A leading growth expert has been appointed as the Chair of a major government programme to grow the UK economy with new homes, infrastructure, transport links and jobs in the heart of the country’s oldest university city.
Neale Coleman, who has a proven track record in delivering growth and regeneration across London, will now chair the Oxford Growth Commission which will identify how best to unlock new development and accelerate growth across Oxford and the surrounding areas.
Working in lockstep with local partners and industry, the Commission forms part of wider government plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will inject up to £78 billion into the UK economy by 2035, including new investment for the Abingdon Reservoir and funding for East-West Rail to deliver new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
The Commission’s pro-growth mission includes helping to unblock sites already identified for development, assessing areas of potential investment, and bringing councils and developers to the table so they can assemble land faster for major infrastructure projects.
Their work to kickstart a new Oxford powerhouse will support the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes and new critical infrastructure, which will in turn create jobs, boost living standards, and put more money into working people’s pockets.
“The new group will deliver growth objectives through five initial workstreams and their areas of focus in Oxford and the surrounding areas include:
· Facilitating the delivery of priority transport infrastructure, such as buses and rail, and ensuring investment in new projects is aligned to areas under development.
· Addressing utilities constraints, including the capacity of sewage treatment facilities, water and energy to dismantle barriers holding up new homes and jobs.
· Identifying a pipeline of priority housing projects that includes more affordable homes, amenities and green spaces.
· Working in partnership with the universities to encourage more private investment in skills and talent to boost local employment.
· Piloting new investment models to unlock the financing and funding needed to accelerate infrastructure projects.
To drive growth across the region, the Commission will work closely with Lord Vallance as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion as well as Peter Freeman as Chair of the Cambridge Growth Company, inspired by the current Cambridge model.” – Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, Neale Coleman CBE
“Yesterday marked the first 100 days since the new Growth Corridor was announced by the Chancellor, and significant progress is already underway. This includes confirmed funding to upgrade the A428 and reduce journey times between Cambridge and Milton Keynes, a new Health Data Research Service to accelerate the discovery of life-saving drugs, significant investment for nine new reservoirs to tackle water scarcity, and support for the East Coast Mainline station to expand the region’s economy. Building on the Growth Corridor’s progress so far, the Commission will go even further to unleash the economic power of Oxford and Oxfordshire which will not only benefit the wider region but also help drive economic growth in every corner of the country.”- Science Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance
“The Oxford region is already an important contributor to the UK economy, with the potential to contribute even greater sustainable growth as part of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. To realise this potential, we need to unlock the barriers that are holding us back. Oxfordshire is home to world-leading science and technology companies, working to address global problems, but we need to see these companies scale. That means expanding and developing innovation-focused hubs, improving transport links, aligning our labour markets and providing the housing needed to attract and retain talent to ensure inclusive growth. These developments will benefit the region, the Growth Corridor and the UK as a whole. I welcome of Neale Coleman’s appointment, and the establishment of the Oxford Growth Commission. Advanced Oxford is committed to supporting its work.”- Sarah Haywood, Managing Director, Advanced Oxford
Further information:
The Oxford Growth Commission is a joint endeavour with membership consisting of government, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the University of Oxford, and Oxford Brookes, as well as a representative from the local Business Community, Advanced Oxford.
Membership of the Commission will be made up of 9 representatives including the Ministry of Housing and Homes England, engaging with a range of local partners across the academic, innovation and infrastructure sectors to support delivery of its objectives.
Neale Coleman’s appointment letter can be read in full here.
The Commission was previously announced by the Chancellor as part of her growth speech on 29 January.
Read more here.
