New government support for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc

The government has increased its funding support for the Oxford-to-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership (PRP), the new name for the Arc Leadership Group. Following confirmation of £250,000 funding last October, the PRP has now been awarded no less than £2.5m. It is seeking overseas investment to strengthen the area's position as a hub of innovation with, as a board member claims, 'ambitious and bold plans' to 'deliver growth and prosperity'. To many, this means a return to the 1 million new houses ambition previously promoted by the original Arc Leadership Group.

Mixed support and messaging

Last year, Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) withdrew support for the Arc plans, in particular the ribbon development between Oxford and Cambridge. The Arc Leadership Group lost a number of councils, reducing the five counties to two and two halves, followed by the departure of its Chief Executive. The Group admitted its messages on housing numbers and the environment had not been accepted by the public, and it withheld the findings of a major public consultation that it admitted showed significant opposition.

Unclear plans

STARC says secret decision-making means widespread unstoppable development in the wrong places. (Credit: Saplings Homes)

The ten-fold increase in funding for the Pan-Regional Partnership marks a significant threat, says Stop The Arc Group. 'It's a wake-up call to the five counties,' says Nick Burton of STARC. 'The Pan-Regional Partnership only represents disconnected parts of the region. One third of its members have walked away from the grandiose scheme. The Partnership has no terms of reference. It meets in secret. It has no actual proposals for economic development. It has declared some 'environmental principles' which have amounted to nothing more than greenwashing, and to which not a single council in the region has ever required a planning application to comply.'

Who benefits

Charles Pither, Chair of STARC said, 'The Pan-Regional Partnership doesn't represent the views of the five counties it proposes to build over. It speaks for the developers, the landowners - in particular the universities - and potential foreign investors.  By pursuing government support for their self-interested proposals, they see a route to big profits - in unneeded bricks and concrete.'

Ill-defined rail link

Pither says residents of the five counties should be seriously concerned, because the Partnership has no real interest or ability in terms of planning. 'Intentions for a spatial framework to underpin Arc plans were abandoned by the government in 2022. Yet the shrinking Arc supporters plough on, on a seemingly ad hoc basis. The Bedford-Cambridge extension of the East-West Rail is the Pan-Regional Partnership's poster child, and they've persuaded government to support it. But after years of discussion, the rail link still has no business case, no agreed route, and no plans for electrification. All that's known is that it won't serve any of the areas around Cambridge earmarked for new development. If this is the payback for the millions poured into the Arc Leadership Group to date, the £2.5 million promised to the Pan-Regional Partnership looks very much like good money after bad.'

Excluded stakeholders

STARC notes that, despite claims of inclusivity and the pursuit of environmental enhancements, the Partnership's list of stakeholders excludes wildlife trusts, environmental organisations and planning alliances.