Salaries for planners in the Cambridge to Oxford corridor should be doubled, the Chair of Silverstone Technology Cluster has said.

Roz Bird, who is also Commercial Director of Silverstone Park, told delegates at the Oxford Cambridge Corridor Economic Growth Conference that councils had to provide incentives to attract good quality staff into the corridor.

That should include doubling the salaries of local planning officers, she said: ‘’If we can get the best local planning officers working in the best planning departments that would really help when talking to investors.’’

Much needed improvements to the corridor’s road network were also part of the Industrial Strategy Session discussion, with the need to forge better connections between its existing clusters, like those surrounding the renowned Formula 1 racing track and Pinewood studios. Bird said: ‘’It would be easier to work together if we had better road and transport systems.’’

James Jamieson, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said it’s important that the corridor’s growth plans should not be concentrated in the main centres like Oxford and Cambridge: ‘’The growth is not going to be in Oxford or Cambridge but going to be between those areas.’’

He said the devolving decision making powers in areas like planning and roads would speed up development, but also cautioned that existing residents of the corridor should see benefits such as new schools from its growth: ‘’I worry that this is too top down and won’t benefit existing residents and businesses.’’