Where collaboration powers delivery: meet Judith Barker Executive Director for Place & Economy

Where collaboration powers delivery: meet Judith Barker Executive Director for Place & Economy

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Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s New Executive Director for Place and Economy, Judith Barker, represented the region at UKREiiF last month. Judith had direct discussions with investors and stakeholders, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the region’s leadership on high value prospects and the strategic roadmap to triple the regional economy by 2050.

Her expertise brings delivery, infrastructure planning, place, investment and economic growth under one lead, creating a clearer and more coordinated route for investment across the region. This strengthened leadership model is designed to bring councils, government, delivery bodies and the private sector together around a single shared ambition, the Local Growth Plan, which will ensure delivery is driven through collaboration. It marks a shift in how the region advances its major projects, positioning Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to turn the potential of its Opportunity Zones into a coherent, investable pipeline. Judith set out that collective ambition and engaged with investors at UKREiiF as the region enters this new phase of partnership-driven growth.

Working towards the Mayoral Growth Target of tripling the size of the regional economy by 2050 will be driven by the rapid expansion of priority sectors and their integration across the whole region. This place based approach unlocks the full potential of both sectors and locations, creating investable opportunities at scale. The Opportunity Zones sit at the heart of this strategy, bringing forward major sites, accelerating delivery and opening new routes for private investment across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Alongside this, targeted action areas in communities facing higher levels of deprivation will strengthen skills, widen access to talent, and ensure a pipeline of people ready to step into the high value jobs these sectors are creating. Together, this marks a pivotal moment for investors looking to be part of a region entering a significant new phase of growth.

Why invest now

The region is entering a major delivery phase, supported by strong collaboration across leadership and working with the mayor to convene one shared voice. The Local Growth Plan and the Opportunity Zones are fully aligned, working together and advancing at pace with a shared vision. Key sites, infrastructure upgrades and sector driven projects are coming forward together, creating a clearer and more investable pipeline than ever before. With priority sectors expanding rapidly long-term barriers being removed, early investors have a rare chance to shape and benefit from one of the UK’s most ambitious shared regional growth priorities with government.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Opportunity Zones form a coordinated programme to accelerate growth across four important locations:

• Global City Cambridge focuses on expanding one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems through projects that strengthen life sciences, deep tech and advanced manufacturing while addressing critical infrastructure needs.
• Peterborough Fast Growth City is primed for rapid economic expansion, with strategic projects supporting major development, boosting priority sectors, improving skills and unlocking city centre regeneration through close collaboration with Homes England.
• North Huntingdon Growth Cluster targets nationally significant growth in defence, advanced manufacturing and life sciences, supported by new commercial space, improved transport links and infrastructure investment to unlock housing and employment sites.
• The Fenland Growth Triangle brings forward major projects to deliver innovation and employment space in agri tech, advanced manufacturing and life sciences, underpinned by improved transport, digital connectivity and the Fenland Reservoir to secure long term water supply. Together, these Opportunity Zones create a powerful, investment ready platform for high value growth, new jobs, better connectivity and long term economic resilience across the region.

Judith commented:

“We had a much stronger story to tell at UKREiiF this year, particularly around the Local Growth Plan and how we’re moving into delivery on our economic ambitions. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with familiar colleagues and meet new partners who want to understand the scale of opportunity across our region.

“One of the biggest opportunities in my role is developing the new Spatial Development Strategy. The Local Growth Plan sets out the economic vision, but the SDS provides the legal framework that determines where infrastructure and growth will go to make that vision a reality. Bringing these together is how we turn ambition into reality, and I’m keen to work closely with the business community and build strong relationships with the private sector to support that.

“I’m also incredibly proud of the work happening through our Place Director group, which brings together senior growth and infrastructure leads from the councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to coordinate investment, drive delivery and resolve issues at pace. This collective approach is already accelerating progress on major projects such as the Peterborough Station Quarter and giving investors greater confidence that the region can deliver.

“Since last year’s UKREiiF, we’ve launched the Local Growth Plan and set a clear strategic direction for the region. It’s an exciting time for investors, so whther we spoke at UKREiiF or didn’t get the chance, let’s connect and explore how you can join the Team Cambridgeshire and Peterborough story.”