Development Corporation

There is now a consultation on the proposed development corporation for Greater Cambridge which will run from 4 February to 1 April 2026. The link to the consultation is here: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/cambridge-strategy-unit/greater-cambridge-development-corporation/

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Why have a development corporation?

The consultation document outlines a number of problems that Cambridge currently is struggling with:

• Affordablity of houses
• Severe congestion on the roads partly driven by people needing to live far away from where they work
• A lack of transport infrastructure
• Lack of water supply
• Waste water treatment at capacity
• Electric grid capacity constraints
• Lack of social infrastructure such as schools and open spaces
• Increasing pressure on the natural environment

The government considers that a Development corporation is required to help with solving such problems through the use of statutory powers and stability to to co-ordinate large-scale infrastructure delivery over a long time period.

What level of government should control the corporation?

As I have already mentioned, development corporations can be locally or centrally led. The government is proposing a centrally led one for Cambridge. This means that there will be ministerial backing to projects undertaken by the corporation. There will also be better access to public-private investment.

In my view, the contact with and backing from central government is very welcome and will provide Cambridge with an opportunity to solve the problems outlined above.

What will the development corporation do?

2026-29 – it will assist with the key barriers to implementing the new local plan which will be submitted later this year.

2029 and beyond – it will develop ambitious new locations for growth

What area will it cover?

It is proposed that it will cover Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.

In my view this depends on the result of the local government reorganisation decision on boundaries. Option B has the same boundary for the unitary as is proposed for the development corporation. Option A also includes East Cambridgshire which would be outside the Development Corporation boundaries.

What powers will the corporation have?

Possible powers include:

• the power to acquire land by agreement or compulsory purchase orders
• Co-ordinate infrastrucure provision with providers, and also the power to directly plan, fund and deliver essential infrastructure including water, electricity gas and schools and green spaces.
• Co-ordinate and deliver transport schemes.
• Access central government grants and borrowing
• Planning powers 1: Plan making – it is proposed that this would only apply to phase 2 i.e. 2029 onwards
• Planning powers 2: Development management – this would enable the corporation to determine planning applications. It is suggested that this only applies to developments above a certain size and the consultation asks our opinion on what that might be.

In my view, this sounds sensible part from the planning powers. These should remain with democratically elected councillors. The planning service has been recognised as the best in the country and the head has been given an MBE. Democratic accountability is key to building the Cambridge residents want. Anything else will see government doing development to us and residents will lose their trust in government. There is no good reason to disrupt the current arrangement.

How will the governance be arranged?

The locally elected leaders will have a seat on the board but it is not clear what proportion of the total they will consitute and therefore what power they will have there.

There will also be a range of other locally interested people with the requisite range of skills.

The planning committee meetings will be held in public as they are in councils. The government’s intention is that the corporation will follow the same transparency provisions as a council although this is not a legal requirement.

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These are the questions in the consultation and you do not have to answer all of them. I strongly encourage you to take part in the consultation.

1. What do you think about the current delivery of infrastructure and homes in Greater Cambridge?

2. What do you think about the proposal to create a centrally-led urban development corporation (UDC) in Greater Cambridge?

3. What matters most to you about the future of Greater Cambridge?

4. Do you have any views on the objectives of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, as set out in the consultation document?

5. What do you think about the proposed boundary of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, as set out in Annex B of the consultation document?

6. What do you think about the phased approach we have proposed in regard to plan making powers?

7. What do you think about the proposals to give the Development Corporation plan making powers as set out in the consultation document?

8. What do you think about the proposals to give the Development Corporation powers to determine planning applications as set out in the consultation document?

9. Do you agree with using thresholds for the Development Corporation taking decision making powers? Which minimum thresholds for determining planning applications do you think are appropriate?

10. Do you have any other views on the proposed approach to the Development Corporation’s powers and functions?

11. What do you think about proposed local representation on the Development Corporation board, as set out in the consultation document?

12. What do you think about the board having expertise in areas such as planning, property development, design, environment, finance, and infrastructure delivery?
13. Do you have any views on the impacts of the above proposals for anyone with a relevant protected characteristic?

14. If so, please explain who, which groups, including those with protected characteristics, may be impacted and how.

15. Is there anything that could be done to maximise benefits or address any concerns you have identified?