1. Invest to attract investment.

The scale of recent inward investment is significant with global corporates choosing Cambridge and new businesses starting up and expanding. But Cambridge must plan for further growth if the city and sub-region is to continue to benefit from the two main sectors of technology and bioscience colliding.

2. More employment space needed.

There are opportunities for the commercial property market to absorb some demand from current and incoming companies on existing sites with redevelopment or densification of existing science and business parks. Looking forward, more employment land should be brought forward, including out-of-town and fringe locations.

3. Deliver a greater mix of housing.

Despite a growth agenda, there is still an undersupply of housing in and around Cambridge, particularly at lower price points. Addressing affordability pressures requires not only a significant increase in housing delivery but also a wider mix of homes including a variety of tenure.

4. Local councils need flexibility to react to specific needs.

Changes in Government policy regarding affordable housing will have an impact on tenure mix with a greater onus on homes for sale. This could make it harder to address affordability concerns. Starter Homes could compete with other forms of tenure and leave a gap at the bottom of the market.

5. Upgrading infrastructure is key.

Cambridge’s sphere of influence stretches well beyond the city and the South Cambridgeshire boundaries, with workers commuting into the city and the surrounding business parks. More in-commuting is not sustainable with current infrastructure. Value uplift in satellite towns could be used to pay for upgrades but capturing this requires joint working across the local authorities and a strategic vision for the ‘city region’. A pro-active approach is essential.