Oxfordshire’s parliamentary representatives have cautioned that expansion in the region must originate from local residents rather than being dictated by Westminster, following the Chancellor’s unveiling of proposals to create an Oxford-Cambridge technology corridor.
At the Mais lecture held at Bayes Business School in the capital last Tuesday, Rachel Reeves expressed support for the Oxford-to-Cambridge Growth Corridor, describing it as an initiative to unlock the potential of the region’s science and technology hubs.
The regeneration of this technology corridor, comparable in scale to the 2012 Olympic Games transformation, will be overseen by both the Greater Oxford development corporation and its Cambridge counterpart, which commenced operations earlier this year. Funding to purchase land and construct infrastructure will be increased to £800 million, doubling previous commitments to establish a British equivalent of Silicon Valley across the combined area.
The package includes more than £500 million for Oxford’s transportation networks, accelerating the construction of new reservoirs in Oxfordshire, and £2.5 billion for the East-West rail connection.
A joint declaration was issued by Oxfordshire’s MPs, encompassing Calum Miller, Olly Glover, Freddie van Mierlo, Charlie Maynard and Layla Moran. They emphasised that ministers must not create a democratic deficit by removing planning and infrastructure authorities from locally elected officials and proceeding before Oxfordshire’s Local Government Reorganisation consultation period has concluded. They stated that expansion will only be successful if it works with communities rather than being imposed upon them from Westminster.
The county possesses exceptional businesses, research institutions and creative talent capable of propelling economic advancement throughout Oxfordshire and the wider nation. They expressed willingness to collaborate with the administration, but stressed that decision-makers must acknowledge how infrastructure and public services have repeatedly failed to keep pace with development.
They called for balanced growth that benefits both Oxfordshire’s communities and the national economy. This requires addressing the shortage of affordable housing, raising significant concerns about Thames Water’s proposed reservoir development, and guaranteeing that local infrastructure can match the rate of expansion.
Councillor Susan Brown, presiding over Oxford City Council, described the Chancellor’s declaration as potentially transformative for the city, county and nation. She explained that a development corporation would likely be essential to help deliver the 40,000 residences and 12 million square feet of commercial space proposed under plans for a new Greater Oxford Council. She emphasised that alignment between local authorities and shared objectives is fundamental, expressing confidence that the proposal to establish a Greater Oxford Council represents the only way of providing a future development corporation with a coordinated local government partner and ensuring a robust democratic voice for the city remains central to its operations.