East West Rail is “critical” if Cambridge is to continue to compete on the global stage, according to rail minister Huw Merriman.
But the city’s Labour MP has slammed the government for its lack of a joined-up approach over Cambridge’s “long-standing infrastructure problems”.
Mr Merriman said the £7bn railway line was needed to deliver a workforce to the city because otherwise “we will not see the pioneering scientific and bio-health developments that we see from Cambridge”.
His comments came as he took questions in the House of Commons on the railway, which will connect Cambridge and Oxford when completed.
Daniel Zeichner, the city’s MP, asked the minister what measures were in place to ensure that there is “proper dialogue” between the Department of Transport, the Department for Housing, Levelling Up and Communities and East West Rail given the establishment of the Cambridge Delivery Group, which is looking to create 150,000 additional homes in the area.
In response, Mr Merriman said: “The East West Rail growth board, which is being led by the Treasury, will be critical to ensuring that joined-up approach. It is essential that we look at this project as an economic opportunity for the area.
“I have met my honourable friend’s constituents as we have both travelled around, and I appreciate that there is an impact where there is housing, but if we do not have a workforce, Cambridge and that region will not be able to compete on the global stage and we will not see the pioneering scientific and bio-health developments that we see from Cambridge. That is why I believe that this railway is critical.”
Speaking after the debate, Mr Zeichner said: “Proper cooperation between departments is crucial for ensuring that plans for Cambridge work, but disappointingly, up to now we haven’t seen the joined-up approach that would help solve Cambridge’s long-standing infrastructure problems.
“Instead, we’ve seen pronouncements from the government without the proper planning, local consultation and foresight behind them.’
