Cambridge Growth Company chair Peter Freeman to discuss the vision for city

Cambridge Growth Company chair Peter Freeman will give an insight into the government’s plans for the city with a talk at Great St Mary’s this week.

The talk – Making Cambridge a Happy City? – is being hosted by the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations (FeCRA).

Mr Freeman told the Cambridge Independent: “I am grateful to Wendy Blythe (FeCRA chair) for giving me the opportunity to talk to a wide group of residents through the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations.

“I’ll try to explain the role I have been given by government and how I hope that will lead to solving some of Cambridge’s infrastructure problems and to setting new standards in design and delivery of exceptional places to live and work.”

The growth company launched a website on Tuesday (6 May) as a way of sharing information with residents. The site – thecgc.org.uk – shows the company board is made up of six officers including Mr Freeman and director, Beth Dugdale, an experienced officer at Homes England. Other officers are drawn from senior positions at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The website explains that Mr Freeman has met with MPs, the mayor, leaders and chief executives of the local authorities, business leaders, landowners, developers, and representatives from Cambridge’s universities, life science, technology, and innovation groups to draw up a picture of the local issues, ambitions, and opportunities.

It says the company continues to recruit people and is in the process of setting up a Cambridge office. It has set up an advisory council and appointed a team of consultants to assist in the development of a vision in February.

The advisory council, which is made up of council leaders and the mayor alongside Dr Paul Leinster – chair of the Water Scarcity Group, Baroness Sally Morgan – chair of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Master of Fitzwilliam College, and Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Cambridge University, guides the company to ensure that plans and projects benefit from the knowledge of elected officials and experts.

“Within the CGC and across government, Peter Freeman is leading a team of professionals across a range of disciplines including commercial and housing, economics, transport, water, the environment, and land supply to develop ambitious plans for Greater Cambridge.

“The intention is that the CGC in its current form may transition into a growth and delivery vehicle that has the capacity and capability to take a long-term approach to delivery. No decisions on a future delivery vehicle have been taken at this stage.

“The CGC will continue to place the highest value on working collaboratively with elected leaders, local councils, and stakeholders through a programme of engagement that will include the general public, business communities, and local groups.

“The CGC commits to acting with integrity and respect with every stakeholder and interested person or group and to add value in a collective ambition to realise Greater Cambridge’s unique potential.”

The event will take place next week at 6.30pm on Thursday, 15 May at the University Church Great St Mary’s Cambridge. Entry is free but registration via Eventbrite is essential. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

To book your place, visit shorturl.at/M32av.