Local leaders met the Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP, yesterday (Thursday 12 September).

Here is a Joint Statement on behalf of Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority; Cllr Mike Davey, Leader of Cambridge City Council; Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council; Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership; and Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council:

"We’re grateful to Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP, for yesterday’s discussion on our partnership efforts to ensure sustainable growth around Greater Cambridge.

"We know how important Cambridge is for the wider UK economy and want to ensure ambitions for much-needed growth also benefit and involve local people. We emphasised how our area’s substantial economic success also creates significant pressures on local services and infrastructure and were encouraged by the Minister’s understanding and appreciation.

"As he stressed, this is only the start of a process where we work with central government to deliver for local residents, communities and businesses, now and the years ahead.”