The NIC report recommends that the Government supports, including in next week's budget:
- A new Cambridge South rail station to be delivered by 2022 latest
- Integrated delivery by 2030 of both a new Cambridge Oxford East West Rail link and an integrated East West Expressway
Councillor Lewis Herbert said: “This major investment in rail is both welcome and overdue, and we ask the Chancellor to support all the key NIC recommendations in his Budget next Wednesday, to deliver the vital new Cambridge South station by 2022 latest and the full East West rail route from Cambridge to Milton Keynes and Oxford by 2030, as a major boost to making our growth sustainable and shifting transport from road to rail.
"On Cambridge South, we will be working with the Mayor, the Greater Cambridge Partnership and Government to try to beat the 2022 deadline, provided Government confirms funding next week to match planned private investment and local funding contributions. Timing depends on the scale of four track and best design to maximise stopping trains and we want to get it right, and earlier than 2022 if we possibly can.
"On East West Rail, the crunch issue is the missing link from Sandy to Cambridge and we call on Government to commit to making a firm and final route by the end of 2019. Currently, the four options detailed in the NIC report are causing major uncertainty and risk totally confusing major future strategic planning across Cambridgeshire and beyond, as well as raising avoidable and unnecessary concerns among many local rural communities.”
Councillor Lewis Herbert is also Vice Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership which has been working closely with the National Infrastructure Commission for over two years on this project, along with partner cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes who work together in a "Fast Growth Cities" group which also includes Norwich and Swindon.
As the Cabinet Lead on Spatial Planning for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority he also welcomed:
- NIC support for the critical role of long-term strategic planning for extra housing and potential new settlements across Cambridgeshire and beyond
- coverage in the report on the complexities of “Land Value Capture" that is needed to ensure uplift in development land funds extra infrastructure,and doesn’t all get lost in land speculation, though the report did not reach any major conclusions on how to achieve that
- wider proposals that are expected in a separate National Infrastructure Commission report on increasing cycling in Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford. He welcomed the NIC report recognition that Cambridge is way ahead of other cities both on cycling for work and leisure journeys and on cycling investment where Cambridge is currently gaining £20m investment. The NIC makes an additional proposal – for a Cycling Commissioners for all three cities, which Cllr Herbert will ask the Greater Cambridge Partnership to consider adopting.