Neale Coleman CBE has been appointed to chair the commission for growth in the city
As chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, Coleman will work to deliver plans for new housing, jobs, and infrastructure.
The commission is working as a vital part of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
The Oxford Growth Commission will fuel the local economy
Neale Coleman CBE is a regeneration expert, and will lead the commission in identifying development opportunities, bringing faster growth, and improving transport links and infrastructure across the city.
Coleman has previously worked on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Oxford Growth Commission will help to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, expected to bring £78bn to the UK economy by 2035, and will include investment in Abingdon Reservoir and East-West Rail, improving connections between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
The growth in Oxford will also contribute to the government’s 1.5m new homes target.
“Neale will use his invaluable expertise to help remove barriers”
Housing and planning minister, Matthew Pennycook said: “Unlocking Oxford’s full potential would make a significant contribution to kickstarting economic growth and so the appointment of Neale Coleman as the Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission marks an important step forward in the government’s Plan for Change.
“I know Neale will use his invaluable expertise to help remove barriers holding up the delivery of essential housing and critical infrastructure in the city, and that he will ensure the Commission is effectively supporting the government’s wider plans for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to raise living standards, create new jobs and bolster the country’s connectivity and energy security.”
Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, Neale Coleman CBE, said: “I’m delighted to take on this role of chairing the Growth Commission. The Commission brings together national government with partners from business, higher education and local government.
“Together we can provide new and united leadership in accelerating growth and opportunity and improving the quality of life for everyone who lives in Oxford and the surrounding areas. Oxford starts with amazing resources in the world-leading quality of its universities, the talents of its people and its innovative businesses.
“We can use all this as a springboard to accelerate and unblock barriers to sustainable growth, delivering new job opportunities and more affordable housing, as well as investing in sustainable travel, energy, and nature recovery.”
Science minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor champion, Lord Vallance, said: “Oxford is a byword, the world over, for invention, innovation, and aspiration. This city helps drive the economy of the entire country, and its deep skills base and world-class institutions are key to attracting the vital investment that will help us deliver on our Plan for Change.
“I welcome Neale’s appointment, and I hope that his leadership will help the Oxford Growth Commission unlock further investment, pinpointing the best places for development and testing new ways of funding innovative projects, as the next step in our mission to champion the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor.”
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