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The UK Government will fulfill the strategic plan to create the British Rival Silicon Valley around Oxford and Cambridge, the latest sign that Labor, in their efforts to grow on growth, focus on areas with high economic productivity.
The decision to support Oxford-Cambridge Arc means a return to political favor for a scheme that was postponed Three years ago, after the then conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson preferred to “balance” poorer regions.
Said the Secretary for Science Peter Kyle on Monday government She wanted to double the economic production of a science -rich region, which is among the two most famous British universities, with the production and logistics center of Milton Keynes between them.
“Oxford-Cambridge Arc is already a prosperity engine, but we can go even further. We are determined to unleash rresearch and development As the driving force of our mission to grow the economy in all corners of the country, ”he said.
Accelerating this scheme, which would compete with the Boston and San Francisco scientific clusters in the US, would, according to PUBLORD FIRST, for Oxford-Cambridge SuperCluster Board, which includes industry and university leaders.
The announcement that comes this week before the speech of the British Chancellor Rachel Reeves about “growth” was welcomed by vice -rectors of universities in Oxford and Cambridge, as well as higher managers of the pharmaceutical company Astrazeneca UK and designer of computer chips ARM.
SuperCluster's Chairman Andy Williams said that his members, “among some of the world's largest investors, see extraordinary potential, and in this commitment it is extremely clear that the government sees it”.
The original plan was designed in 2017 by the National Infrastructure Committee and was the highest priority of subsequent conservative governments, last time returning to favor under Rishi Sunak.
Promised to deliver 1 million houses and 700,000 jobs but met SA vigor from local groups that are against new development.
However, Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, indicated that he was ready to face such objections, and promised to build 1.5 million houses in this parliament and “put the builder in the first place” to support the stagnant economy.
Mike Davey, the Labor leader of the Cambridge City Council, welcomed Arc's support, but warned that it would require investment in more affordable houses as well as better water and transport infrastructure.
“The government should learn from the mistakes that the Tory made on the Arc – we have to bring local communities with them and they need to see the benefits,” he said.
No new money was announced on Monday. But the government committed itself in the October budget that it would deliver the East West Rail project, which will revive the “Varsity” railway, which combined Oxford and Cambridge until it was closed in 1967.
While the top managers praise the ambitions of the Ministers of the ARC, they said the plan would require an improvement in infrastructure together with reforms to obtain faster planning permits and easier access to global workers and capital.
Oxford and Cambridge suffered from lack of water and electricity, leading to temporary blocking of housing and science development by environmentally friendly regulators.
Richard O'Boyle, Executive Director of the Pioneer Group, which operates biological science campuses, said Oxcam could be a great driving force of growth “with the right support” but “to fully release its potential we need investment, better infrastructure and policy that support growth”.
In the sign of developments in the area, the decision was whether to relocate the sewage treatment plant in the north of Cambridge. delayed The second time in January, which actually froze the construction with 5 600 houses.
Nick pettit, senior partner of the real estate advisor Bidwells, said that global investors attracted the region despite planning and purchase problems is a sign of power interest in Oxcam.
“The fact is that small political changes are enough for this region to significantly change its contribution to national growth,” he added.
The government has said that it is determined to invest in regional growth as part of its industrial strategy, although offering such a high support of Oxford and Cambridge risks that the accusation is that South of England is favored in pressure to grow.
However, Dan Thorp, Executive Director of the Cambridge Assocation Group, said that Oxcam support “is not a zero sum” and that Cambridge is working with other groups such as Northern Powerhouse Partnership, to create “interconnected clusters” that share growth.
“The contribution of the Big Bang for Government Growth Mission can come from the connection of what is happening in Oxcam, with the rest of the United Kingdom,” he added.
