Government revives plans for Oxford-Cambridge Arc

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The UK government has vowed to boost the economy by up to £78bn by reviving plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

Science secretary Peter Kyle said on Monday: “The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is already an engine of prosperity, but we can go even further. We are determined to unleash research and development as a driving force in our mission to grow the economy in every corner of the country.”

The vision is for the region to become the unequivocal Silicon Valley of Europe; the home of British innovation.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to say later today that the aim is to double economic growth across the science-rich region, which stretches from Oxford to Cambridge, encompassing Milton Keynes in between.

Plans for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc were originally announced under Boris Johnson’s government in late 2020, but were later scrapped in favour of the “Levelling Up” scheme in 2022.

Reeves will also say: “Oxford and Cambridge offer huge economic potential for our nation’s growth prospects.

“Just 66 miles apart these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.”

The vice-chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge universities welcomed the science secretary’s announcement earlier this week, as did senior executives at AstraZeneca UK and computer chip designer Arm.

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