Engagement Approach

This consultation is open to everyone.

This consultation relates to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc - the area that covers the ceremonial counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

We are interested in hearing from those who live, work and have an interest in the future of the area – particularly from those who have not responded to a consultation of this kind before.

This consultation is being undertaken to inform our approach to the future of the Arc. We are seeking views to help us create a vision for the Arc Spatial Framework, and in doing so, to guide the future growth of the area to 2050.

This is in line with the commitment we made at the launch of the Spatial Framework process in February 2021 when we published a policy paper that set out how we intend to develop the Spatial Framework and how we are committed to conducting wide and meaningful engagement. 

As part of this consultation, we are also seeking views on the initial work we have done to set the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal. This will help to inform the development of the Spatial Framework and will ensure sustainability is at the heart of it. 

Our digital engagement platform has been designed to provide all local stakeholders with the opportunity to respond with their views. 

We have designed the consultation to be accessible and easy to respond to, and so that we can more easily collect and analyse the views of everyone who responds at this early stage. We are open to other ideas on the vision and will consider all relevant views expressed. As part of this consultation, we also want to hear your views on how we can engage with you better.

There will be further opportunities to have your say. This is the first of three planned consultations on the Spatial Framework for the Arc.

You can read more about the engagement approach in our ‘Creating a vision for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc’ document, here.