OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE-NORWICH: THE REAL GROWTH CORRIDOR

The announcement of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, to be endowed with investment in a new rail link between the two cities, will be viewed in this part of the world as a logical extension of the existing Norwich-Cambridge Tech Corridor, writes Nick O'Leary.

OK, that sentence may include a little hubristic tub-thumping for Norfolk (and why not?), but it’s not entirely fanciful, as there are significant parallels between the two initiatives.

Both link cities with world-class universities which are making real contributions to the growth of the knowledge-based economy.  Both are areas defined by a unique set of educational, research and business assets, and both aim to promote innovation and entrepreneurial activity, especially in the tech sector, to drive sustainable economic growth.

The Norwich-Cambridge corridor is centred around a road – the A11 – which has at least been brought up to decent trunk road standard.  But the government’s recognition of the importance of an upgraded Oxford-Cambridge link demonstrates the importance of rail infrastructure in bringing about economic development, and our region should be lobbying for a similar improvement to the railway between Norwich and Cambridge.

The sticking point is the £500 million investment required to increase capacity at the Ely North junction, something which has been on the table for more than a decade now, but which could yet hit the buffers as a result of Rachel Reeves’ need to stay within her own fiscal spending rules.

What each of these growth corridors will do is bring together businesses and political leaders across private and public sectors to amplify their respective region’s collective strengths in science, technology and strategic leadership.

With the Norwich-Cambridge Tech Corridor, the framework is in place to create a real economic powerhouse which will provide employment and prosperity for Norfolk; employment land has been identified, and the political will is there to make it happen.

But in an increasingly connected world, such initiatives, important as they are, cannot exist in isolation.  And that is why we must work hard to make the connection between our own growth corridor and the new Oxford Cambridge Arc in the minds of national politicians, businesses, entrepreneurs and investors. 

Above all, at a time when the rhetoric about the need for investment in growth is meeting economic reality head-on, we need to be lobbying hard to ensure that the infrastructure improvements which are so vital to the success of such initiatives are not once again kicked down the road – even if that road is finally dualled.