27.10.17
Cambridge authorities allot £4m investment for transport infrastructure
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CA) will spend over £4m on transport schemes in 2017-18.
Funds are expected to be spent on a number of shortlisted major infrastructure projects including the development of new stations and the regeneration of existing sites.
A total of 17 schemes have been shortlisted for funding, with another 26 making the ‘long-list’ for the current mayoral period.
In Cambridge there are plans to contribute to the costs of a new station built near the university’s Biomedical Campus. The project is expected to grant access to a site which could support 16,000 homes and 7,000 new jobs.
In addition, the early stages of a scheme to build a station in Soham have been put forward, which would provide access to over 1,600 homes and 15 hectares of development land.
“The list of priority transport schemes makes clear the CA’s commitment to investing in transport infrastructure across the entirety of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough,” commented mayor James Palmer. “Every corner of the CA area will benefit from this investment.”
“The feasibility studies commissioned over the summer will take time to come to fruition but the transport solutions that will flow from them could be transformative for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
There are also proposals to begin the regeneration of Fenland railway stations in March, Manea and Whittlesea – projected to cost the authority as much as £9m over the next four years.
Charles Roberts, portfolio holder for transport, added: “Initially much of this work will be exploring the feasibility of such schemes and developing business cases.
“It is important that we have a longer-term pipeline of work to ensure that there is a steady flow of transport interventions that are effectively planned and well considered over the current and future mayoral cycles.
“Having an extended list provides greater opportunity to consider local issues and spread investment around the CA area.
“Early investment in the development of schemes places the CA in a strong position to bid for and secure additional funding as alternative sources become available. Similarly, it helps to position projects for potential future private sector investment.”
The area has already benefitted from rail investment earlier this year, with the new Cambridge North station creating a link between the city and the science park.
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