Today the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has published its interim report on the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor. Like the southern cousin of George Osborne's "Northern Powerhouse" the idea is to capitalise on the amazing knowledge based economy that already exists between these two great cities.
The report highlights many of the challenges that we recognise all too well in Oxfordshire around coping with the delivery of housing growth. The key recommendation is improved governance including possibly Combined Authorities and Unitary Authorities. Now that Oxfordshire County Council have finally agreed to reconsider their approach to combined authorities this could be a golden opportunity to improve cooperation and therefore the delivery of much needed infrastructure.
Also recommended in the report are the extension to East West Rail and the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. The latter would be a huge boost for Oxfordshire and the Vale in particular. Not just as a faster link between the knowledge hubs of Science Vale and Cambridge, but also importantly to relieve pressure on the A34, particularly around Oxford.
This is only the Interim Report with much work still to be done by the NIC and by local authorities, but it marks an important first step on a long journey.