COMMENT Reports that the government is to abandon the Ox-Cam Arc may have alarmed some observers. But what does it really mean for the future of one of the UK’s more productive areas?
First, it is worth remembering that one of the core components of the Ox-Cam Arc initiative, the east-west rail line connecting Oxford and Cambridge, will still be delivered. This is good news and could have a significant impact, particularly if it is the catalyst for locally delivered transport infrastructure improvements for satellite towns.
The government is apparently abandoning a target for 1m new homes, but given the significant population growth in the area – particularly in Milton Keynes – this should not deter private sector investment. In fact, removing the target may make it easier for the individual towns and cities to be more flexible in bringing forward mixed-use development that blends high-tech workspace with homes, enhanced public realm and amenities, making for better and more sustainable places.
Indeed, the government’s deprioritising of the Arc should mean local authorities have more freedom to shape the development of individual towns and cities, which are all close geographically and at the forefront of tech and scientific innovation but very different places.
Cutting edge
Take Milton Keynes as an example. The town – it is applying for city status this year – was designed as a new model for urban living, and as such has innovation and forward-thinking in its DNA.
The local authority, and community, are proud of this and as such the vision for the city is to remain at the very cutting edge. Milton Keynes is one of only a few UK towns completely installed with 5G to support the use of autonomous vehicles and drone deliveries in the future and is home to real innovators such as Starship Robotics and Red Bull.
The commitment to innovation was evident when we consulted on plans for MK Gateway, our mixed-use scheme which will deliver work and R&D space, alongside build-to-rent homes. Working with renowned architectural practice Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and the local community, we were able to design a BTR development for post-Covid living, creating the UK’s first “vertical villages” – three-storey outside community gardens within the building envelope. Moreover, in a town designed around the car, we were encouraged not to include any parking spaces, as Milton Keynes looks ahead and considers how to transition away from car ownership to car accessibility.
Nearby, in Cambridge, there is a similar ethos of innovation, but also an objective to strengthen the connection between city and university, and harness the world-class talent and IP that is generated. It is a historic English city and a picturesque tourist destination, home to world-renowned companies and institutions, but also areas of severe socio-economic deprivation. Here, there is a pressing need to deliver affordable housing and “level up” within the city, while preserving its heritage and enabling it to become a UK leader in sustainability. The city council understands these issues and so is best placed to work with developers and investors to shape the city for the good of all.
More than marketing
Government-led “top-down” initiatives are hard to deliver. Like the Northern Powerhouse, the “Ox-Cam Arc” was a badge to help sell the area to those outside the UK. I would argue that the fundamentals of population growth, high-skilled employment, blue-chip occupiers and world-class academic institutions speak louder than any marketing slogan.
The area is already becoming globally recognised, and the challenge now is to deliver on its enormous potential. But for growth to be sustainable, we must bring local people with us – and that means working as partners with local authorities and engaging with the community to understand their specific needs, not following a government blueprint.
Olaide Oboh is a director at Socius Development
See also: Real estate giants hit out at fading Ox-Cam Arc support
