Update: A government-backed strategic study on a potential Oxford to Cambridge expressway - one of six that will inform the second phase of the Road Investment Strategy, 2020-2025 - has found a 'strong case' for the new route.
The study, by Highways England on behalf of the Department for Transport, said it would 'improve east-west connectivity, build transport network resilience and promote economic growth'.
It is 'anticipated' that existing roads will form much of the Expressway, which would connect Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, the study says. However it adds that 'gaps along the network need to be addressed, particularly the section between the M1 near Milton Keynes and the M40'.
'This would complement other national infrastructure projects including East West Rail (EWR).'
A major alliance of councils has called for a range of measures to be included in infrastructure plans for the Cambridge–Milton Keynes–Oxford growth corridor, including developing ‘first mile and last mile travel options’ and better east-west connections.
England’s Economic Heartland Strategic Alliance (EEH Alliance) made the calls in its submission to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) consultation on developing this key south east growth corridor. The consultation closed on 5 August.
The alliance also reiterated its ambition, first revealed by Transport Network, to become a statutory sub-national transport body, as Transport for the North and Midlands Connect hope to in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council and vice-chairman of the EEH Alliance, James Jamieson, said: ‘The Strategic Alliance’s ambition to establish a statutory sub-national transport body demonstrates our commitment to provide the strategic leadership that will enable us to deliver improvements that will benefit UK PLC as a whole.’
EEH Alliance represents eight county and unitary councils - Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, Luton Borough and Cambridgeshire – and local enterprise partnerships.
In its submission it recommended government:
- fund the full delivery of East West rail from Oxford to Cambridge – ‘a transformational piece of infrastructure that is integral to supporting planned growth’
- invest in a new East West expressway [fast A-road] to open up areas for housing and better access to employment
- support the need to realise the potential of key transport interchanges as ‘hubs’ to attract investment
- improve “first mile/last mile” travel options for people to travel more efficiently
Mr Jamieson added: ‘Our economy is ready for a step-change. We want to work with the NIC to develop and help deliver these key improvements sooner rather than later. If we can get that certainty of investment then that, in turn, will ensure the buy-in of both the public and private sectors across the Heartland area.
‘We are very aware that east-west travel is relatively poor across the area. Places such as Oxford, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Peterborough and Cambridge are some of the fastest growing cities in the country and yet it’s difficult to travel between them.’
The region is a major growth area in England. Since the early 1980s the population of Milton Keynes has more than doubled and Oxford and Cambridge have grown by between 20% and 30%.
The NIC, which also hopes to become a statutory body itself under the proposed Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bil announced in the Queen's Speech, is scheduled to submit initial advice on the growth corridor to Government later in the autumn.
A final report is due in late 2017 to provide ‘recommendations to boost connectivity, growth, jobs, housing, sustainability, local governance and a framework to measure the impact of investment’.
Surveyor Events has launched a one-day conference in Manchester on 10 November specifically designed to prepare local government for the transition towards regional transport planning.
Successful Regional Transport 2016 will feature keynote speakers including David Brown, chief executive of Transport for the North and Cathy Miller deputy director for cities, policy and delivery at the Department for Transport.
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