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The Government of the United Kingdom will enhance a strategic plan for creating a British competitor to the Silicon Valley around Oxford and Cambridge, which is the latest sign that the Labor focuses on high -proficative areas of the economy in their efforts to grow.
Oxford-Cambridge Arc’s support decision indicates the return of political affection for a scheme Three years ago after the then conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a priority to “equalizing” the poorer regions.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said on Monday government He wanted to double the economic production of the region rich in science, which extends between the two most famous British universities, with the production and logistics center of Milton Keynes between them.
“The Oxford-Cambridge bow is already a prosperity engine, but we can still go. We are determined to release rresearch and development As a driving force in our mission of the growth of the economy in every corner of the country, ”he said.
The rapid monitoring of a scheme that would be a competitor to the scientific clusters of Boston and San Francisco in the United States would be added £ 78 billion GDP to British economy by 2035, according to a study of the Public First Consultantial House for Oxford-Cambridge SuperCluster Board, which consists of industry and University leaders.
This announcement, which comes before this week’s speech about the “growth” of British Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was greeted by Oxford University Vice -Rectors and Cambridge, as well as senior leaders of the Pharmaceutical Company Astrazeneca UK and the designer of computer chips ARM.
The Chairman of the SuperCluster Committee Andy Williams said that his members, “involving some of the world’s greatest investors, see the exceptional potential and in this commitment it is quite clear that the Government sees it.”
The original plan designed in 2017 National Commission for Infrastructure and was the main priority of consecutive conservative governments, the last returning to the benefit of under the Rishi Sunak.
Promised to provide an additional million homes and 700,000 jobs, but he met with a fierce political reaction from local groups opposed to new development.
However, Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, signaled that he was ready to face such complaints, promising to build 1.5 million homes in this parliament and “put builders, not blockers in the first place” to encourage the economy that stagnates .
Mike Davey, the head of the Cambridge City Council, welcomed Luka support, but warned that it would require investments in more accessible homes, as well as improved water supply and traffic infrastructure.
“The government should learn from the mistakes that the Tories made on the arca – we have to pull the local communities with us and they have to see the advantages,” he said.
A new money for ARC was not announced on Monday. However, in the October budget, the Government has committed itself to the implementation of the East West Rail project that will revive the Varsity railway, which connected Oxford and Cambridge until it was closed in 1967.
Although they praised the ambition of ministers for the ARC, senior executives said the plan would require improvement of infrastructure with reforms to get up to plan for planning, easier access to global workers and capital.
Both Oxford and Cambridge suffered from water and electricity shortages, which led to temporary blocking of residential and scientific development by the environmental regulator.
Richard O’Boyle, Executive Director of the Pioneer Group, which leads to the campuses of life sciences, said Oxcam could be a great initiator of growth “with the right support”, but “in order to completely unlock its potential, we need investments, better infrastructure and policies that support growth. ”
As a sign of developing difficulty in the area, a decision was made to move the sewer in the north Cambridge delayed For the second time in January, actually freezing development of 5600 houses.
Nick Pettit, a senior partner at Bidwells Real Estate Advisor, said that the global investors were drawn to the region despite the difficulty of planning and procurement a sign of strong interest in Oxcam.
“The reality is that small changes in politics are all that this region needs to make a huge difference in its contribution to national growth,” he added.
The government stated that it was committed to investing in regional growth as part of its industrial strategy, although offering such high support to Oxford and Cambridge risked the fostering of charges that Favorize the south of England in the urge to grow.
However, Dan Thorp, Executive Director of the Cambridge Ahead Group, said that supporting Oxcama “was not playing with zero result” and that Cambridge works with other groups, such as Northern Powerhouse Partnership, on the creation of “related clusters” that share growth.
“Great benefits for the Government Mission of growth can come from connecting what is happening in Oxcam with the rest of the UK,” he added.
