Tag Archives: Oxford to Cambridge Expressway

People across South and Vale urged to have their say on the Ox-Cam Arc

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People across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being urged to have their say on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, a government led project which will have an impact on the district in the future.

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc includes the area between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge and aims to make significant economic, social and environmental improvements across the region by 2050 and beyond.

The government is currently developing a vision for the Spatial Framework – a long-term strategic plan for growth across the area – which will help support planning for the future with the aim of helping to create jobs, drive investment, protect and enhance the environment, and provide infrastructure to make the Arc a better place to work and live.

The government has announced a 12-week public consultation on the future of the Ox-Cam Arc and people are being encouraged to help to create the Spatial Framework’s vision for the area to 2050 under the following themes:

  • The Environment
  • The Economy
  • Connectivity and Infrastructure
  • Place-making

Once agreed, the shared vision will help to determine which new policies are developed and ultimately will shape government plans for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc region.

The consultation also seeks views on the work the Government has done to set the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal, and the Government has also announced a new expert panel to advise on sustainable economic and housing growth in the Arc.

Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The Ox-Cam Arc will have an impact on our residents in South Oxfordshire for many generations to come, especially if the high population growth forecasted materialises. It is therefore vital that development is properly managed and planned and that the project’s vision really focusses on protecting and enhancing our natural environment, while also providing green focussed improvements to our local infrastructure and employment opportunities which will have genuine benefits for people living and working here.

“We as a council we will do what we can to influence the direction of this project, however it’s very important that people understand what this project means and that they are able to have their say at each stage of the process.

“I therefore urge everyone who lives and works in South Oxfordshire to have their say in this consultation, particularly our younger residents who will be most impacted by the longer-term effects of any Arc projects.”

Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This is really the first opportunity that our residents have had to see or comment on the government’s plans for the Arc region and their Arc Spatial Framework, which will become part of national planning policy.

“As a council we are already pushing for stronger environmental policies and powers along with investment in green technology. We know that people are concerned about the potential levels of growth and making sure that any benefits that the Arc projects bring benefit all existing residents across our communities.

“The Arc projects are likely to have a significant impact on our communities and will play a key role in how we are able to come together as a wider region to tackle the climate emergency. It’s particularly important that residents, businesses, and local partners in the Vale have a say in shaping this vision as it will help determine what policies and investments happen next.

“I urge everyone who lives and works here to find out more about the government’s vision for the Arc region and to have your say in this initial consultation.”

How to have your say

This public consultation is the first of three that will guide a new Spatial Framework over the next two years.

To find out more and to have your say visit placebuilder.io/futureofthearc. The consultation is open until 12 October 2021.

About the Oxford-Cambridge Arc

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc (the Arc) is a globally significant area between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. It is formed of five ceremonial counties: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

It supports over two million jobs, adds over £110 billion to the economy every year and houses one of the fastest growing economies in England.

For more information, please visit the government’s website.

Oxford-Cambridge road scrapped after cost analysis

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Plans for an Oxford to Cambridge expressway have been scrapped as it was deemed to “not be cost-effective for the taxpayer”, the government has said.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the decision was made after “extensive analysis” of the scheme, which was paused in March 2020.

The road would have linked Oxford with Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government remained “committed to boosting transport links” in the area.

The expressway had been a key part of infrastructure plans since 2017, and the National Infrastructure Commission said the new road and the East West Rail project had to “be built as quickly as possible to unlock land for new homes”, in the area known as the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

However, DfT said: “Extensive analysis and local engagement reveals the expressway would not be cost-effective for the taxpayer.”

It added: “The benefits the road would deliver are outweighed by the costs associated with the project.”

DfT said it would “work on alternative plans” to the expressway alongside building the East West Rail scheme.

 

More info: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-56443084

County Council : Oxford to Cambridge Expressway letter

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Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways England on the development of the vision for the English Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the East West Rail Link.

The development of the railway line will ensue the delivery of the rowth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.

Building the expressway flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car.  An action which is necessary to tackle the climate change emergency, which Local Government, including Oxfordshire has signed up to.

 

Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen.

 

Oxfordshire Expressway Update 6th Nove 2019

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Oxfordshire County Council has today forwarded a motion of no support for the proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, the public consultation for which has been delayed until after the election.

At the Council meeting on Tuesday 5 November 2019, Councillors voted in support of a motion on the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, a transport scheme proposed by Highways England. The Council motion stated:

“Given the inadequate response from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to the concern of this Council regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, this Council asks the Leader to write to the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Highways England in the following terms:

Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways England on the development of the vision for the English Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the East West Rail Link.

The development of the railway line will ensure the delivery of the growth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.

Building the Expressway flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car. An action which is necessary to tackle the Climate Change Emergency, which Local Government, including Oxfordshire, has signed up to.

Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen.”

The motion was carried with 36 in favour, 11 against and eight abstentions.

Background on the motion

The proposed routes for the new expressway have not yet been decided by Highways England and public consultation is still to be held on the proposals. The consultation was due to be held in Autumn 2019. This will now take place after the General Election.

Further information about the Highways England proposals are here.

https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/councillors-support-motion-on-the-oxford-cambridge-expressway/

 

Oxford to Cambridge Expressway Update

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At the end of November we were relieved to hear from Highways England that Dorchester no longer lies within one of the two possible corridors currently proposed by Highways England for the massive Oxford Cambridge Expressway development. In fact, the most southerly of the two corridor options put forward in the latest plan would be near the Golden Balls roundabout at Nuneham Courtney at the closest point to Dorchester.

However, before we relax and assume that this threat is no longer a cause for concern we ought to be mindful that these are early days and much could change. Our experience with PAGE, the on-going campaign set up to prevent large-scale gravel extraction around our village and neighbouring areas, shows that decisions on this scale often take a lot longer to conclude than anticipated.

Revised Expressway plans have to be expected as everyone else will be raising objections and oppositions to any route close to where they live and these might radically change everything.
So it was agreed to continue our support, operationally and financially, for the Expressway Action Group’s initiatives to safeguard the environment and countryside around us. We will remain closely engaged in this fight to prevent a multi-lane highway being built next to us and will keep Dorchester residents informed as things develop.

Chris Hill