Local politicians criticise Cambridge 2040 plans

The government wants to build thousands of new homes in the region.

On Tuesday 19 December 2023, Michael Gove announced plans for more than 150,000 homes to be built around Cambridge by 2040.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities described growth in Cambridge as "constrained" and described its leadership in life sciences and tech as a "huge national asset".

Several local leaders including Mayor Dr Nik Johnson of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Lucy Nethsingha of Cambridgeshire County Council, Mike Davey of Cambridge City Council and Bridget Smith of South Cambridgeshire District Council have put out a joint statement following Mr Gove's announcement.

They said they were disappointed that Government plans for Cambridge "seem to be being negotiated through the press".

"We note in the latest announcement that the number of new homes put forward by Rt Hon Michael Gove MP has come down from 250,000 to 150,000, but this is still substantially more than the over 50,000 homes we have identified as needed in the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan (to 2040) – a number which will already be incredibly challenging to bring forward. 

"We are ambitious for high quality sustainable, green growth but can't stress enough how vital it is that Government supports us to tackle the issues that will otherwise act as roadblocks to sustainable growth."

Mr Gove said the homes would be built, regardless of who was in Westminster, and a new workforce would be setup to see it through.

Further announcements, especially around water supply concerns, are expected in 2024.