TO BE PUBLISHED February 2026
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This conference will assess next steps for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, looking at progress so far and the long-term strategy for meeting strategic growth aims in the region.
It will bring policymakers and stakeholders together to discuss priorities for regional structures and leadership that can deliver inclusive growth, and proposed housing and transport infrastructure - alongside strategies for managing environmental concerns whilst fostering sustainable development across the corridor.
Governance, leadership & delivery structures
The agenda will assess the governance arrangements emerging for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor in response to changing policy, funding and delivery pressures. Attendees will consider how frameworks for local-national collaboration and cross-regional coordination can best support delivery of the region’s strategic plan. Sessions will examine recent government proposals to establish a centrally-led development corporation with the aim of driving growth in Greater Cambridge, as well as assessing early progress under the Oxford Growth Commission.
Areas for discussion include leadership roles, place-based interventions and the role of local authorities in advancing shared priorities. We expect this to reflect calls for clearer accountability and transparency in emerging governance structures, and for stronger cross-boundary cooperation to support rural areas.
Attendees will consider options for local government reorganisation, including the potential of unitarisation in Oxfordshire, to support more responsive, integrated planning and infrastructure delivery, as well as examining next steps in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and the wider corridor.
Discussion will also examine implications of proposals in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill currently progressing through Parliament, including the embedding of environmental and community duties in devolved powers, with delegates expected to assess specific considerations for the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.
Key sectors, Industrial Strategy benefits & inward investment
Sessions will assess priorities for supporting high-value industries and innovation-led growth across the corridor, with a focus on life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Attendees will consider opportunities and potential benefits for the region from contributing to national Industrial Strategy goals, building on the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan and targeted support for R&D.
Inward investment strategies will be discussed and the role of innovation partnerships in driving growth, including recent initiatives linking Cambridge with other UK innovation hubs. The conference will also explore how the UK Infrastructure: A 10-Year Strategy can support the development of commercial space, lab facilities, and transport links needed to sustain innovation clusters and attract global talent.
The role of East West Rail in linking key financial settlements and economic hubs will also be considered, alongside wider plans for road upgrades and mass transit systems in supporting housing delivery, business growth and regional connectivity.
Sessions will also consider approaches boosting local economies and maximising the benefits expected from the development of the Universal theme park in Bedfordshire, as well as from planned upgrades to London Luton Airport. Key themes for discussion will include alignment of skills provision with sectoral needs and investment priorities, and transport and utility infrastructure required infrastructure to support development.
Communities, housing & environmental resilience
Delegates will assess proposals for new towns and urban intensification, with sites identified in the New Towns Taskforce report at Heyford Park, Milton Keynes, and Tempsford, and ongoing development at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. How these developments can support long-term housing delivery and infrastructure coordination will be discussed, whilst addressing viability challenges, affordability concerns, and meeting placemaking and local stewardship requirements for local benefits and preserving areas’ distinctive natural and landscape qualities.
Attendees will also examine the impact of planning reform on the deliverability and financial viability of Local Growth Plans and community engagement, as well as expected impact of further proposed measures to be implemented in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Discussion will consider how environmental priorities are being addressed, particularly in areas facing pressure from planned growth. The agenda will consider the delivery of flood protection schemes, including the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, and proposals for new water infrastructure such as the Fens Reservoir.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Transport; Department for Business and Trade; Office for National Statistics; and Active Travel England.
