Cambridge Growth

Last week, I attended a Strategy and Resources Committee meeting where we had a much-anticipated update on the Cambridge Growth Company, presented by our Head of Planning. For some time now, it’s been difficult to get clarity on what this new entity is doing, so I was pleased to see it finally being given proper attention—thanks in part to Lib Dem efforts to push for greater democratic scrutiny.

This was only the second time the Growth Company featured on the agenda, but it was the first time we heard anything of real substance. Back in November, the government allocated £10 million to kickstart the preliminary work. Since then, the company has begun recruiting staff and brought in consultants to develop a spatial plan, expected to take about a year. We can expect stakeholder engagement to begin in the latter half of this year.

The challenge ahead lies in translating that plan into real-world development and into the Local Plan. A local plan must be feasible, viable, and deliverable—and that hinges on the availability of infrastructure.

One concern is the potential overlap between two planning processes: the usual local plan (due by the end of 2026 and covering development until 2045) and the Growth Company’s broader ambitions. Our council leader must work hard to ensure these processes are complementary rather than conflicting.

Another key takeaway from the meeting: the much-cited “150,000 homes” figure is not official. It remains to be seen how many homes will actually result from the Growth Company’s proposals. Any developments will still need to comply with existing local policies on cycling, sustainability, and environmental standards.

One positive outcome is that long-overdue infrastructure projects—such as the two major reservoirs needed to support homes already included in our current local plan—will now be delivered. Until now, that wasn’t guaranteed. However, if we’re to accommodate further growth beyond what’s already planned, we’ll need even more significant investment from central government—especially to secure a sustainable water supply.

Ultimately, the goal of the Cambridge Growth Company is to make our city a better place to live. With unprecedented interest from national government, this is a unique opportunity—and one we must work hard to ensure benefits our community.