Government gives final £200m to transport body

A transport delivery body has secured its final tranche of funding from the government and will receive £200m over the next five years.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) was set up in 2014 after the government granted the area a city deal worth £500m.

The funding is for big infrastructure projects to support economic growth in and around Cambridge and has been handed down in stages over a number of years, with the first £300m already received.

The organisation has passed its second gateway review, which is where the government checks its progress.

The GCP is made up of Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge University and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Business Board.

Since its creation it has delivered projects such as the Chisholm trail, a cycle route linking the north and south of the city and overseen works to cycle routes on roads such as Milton Road and Histon Road.

The group is also currently overseeing the relocation of Waterbeach train station, new busways and a new road layout at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Whilst some projects have been widely welcomed, others have received objections. These include the Cambourne to Cambridge busway, which is going to be the subject of a public inquiry in September.

The gateway review was submitted in spring 2023 and was assessed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCLG). A meeting of the GCP's joint assembly on Thursday heard it had passed the review.

Brian Milnes, a Liberal Democrat councillor on South Cambridgeshire District Council who is a member of the GCP's executive board, said: "[The government] have recognised the schemes and projects, which we have developed in consultation with communities, businesses and people, will meet the needs of Greater Cambridge.

"Without the city deal investment, the continued growth of our area would not be possible - the Local Plan would not be delivered."

He also added that the group has a mission to "complete the job" for a "joined-up transport network". This will include the introduction of autonomous vehicles.

The GCP is a time-limited organisation, which is expected to disband once the city deal has been completed.

It has faced calls to be scrapped, including from Paul Bristow, the current mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

He argued that the funding and responsibilities should be passed on to his organisation, which was set up in 2017.

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