As many partners will know, the Government decided to cease funding the Oxford to Cambridge pan-Regional Partnership (OCPRP) from April 2025. This followed the publication of the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, which indicated the Government’s intention to move towards a position where there are Mayoral Combined Authorities covering the whole of England.
On 13 March 2025, Minister Jim McMahon wrote to Chair, Dipesh Shah confirming that future pan-regional working will be driven by Mayors working collaboratively and creating convening bodies whose purpose, priorities and membership are decided at a regional level , and working with existing regional organisations such as Sub-National Transport Bodies.
The PRP Legacy
The OCPRP Board was clear throughout its oversight of the closure process that it was important for the activities and assets produced by the Partnership to continue to be available for the benefit of the whole of the region.
The Board was therefore pleased to receive a joint proposal from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) and England’s Economic Heartland to host the assets of the OCPRP for a minimum of two years on a transitional basis.
The key elements of the proposal, endorsed by the Board, will see:
CPCA hosting the region’s Data Observatory Portal and Analyst Services:
· CPCA will host and maintain the Region’s Data Observatory, employ a new Data Analyst to provide high quality analyst support and maintain and update data sets. A regional overview report will be prepared, and further technical improvements to functionality and accessibility will be made. The CPCA will further develop shared evidence base and work to improve join-up between regional data forums and the Mayoral Data Council.
Continued advocacy for the 2025 Regional Environment Principles, led by CPCA :
· CPCA will support active consideration and advocacy of the 2025 Environment Principles, recognising that taking forward some of the pathways in the medium term would be an aspect of the new Spatial Development Strategy system which will be led by Strategic Authorities.
Regional engagement and strategic collaboration, led by EEH
· Building on existing activities and partnership forums already hosted by EEH, they will continue to facilitate regional engagement (resourced using a part-time funded partnership support officer) and deliver a small number of strategic, high profile regional engagement events.
The CPCA and EEH jointly recognise that the Oxford to Cambridge Data Observatory will remain an important asset as partners and stakeholders work to deliver the Government’s ambitious agenda for sustainable growth in the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor, requirements for Local Growth Plans and Spatial Development Strategies, and the region’s transition to new governance arrangements.
The Board have agreed to the transfer of reserves, £175k to CPCA and £50k to EEH to enable them to provide the necessary support for these functions.
PRP Delivery and Outcomes
The OCPRP was established in January 2023 and quickly set up strong governance arrangements, appointing a new Managing Director and Chair by the summer 2023. From then until the end of the funding in March 2025, the Partnership has successfully delivered a 2-year work programme, which sought to further stimulate the region’s economy in a manner which benefits all communities, is sustainable and environmentally progressive. Our work focused on activities that could generate benefits by operating at scale, grow the global footprint and develop the regional evidence base. A final 2023-25 Work Programme report was presented to the Board in February 2025 and key achievements profiled during our 2nd All Partner Conference in November 2024.
We are most grateful for the work of our Board and the Executive Team and to the support that we have received from our central government, local authority, business and university partners.
The Future
By the end of May, the OCPRP will formally close and the assets and reserves will have been transferred to the new hosts.
The existing website www.oxford-cambridge-partnership.info will remain open until March 2026 for those that want to access key documents and past Board decision papers. The Data Observatory portal, hosted by CPCA, also contains key publications such as the Regional Overview Report, the Specialisation of Emerging Economy Sectors Report and the Annual Review.
The key contacts from June onwards will be as follows:
CPCA - Kate McFarlane, Executive Director,
kate.mcfarlane@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk
EEH – Naomi Green, Managing Director
ngreen@englandseconomicheartland.com
We hope that the Government’s OxCam Growth Unit with Minister Patrick Vallance as Champion, together with the Supercluster Board, the Arc Universities Group, EWR Co and EEH, Local Authority partners and the many agencies, organisations and individuals who have contributed to the pan-Regional Partnership’s success, will continue to build on the collaborative efforts.
We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on the delivery of innovation and sustainable economic growth in the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with the Board, the Executive Team, our Accountable Body Cherwell District Council and all our partners.
For all those colleagues attending UKREIIF this month and flying the flag for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, we wish you success.
Karen Clarke
Interim Managing Director