Cambourne–Cambridge Busway Public Inquiry

A major Public Inquiry has just begun into the long-disputed Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) Busway, with hearings expected to run into the autumn. Early sessions mark a critical moment for residents, campaigners and planners. Arguments for and against the £192 million off-road route will be laid out in detail.

The proposed busway is a dedicated, largely off-road public transport route designed to link Cambourne with Cambridge, aiming to improve bus reliability and reduce car use along the congested A428 corridor. It forms part of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s efforts to support sustainable growth and cut emissions in the region.

You can watch or listen to the preliminary exchanges in front of the two planning inspectors, Richard Clegg and Geoff Underwood. They will make a recommendation to the Transport Secretary on whether to grant planning permission for the controversial busway.

The substantive hearings will take place from 16 September 2025 for eight weeks.

The website hosting the Cambourne–Cambridge Busway Public Inquiry is here, and the core documents for the inquiry are here.

What’s on the agenda?

The agenda for the preliminary hearing included:

Introductions: Panel of Inspectors, Programme Officers, others present
Conduct of the meeting
Scope of the proposals, including proposed amendments
Main considerations and other matters
Participation in the inquiry
The form of the inquiry
Timetable
Inquiry venue
Documentation
Site visits
Costs
Any other procedural matters

“Doesn’t sound particularly exciting…”

It shouldn’t – it’s a preliminary hearing/meeting. And it’s not blockbuster viewing or listening either. It sounds dull and boring – but then unless you’re familiar with what’s being discussed, that’s almost inevitable. It’s the nature of detailed scrutiny. When you are well-versed in the content of what is being discussed, having to concentrate for extended periods of time is a very intense experience. To everyone else, it’s a word salad.

A properly functioning and resourced local media network is so important! These meetings need paid professionals to turn hours upon hours of exchanges into something that the general public will understand and make sense of. And be able to work out how all of this might affect them either way.

Who’s involved?

Having a listen through the hearings, I also noted the following:

Peter Freeman of the Cambridge Growth Company will be called up as a witness by the barrister for Cambridgeshire County Council.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership won’t be represented, but their component institutions are. Listen to the exchanges with Mr Neil Cameron KC representing Cambridgeshire County Council trying to explain the tangle of local government structures to the planning inspectors! (And also Alison Melton, special adviser to the Mayor of the Combined Authority, explaining the role of the recently elected Mayor. Ms Melton confirmed he will be objecting on a number of grounds).

It looks like barrister Jack Parker will be representing Cambridge Past, Present and Future, and Coton Parish Council. Mr Parker said that Edward Leigh, formerly of the Smarter Cambridge Transport campaign (and a civil engineer by profession), will also be one of the witnesses being called by Cambridge PPF. James Littlewood of Cambridge PPF will be giving evidence too.

East West Rail are being represented. They have stated they are in negotiations with the County Council and are close to agreement. Their objection is because the current busway plans cut across the proposed new rail route between Bedford and Cambridge. It remains to be seen what solution, if any, they come to.

The objections

You can see the statements of the cases by the County Council and the objectors here. The latter include:

The Federation of Cambridge Residents Associations and affected members (including North Newnham and Gough Way RAs)
Coton Orchard
Coton Busway Action Group (whose extensive submission is worth reading, reflecting the almost decade-long experience they have had monitoring, scrutinising, and questioning the proposals)
East West Rail Co Ltd
Friends of the Cam
Council for the Protection of Rural England
Clare Hall (Cambridge University)
Woodland Trust

So I’ve listed the institutional objections above. But have a look at the submissions from individuals too. Just because an institution or group has a prominent name (and thus access to professional support) does not automatically mean theirs will be the strongest case.

“The GCP’s Funding Statement puts the total anticipated costs of their off-road CtoC busway route at £192,284,900, with benefits being tied mainly to time savings. However, the Benefit–Cost Ratio (BCR), as estimated by the GCP themselves, indicates it is poor value for money.”

— Coton Busway Action Group (2025) Statement of Case, p20

The Cambourne to Cambridge Busway inquiry may not be flashy, but its outcome could shape the region’s infrastructure and countryside for generations. Whether you’re for or against the proposal, now is the time to pay attention. The detailed hearings begin in earnest this September. One thing is certain: there’s a very long eight weeks ahead of us this autumn.

This article by Antony Carpen is adapted with kind permission from his Cambridge Town Owl blog. Read the original here.