Britain’s ambition to show the Oxford–Cambridge hall right into a globally aggressive expertise and life sciences hub is dealing with renewed scrutiny as enterprise leaders warn that delays to infrastructure danger undermining investor confidence, whilst ministers restate their dedication to accelerated supply. The federal government has positioned the so-called OxCam development hall as a central plank of its financial technique, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves describing it as having the potential to turn out to be (inevitably) Europe’s Silicon Valley. The plan centres on higher connecting Oxford and Cambridge, stimulating housing supply and inspiring high-value analysis, expertise and manufacturing to scale throughout the area.
Nevertheless, a brand new report from the Oxford–Cambridge Supercluster Board, backed by 46 organisations together with AstraZeneca (pictured), GSK, Airbus and the Ellison Institute of Know-how Oxford, urges the federal government to maneuver sooner on infrastructure commitments, significantly the East West Rail scheme. The group warns that uncertainty over supply timelines dangers deterring long-term funding.
East West Rail is meant to revive a direct rail connection between Oxford and Cambridge through Milton Keynes and Bedford, lowering journey occasions to round one hour and 35 minutes. Whereas £2.5 billion was allotted to the challenge within the June spending evaluate, there are issues that the required growth consent order might not be submitted till 2027, probably delaying full completion past the present parliamentary time period.
Andy Williams, chair of the Supercluster board, mentioned the shortage of readability may imply trains don’t run the total route by 2035, the federal government’s acknowledged goal, with implications for enterprise confidence and workforce mobility throughout the hall.
The report, produced with the Centre for Enterprise Analysis on the College of Cambridge, highlights the dimensions of current exercise within the area. It identifies round 3,000 knowledge-intensive corporations using greater than 150,000 individuals and producing £45 billion in annual income, with employment development outpacing the nationwide common over the previous decade. Development can be spreading past Oxford and Cambridge to cities equivalent to Milton Keynes and Stevenage.
Ministers say they’re dedicated to accelerating supply the place potential. Transport minister Simon Lightwood has instructed Parliament that choices are being reviewed to deliver ahead advantages on components of the route, with a extra detailed plan anticipated later this yr. Lord Vallance, the science minister, has been appointed as the federal government’s Oxford–Cambridge hall champion.
Alongside rail, wider challenges stay, together with housing provide, water infrastructure and regional planning. Enterprise teams are calling for a single governance construction and an overarching spatial technique to coordinate selections on properties, laboratories, workplaces and supporting infrastructure as development pressures intensify throughout one of many UK’s most economically productive areas.
