Responding to the Chancellor’s Oxford Cambridge Growth Speech

I welcome the Chancellor’s recognition of the Greater Cambridge area’s position as a global leader in scientific research, innovation and technology, and as Europe’s largest biomedical campus and life science cluster.

However, when we look more closely at what has been announced, the new government’s position is largely a rehash of ideas originally put forward by Conservative Michael Gove. I have the same concerns now as I did then: we need to invest in and fund properly the infrastructure that will enable our region to continue to grow and be a key contributor to the UK economy.

Creaking infrastructure

For Europe’s largest biomedical and life sciences centre to be attractive to the world’s brightest and best talent, we need to address our creaking infrastructure.

It was important to hear that the Cambridge Growth Company, led by Peter Freeman, will take an infrastructure first approach - on water, sewage, public transport, schools, GP surgeries and NHS dentists. This was my urgent request to him when we met a couple of weeks ago. That enables us to build the right homes in the right way in the right places, with and through local authorities that ensure local voices are heard.

It is also important that growth isn’t just concentrated in and around Cambridge city. Communities across Cambridgeshire need to benefit too. And it is vital that we retain the environment that makes Cambridgeshire such an attractive place to live, work and study, and for businesses to invest.

Healthcare and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital

I am very relieved, as I said when it was announced last week, that the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital has been given the green light. This will serve not only our area, but the wider region and the whole country, changing the story of cancer for millions of patients worldwide.

However, much of our healthcare infrastructure is under immense pressure and is already insufficient to meet current demand. Primary care – GPs, pharmacies and dentists – is severely overstretched and under-resourced, while Addenbrooke’s A&E was not designed to cope with the increased population. And until social care is provided, the NHS will remain in a state of crisis. These are all serious challenges that must be fixed to accommodate growth in our area.

Housing and water and sewage constraints

My greatest concern is about the water supply crisis and lack of sewage capacity - and there was scant detail or recognition by the Chancellor of the scale of the challenge. Nothing new is on the table. Whilst the Environment Agency has removed its objection to 4,500 homes, Anglian Water are still objecting to new house building