What is the Oxford-Cambridge Arc?

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc (the Arc) is a globally significant area, comprising five ceremonial counties: Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. The Arc has the potential to be one of the most prosperous, innovative and sustainable economic areas in the world.

To achieve this ambition, in February 2021 the government announced the intention to create a Spatial Framework, a long-term plan for sustainable growth in the Arc, to help create thousands of jobs, drive investment, protect and enhance the environment, and provide infrastructure to the area.

The government launched their first phase of public consultation for the Spatial Framework in July 2021, which closed on 12 October. The government is now considering all comments received to the consultation, which, alongside other considerations, will help to create a vision for the Arc to 2050.

Two more phases of consultation on the Framework will follow. We’ll be back soon with detail on next steps!

You can find out more about the Arc and the government’s ambition for it here.

Historic and indicative timeline