The Oxford to Cambridge corridors needs a ‘single voice’ to drive forward its development plans, one of the area’s most experienced planners has told our Oxford Cambridge Corridor Economic Growth Conference.

Speaking on the events Inclusive Economic Growth Session, South East Midlands LEP Chief Executive Hilary Chipping said that an ‘overarching structure’ and a single identity was required to pull together activities across the area, saying: ‘’We need to sort our branding issues once and for all and have an independent chair so there is a single voice for the growth corridor.’’

But she cautioned that the establishment of a combined authority, like that already set up in Greater Manchester, would not be straightforward: ‘’In order to move to a combined authority which might happen, it would be necessary to have a number of authorities working together.’’

However, Jason Longhurst, Chairman of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development, said the corridor shouldn’t waster time setting up governance structures but instead just get on with the delivery saying: ‘’You could have lost two or three years if this area can’t make a pitch.’’

Eman Martin-Vignerte, a Director at Robert Bosch, urged the Government and the public sector to ‘get its act together’ to create new jobs.

And lastly John Cover, Director of Milton Keynes Dons FC, urged the Government to ‘pull its finger out’ on the east-west railway and expressway road, echoing calls earlier in the Oxford Cambridge Corridor Economic Growth Conference to speed up decision making on key infrastructure projects.

He said: ‘’The private sector is ready with the land but unless there is certainty there is no impetus for local authorities to activate it. It comes down to Government putting the money in because nothing else will happen until then.’’