Regional leaders unite to champion Ely Junction investment

Regional leaders unite to champion Ely Junction investment

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board has united to reaffirm its backing of one of the region’s most important infrastructure projects – the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) programme.

In a joint letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of next week’s Comprehensive Spending Review, the cross-party Board is calling for a funding commitment that would unlock wide-reaching economic and transport benefits for Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and the wider East of England.

Bringing together voices from across the region, the Board’s collaborative approach underlines the shared ambition to see long-term growth supported by a modern, efficient rail network.

The EACE scheme, which tackles one of the UK’s most congested rail bottlenecks, is widely recognised as a high-value investment, offering returns of up to £4.89 for every £1 spent.

Local leaders are seizing the moment to reaffirm their collective support for the Ely upgrades.

The programme promises to enhance passenger and freight capacity, strengthen links across the East. The Board has welcomed Government commitment to powering up the UK’s vital Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and supporting growth industries like life sciences. This has included Government welcoming University of Cambridge’s plans for a city centre innovation hub. Ely junction will be a key enabler of the Government’s ambition to go ‘further and faster’ to grow the globally competitive economy.

Decades in the making, the project is ready to deliver. The case is strong. The benefits are clear.

As the Government prepares its Comprehensive Spending Review, the Combined Authority Board stands united in its ask: fund the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and help drive the region—and the nation—forward.

The Mayor said: “I’m proud to see the Combined Authority Board united in speaking with one voice for the future of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. By working together across party lines, we’re sending a clear and positive message: investing in the Ely junction is key to unlocking growth not just in our region, but nationally. The Chancellor has rightly highlighted the importance of better connectivity beyond London—now is the moment to ensure that includes the East, by backing this vital project in the Spending Review.”