BusinessLDN brought together senior leaders from across the public and private sectors in Cambridge last week for a dinner with Peter Freeman, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, to explore how closer collaboration between London and Cambridge can unlock growth and strengthen the UK economy.
Sponsored by Arcadis and chaired by our Chief Executive John Dickie, the event also drew on the expertise of Peter Hogg, Arcadis’ UK & Ireland Country Director and recently appointed Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor, and John Gordon, Business Director, whose work across Cambridge and the wider Oxford-Cambridge corridor reflects the important role that infrastructure and investment will play in supporting the city’s future development.
The evening focused on Cambridge’s next phase of transformation – and the opportunities created by greater devolution. Peter Freeman argued that devolution has opened up new funding streams and delivery powers for Cambridge, creating new ways to accelerate progress and bring forward the housing, infrastructure and commercial development needed to underpin the city’s success. The conversation explored how greater local control could help unlock the region’s potential and strengthen connections with London and the wider Innovation Corridor.
There was also a strong emphasis on Cambridge’s global reputation, with the discussion underlining the importance of strengthening the city’s international brand and profile to attract investment alongside the physical tools to support growth. Building confidence through visible delivery was also seen as particularly important, with early high-quality improvements to public realm and infrastructure helping to signal progress and create momentum.
Drawing on his experience leading the transformation of King’s Cross, Peter Freeman highlighted how the creation of new public spaces, including the square and fountains, helped show change on the ground and build confidence in the wider regeneration programme. This provided a practical example of how visible improvements can help bring long-term growth plans to life.
Attention also turned to how Cambridge could be positioned as part of a broader regional proposition when engaging international investors. Rather than presenting London and Cambridge as separate economic centres, the case was made for promoting London, Cambridge and Oxford as a connected opportunity across the wider South East. This reflected a broader theme running through the event: closer collaboration between London, Cambridge and the wider region can help maximise the strengths of each place and drive growth across the UK economy. For many around the table, the challenge now is turning that shared ambition into visible delivery that demonstrates the scale of the economic potential ahead.