Cambridgeshire set to see major investment in infrastructure

There are efforts to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough more connected and to spread the economic success of Cambridge across the County, according to the newly released Local Plan Watch by Property Consultants Bidwells.

Bidwells Local Plan Watch Autumn 2020 map

As a growth area, it continues to receive central Government commitment for significant infrastructure improvements.  With investment, there is an expectation for growth and for Local Plans to spearhead it.  The on-going Local Plan process will start to show if the individual authorities share the overarching economic aspirations.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Infrastructure – Cambridgeshire is seeing a huge investment in infrastructure and a plan for continued major improvements.  This will direct, more than ever, where new homes and jobs will go. There are significant new transport improvements being brought forward by the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) and the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), alongside nationally-led schemes like East-West Rail.
  • Jobs and homes – the Councils have committed to a goal of doubling the GVA (Gross Value Added) of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area over a 25 year period. If this is to be achieved, around 2,900 homes a year would need to be built in Greater Cambridge – an indicative total of 66,700 homes over 2017-2040. The Councils already have circa 36,400 homes in the pipeline for the period to 2040, but it will be for the new Plan to find sites for the rest. The housing number for Greater Cambridge will ultimately be led by the efforts of the Authorities to truly achieve the economic growth aspirations.
  • Sustainability – Environmental matters have never been so prominent, all underpinned by the 2050 zero-carbon direction and the move to support the Cambridgeshire Local Nature Partnership’s vision to double the area of rich wildlife habitats and natural greenspace within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
  • The upcoming Local Plans will be a test to see whether a new policy framework will emerge to put the strong rhetoric into action.

View the full Local Plan Watch Autumn 2020 Cambs



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