Cambridge City Council was not consulted about the Government’s plan to build 250,000 homes in the city as part of the effort to make it the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’.

Housing secretary Michael Gove has reportedly drawn up plans to deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes in Cambridge over the next 20 years.

Known as ‘Cambridge 2040’, the plans aim to boost the so-called golden triangle between London, Oxford and Cambridge.

However, the city council said it had ‘not been consulted on these ideas, which we note are described as being at the “concept” stage.’

‘As the planning authority, the council would expect to be fully engaged in any proposals and the decision-making regarding the future of our city.’

We note the speculation in the Sunday Times that suggests ministers are considering significant increases in housing in and around Cambridge. The City Council has not been consulted on these ideas, which we note are described as being at the ‘concept’ stage.

— Cambridge City Council (@camcitco) July 9, 2023

The leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council also said that she had no knowledge of the 'Cambridge 2040' plans.

Cllr Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: 'We had no knowledge of this concept Michael Gove and his department are reported to be working up. We will be contacting him to find out more, as this is simply not appropriate.

'The scale of this plan is vast when compared to the growth our evidence has shown is needed here, and for it to even be suggested that the environmental standards could be relaxed is a huge concern. We know we need to deliver some growth, but that must be in a managed way, and for any meaningful growth to take place here we need assurances over a water supply that does not have a negative impact on the environment.'

A Government spokesperson said: ‘We are determined to help more young families own a home of their own – and that means working with local communities to build more of the right homes in the right places.’

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