In his Autumn Statement on Wednesday, the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, backed recommendations made by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) regarding plans to improve transport between Cambridge and Oxford, through a new set of roads called the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Corridor.

The proposal, nicknamed the ‘brain-belt expressway’, was the subject of a report released by the NIC last Wednesday. The report suggests that, alongside the East West Rail (a railway link connecting Oxbridge), the expressway could be a stepping stone in creating “the UK’s Silicon Valley – a world renowned centre for science, technology and innovation”.

The report noted the need for increased housing, jobs and infrastructure around the area, as well as the transport improvements, to ensure the region is not “left behind its international competitors”.

The Chancellor supported these comments in the Autumn Statement, outlining plans for “£110m of funding for East West Rail, and a commitment to deliver the new Oxford to Cambridge Expressway”.

He went on to say “this project can be more than just a transport link. It can become a transformational tech-corridor, drawing on the world-class research strengths of our two best-known universities.”

He said that he welcomed “the Commission’s continuing work on delivery model options”, adding that “the government would carefully consider its final recommendations in due course.”