TO BE PUBLISHED December 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for the development of the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor, following the commitment in March 2026 from the Government to double funding for land acquisition and development in the corridor, with up to £800m now available. The planned agenda will explore priorities for delivery, governance and stakeholder roles in the region, and the investment and innovation needed to support economic growth.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess the future of housing and infrastructure delivery in the corridor. Delegates will look at the impact of development and infrastructure projects in the region - including the proposed new town at Tempsford, the East West Rail, and further provision for water and electricity. Delegates will also discuss priorities for tackling planning and construction challenges - including commercial pressures, affordability and viability concerns, and approaches to risk mitigation. They will also consider how best to address community needs, meet environmental objectives, and improve sustainable connectivity.
The agenda will discuss the future for development corporations in the region in the context of the establishment of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, including implications of the proposed transfer of planning powers through a separate Planning Functions Order, and the Corporation’s role in coordinating growth and development across Greater Cambridge. Discussion will explore how the proposed planning powers could be exercised in practice, considering next steps for working alongside local authorities and other stakeholders, and the consultation to come on a Greater Oxford Development Corporation, as well as priorities for delivering inclusive long-term decision-making and progress.
Further planned sessions will discuss priorities for supporting innovation-led job creation and economic growth in the corridor. Attendees will consider strategies for attracting investment in the science and technology sector, and approaches to developing partnerships between academia, business, and local government. It will also be an opportunity to examine infrastructure capacity for scientific growth, following designation of the UK's first AI Growth Zone at Culham and progress on planning, and grid connection and delivery, as well as the future for developing the visitor economy, with a focus on enabling local opportunities such as the Universal project in Bedford, now under construction.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy & governance: development corporations and local government coordination - devolved governance arrangements - spatial planning and power distribution - accountability frameworks
- finance & funding: new towns plan investment - local authority support - innovation hub expansion - AI Growth Zone and supercluster progress - Local Innovation Partnership Fund deployment
- planning & delivery: planning approvals and bottlenecks - risk mitigation for development phases - design and delivery timeline and priorities - workforce and construction capacity
- project development: East West Rail development- digital and physical infrastructure delivery - Fens Reservoir development constraints - Universal theme park design and construction
- sustainability & impact: environmental impact mitigation - drought resilience planning - national forest regeneration and ecological restoration plans - water resource management
- community priorities: consultation and engagement - landowners, residents and wider participation - affordability and displacement - inclusive economic growth - regional inequality concerns - job creation
