at the Department for Exiting the European Union, leading the work on the legal and constitutional implications of the UK’s departure from the EU.
Joanna joined the UK Civil Service in the mid-1990s. Over her career she has worked on a wide range of issues including economic growth, Brexit, planning and housing, climate change and energy policy.
Cathy Francis
Director, Regeneration, Housing and Planning, MHCLG
Cathy Francis has built a career in the public sector, with experience across several government departments and NHS England. She has a background in regeneration and neighbourhood renewal policy, and currently leads on new towns, housing, and regeneration at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Her responsibilities include policy on infrastructure and brownfield funding, public sector land, and regeneration programmes. She has a strong interest in community development, place-making, and improving outcomes for deprived communities.
Carmen Suarez & Jessica Blakely (Job Share)
Director, Local Funding & Investment, MHCLG
Carmen Suarez and Jessica Blakely have jobshared since 2017. Their senior roles together have included: leading the Department for Business’ (BEIS) analytical work on EU Exit and international trade; the coordination of the UK Government work on no-deal business readiness; Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) for the level playing field chapter of the UK/EU trade negotiations (including subsidy control and remedial measures); establishing the UK’s domestic subsidy control regime; leading on Brexit Opportunities and regulatory reform in Cabinet Office; and most recently, leading the delivery of local growth funds and Freeports in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Before joining the Civil Service, Jessica’s career featured 12 years working in Investment Banking, providing strategic and financial advice to CEOs and boards of directors on mergers, acquisitions and capital raisings in London, Singapore and Sydney. After joining the Civil Service in 2010, she led analytical work in BEIS’ Better Regulation Executive and then the Europe Directorate.
Carmen joined the Civil Service in 2017 from the Financial Conduct Authority, where she led on embedding competition in financial regulation. Previously, she worked at the Competition and Markets Authority and Office of Fair Trading. including as lead on a number of market studies and head of evaluation. Before these Civil Service roles, she was Chief Economist at the National Farmers Union of England and Wales.
In the interests of transparency, Cambridge Growth Company Board members are required to declare gifts or hospitality of any kind. Please see the Gifts Declaration form in the library (here)
Similarly, Board members are required to declare interests they have in connection with CGC operations of any kind outside the scope of their work for and on behalf of the company. Please see the Declaration of Interests form in the library (here).
The Advisory Council
The Cambridge Growth Company has established an Advisory Council to be a key mechanism in ensuring there is a collaborative and shared vision for the future of Greater Cambridge.
The Advisory Council guides the CGC to ensure that plans and projects benefit from the knowledge of elected officials and experts. The elected officials ensure the CGC are aware of local opinions, strategic policies and areas of focus, while the experts assist in forming strategic approaches that are cognisant of technical and knowledge economy matters.
Meetings are held quarterly, and intermediate meetings are scheduled with the Chief Executives of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, the city, county and district councils to agree the upcoming agenda for the Advisory Council.
Advisory Council members and the Chair of the CGC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out agreed areas of focus and actions between them. For political figures, as is usual it is the ‘office’ they represent that is the member, rather than the named individual. This ensures continuity.
Following the recent local elections and the subsequent council leadership election in Cambridge City, details of the new Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Leader of Cambridge City Council will be announced in due course.
Current Advisory Council Members are:
| Peter Freeman | Chair |
| To be updated | Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| To be updated | Leader, Cambridge City Council |
| Cllr Bridget Smith | Leader, South Cambridgeshire District Council |
| Cllr Lucy Nethsingha | Leader, Cambridgeshire County Council |
| Dr Paul Leinster | Chair of the Water Scarcity Group |
| Baroness Sally Morgan | Master, Fitzwilliam College (and) Chair, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Dr Diarmuid O’Brien | Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Cambridge University |
It is intended to select further experts to join the Advisory Council as and when required. The Advisory Council is currently considering potential candidates for the role of Transport Advisor.
Peter Freeman CBE
Chair
Peter Freeman CBE is a respected leader in urban regeneration and place-making, best known as co-founder of Argent and a key figure behind the transformation of King’s Cross — widely recognised as one of the UK’s landmark regeneration projects. Over his career, Peter has consistently championed mixed-use, infrastructure-led development and collaborative, inclusive approaches to creating vibrant, economically resilient places. He is passionate about creating public open spaces where people can come together. He served as a Director of Argent from 1981 to 2024 and of the Kings Cross Central Partnership from 2008 to 2024.
From 2020 to 2025, he served as Chair of Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, where he encouraged an increased focus on “place” and regeneration. He now chairs the Cambridge Growth Company, where he has been actively engaging with local stakeholders to help fulfil the government’s vision for the long-term future of Greater Cambridge — with a strong focus on supporting its communities and ensuring the area’s continued success.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
To be updated.
Leader, Cambridge City Council
To be updated.
Councillor Bridget Smith
Leader, South Cambridgeshire District Council
Councillor Bridget Smith has served as Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council since May 2018. In this role, she provides political leadership for the council and works with local, regional, and national partners to deliver services and support communities across South Cambridgeshire.
Her responsibilities include overseeing the council’s work on housing, environmental services, economic development, and community wellbeing. Councillor Smith represents the Gamlingay ward on the district council.
Councillor Lucy Nethsingha
Leader, Cambridgeshire County Council
Councillor Lucy Nethsingha has served as Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council since May 2021. In this role, she provides political leadership for the council and works with councillors, officers, and partner organisations to deliver services and priorities for communities across Cambridgeshire.
Her responsibilities include overseeing the council’s work on education, transport, social care, public health, and environmental services. Councillor Nethsingha represents the Newnham division on the county council.
Dr. Paul Leinster CBE
Chair, Water Scarcity Group
Dr Paul Leinster CBE is Chair of the Water Scarcity Group and a leading expert in the water industry. He served as Chief Executive of the Environment Agency from 2008 to 2015. Dr Leinster holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London and brings extensive experience from both academia and industry.
Baroness Sally Morgan
Master, Fitzwilliam College (and)
Chair, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Baroness Sally Morgan has been Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge since 2019 and Chair of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2025. A former Minister of State, she also served as Political Secretary to the Prime Minister and Director of Government Relations at 10 Downing Street. Her previous roles include Chair of OFSTED, board member of the Olympic Delivery Authority for London 2012, and board member across business and charitable sectors.
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation, The University of Cambridge
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge, where he leads the university's strategy for innovation, enterprise, and partnerships. He is responsible for driving research commercialisation, fostering collaboration with industry, and strengthening Cambridge’s role in regional and national innovation ecosystems.
Upcoming Advisory Council Meetings
- Thursday 15th May 2025
- Wednesday 18th June 2025
Further dates will be added once confirmed.
Past Advisory Council Meetings
- Wednesday 12th February 2025
- Friday 22nd November 2024
Minutes and Agendas
Documents to be uploaded in due course.
Documents to be uploaded in due course.