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Ambitious CAM mission strategy wins backing of Combined Authority’s transport committee

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Ambitious CAM mission strategy wins backing of Combined Authority’s transport committee

A refreshed document setting out the bold strategic vision for the trailblazing Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro has passed a key stage for full adoption by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.

The CAM Sub-Strategy is one of the ‘daughter’ documents of the Mayoral Combined Authority’s adopted Local Transport Plan and describes the economic, social and environmental objectives of the CAM which will guide its delivery. These aims align with the Local Transport Plan to ensure the CAM is consistent and integrated with the wider policies and projects which are shaping Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s transport future.

The draft CAM Sub-Strategy was approved by the Authority’s Board in March 2020 and a public consultation was held between May and July. The feedback from the consultation was incorporated into an updated version of the draft document, which was presented to Wednesday’s (November 4) meeting of the Combined Authority’s Transport & Infrastructure Committee. The committee recommended the approval and adoption of the CAM Sub-Strategy to the next full Combined Authority Board when it meets on November 25

The four key CAM policies contained in the document, which each have associated sub-objectives, are:

·        Promoting growth and economic opportunity, including supporting businesses and the economy with better connectivity, increasing productivity and capacity for sustainable expansion and job creation;

·         supporting the accelerated delivery of new housing, including those contained in local and emerging local plans, and unlocking opportunity for garden villages;

·         promoting equity, ensuring the CAM is affordable and accessible for all. The CAM must also integrate with other transport including rail, buses, and active travel including cycling and walking. Integration with developing transport projects including East West Rail, Cambridge South and other Combined Authority schemes is also covered, and;

·         promoting sustainable growth and development including via zero emission vehicles, avoiding encouraging unstainable development, supporting biodiversity net gain and preserving the natural character and heritage of the region.

Mayor James Palmer said:

“The CAM must deliver more than just faster, cleaner and better journeys and a reduction in congestion. The benefits go much wider; economic, social and environmental, and this document captures what CAM must achieve in supporting a sustainable and prosperous future for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

“That includes supporting the building of much-needed new homes, fostering business growth and job creation, connecting more people and places to greater opportunity and protecting and enhancing the environment. It will also give our advanced, tech-driven economy the extra capacity it needs to continue to be globally competitive, which is both locally important, but also of strategic national significance to ‘UK plc’.

“CAM’s delivery must be consistent with this mission and the valuable consultation input from local authorities, business groups, public and members of the public, have all helped sharpen our CAM policies.”

Among the CAM Sub-Strategy consultation feedback, it was found that:

· 67% strongly agreed or agreed with the objectives of the sub-strategy;

· 10% of respondents disagreed with the objectives and subobjectives of the sub-strategy;

· 62% strongly support or support the wording of the economic sub-objectives;

· 62% strongly support or support the wording of the societal sub-objectives; and

· 68% strongly support or support the wording of the environmental subobjectives.

Several amendments were made to the document following the feedback, though none significant enough to trigger the need for re-consulting.

The CAM Sub Strategy presented to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee is available on the website.