Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether officials in his Department working on the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework have undertaken analysis of the engagement of representatives of cities and other urban areas along the Arc in the Arc governance bodies; and if he will make a statement.
When we formally launched the process to develop the Spatial Framework, we announced our intention to work closely with local partners throughout its development. Local authorities will therefore be encouraged to engage in all three public consultations and will have the opportunity to further engage through on-going discussions with government.
We also frequently engage with a wide range of local representatives and partners from across the breadth of the Arc’s communities to ensure all local views shape how we unlock the unique potential of the region.
An analysis of stakeholder engagement on the Spatial Framework will be released following the first public consultation this Summer, which was launched today, when we will publish a summary of comments received and our response to the consultation.