"The ambition to turn the Oxford-Cambridge corridor into "Europe's Silicon Valley" is in danger of stalling unless the government accelerates delivery of long-promised infrastructure, business leaders have warned. A coalition of major companies, universities and investors has written to Rachel Reeves urging faster progress on transport and planning commitments for the so-called OxCam supercluster, amid growing concern that delays to the East West Rail project are undermining investor confidence."
"The East West Rail scheme, designed to connect Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes and Bedford, is widely seen as critical to turning the region into a single integrated labour and innovation market. But concerns are mounting that the project is slipping behind schedule. Industry leaders fear the required development consent order may not be submitted until 2027, meaning final approval could fall beyond the current parliament - putting the government's 2035 operational target at risk."
A coalition of 46 major companies, universities and investors has pressed for faster delivery of transport and planning commitments to realize the Oxford–Cambridge supercluster. The corridor is linked to a projected £78bn boost to the UK economy by 2035 through science, technology and life sciences expansion. The East West Rail line is viewed as essential to integrate the labour and innovation market across Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Slippage in the project and a possible 2027 submission for the development consent order risk pushing final approval beyond the current parliament and endangering the 2035 operational target. Lack of clarity and pace is already harming investor confidence and could prevent trains running the full route by 2035 unless delivery accelerates quickly.
Read at Business Matters
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