Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has announced ambitions to “kick on” by increasing its powers and funding. Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow has written to central government asking for CPCA to be designated as an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority.
The move has the unanimous backing of the Combined Authority Board, made up of local council leaders. If granted, it would see a significant increase in the powers and funding made available to deliver greater growth and prosperity across the region.
“Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is ready to kick on,” Mayor Bristow said. “Established status would give us the tools to deliver better transport, more jobs, improve skills, and speed up the regeneration and housing our communities need.
“It’s about backing regions that are ready to lead and making sure we get our fair share of Government funding.”
In his letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mayor Bristow, outlined how the Combined Authority meets all eligibility criteria for Established status. This includes operating with a directly elected Mayor since 2017, maintaining strong governance and financial oversight, and demonstrating a proven delivery record on complex, large-scale programmes.
“We’ve proven we can deliver,” he said. “ARU Peterborough fixed a decades-long gap in higher education; we’re the first predominantly rural Combined Authority progressing bus franchising, and we’re leading the UK’s largest Levelling Up project at Peterborough Station Quarter.”
Mayor Bristow believes gaining Established status will help CPCA deliver its showpiece Local Growth Plan, an ambitious blueprint to grow the regional economy to £97 billion by 2050.
“My ambition in our Local Growth Plan is clear: let’s triple the economy and make this region healthier, wealthier and happier. To do that, we need the deeper devolution, greater flexibility, and long-term funding certainty that Established status brings,” he said.
“It’s time to back Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and I’m looking forward to working with the Secretary of State to take this next step.”
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