The Cambridge Growth Company has appointed Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and other technical experts to develop a growth strategy for Greater Cambridge
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-05)

The Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and others to prepare a vision, supported by a robust evidence base that will underpin a long-term growth strategy for Greater Cambridge.

Published on behalf of the Cambridge Growth Company

CGC will work collaboratively with locally elected leaders and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It will also access support from a number of government departments where required, to pursue infrastructure-led growth.

This appointment marks a significant step towards shaping a sustainable and strategic future for the Greater Cambridge region working in parallel with but extending over a longer period than the emerging Local Plan. The Local Plan is being developed by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service representing Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The development of the evidence base has commenced as a first step in defining a vision for the future of Greater Cambridge that is sustainable, inclusive and innovative. By drawing on insights into the knowledge economy, infrastructure, housing, employment, transport, and the natural environment, the evidence base will act as a foundation for identifying challenges and opportunities, policy development and a future spatial strategy. Key areas of focus will be overcoming transport congestion and water scarcity.

CGC is based in the city and has already commenced recruitment for a number of additional executive roles within the company to build its capacity and expertise over the coming months. These roles will be advertised locally in coming weeks.

Buro Happold - Integrated consulting engineers and advisors is a globally recognised consultancy specialising in strategic planning, economics, infrastructure, design, engineering, environment and sustainability and strategic advisory services. With a strong track record in delivering large-scale city strategies, new communities and urban transformation projects.

Buro Happold leads the team to shape the evidence base, strategy and implementation plan. Their contributions will ensure that the evidence base is grounded in data-driven insights, technical analysis and best practices for sustainable growth.

Roger Savage, Project Director said:

We look forward to working with local partners on addressing the challenges of the area. In developing the evidence base for the Growth Company we will consider ways which planning for growth can deliver a quality of life dividend for existing and future communities through investment in the environment and infrastructure.

Prior + Partners is an acclaimed urban planning, masterplanning and economic consultancy known for its role in shaping major urban regeneration and expansion projects. Their experience in spatial planning, placemaking, data analytics and policy advisory will be instrumental in aligning the evidence base with Greater Cambridge’s unique needs, ensuring that growth is managed effectively and equitably.

They will be supported by a multidisciplinary team with technical expertise and local knowledge, including BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBA, LUC, Peter Studdert, Turner and Townsend and Womble, and Bond Dickinson.

By partnering with these leading experts in urban strategy and infrastructure planning, the Cambridge Growth Company is laying the groundwork to help Greater Cambridge realise its full potential.

For further information please refer to CGC’s new website. (http://www.thecgc.org.uk)

Note to editors

Cambridge Growth Company

The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP appointed Peter Freeman to chair the Cambridge Growth Company in October 2024. The government then committed £10 million to the CGC at the 2024 Autumn Statement.

The CGC’s mission is to support Greater Cambridge in the creation of a delivery programme to bring forward an ambitious vision for long term growth. This vision will maximise the potential for the benefit of the city and the UK through enabling further growth of Cambridge’s knowledge and innovation industries.

The CGC, which is supported by an Advisory Council consisting of elected local leaders and a range of local experts, will work with local government to establish the best long-term business model to fund infrastructural improvements — water supplies, the transport network, education, health, and the natural environment, ensuring that as much as possible is delivered from the increase in the land value of the sites to be developed.

The intention is that the CGC in its current form transitions into a growth and delivery vehicle that has the capacity and capability to take a long-term approach to delivery.