Local Natural Capital Plan for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc
5
counties
31
local and combined authorities
5710 km
of rivers and streams across the Arc
3.7
million people
76%
of the Arc’s land is farmland
£757 million
annual value of agriculture production
£757 million
annual value of agriculture production
£689 million
annual avoided healthcare costs
“Natural capital comprises the elements of nature that directly or indirectly provide benefits to people in a variety of ways, including wellbeing and sustainable growth. We are creating a natural capital plan and approach for the Arc to ensure that the concept of natural capital is woven into the fabric of decision making, putting nature at the heart of progress”
The Oxford to Cambridge (OxCam) Arc was the name given to a cross-government initiative that aimed to support planning for the future of the five ceremonial counties of Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire up until 2050.
The aims were to ensure a harmonious delivery of improved connectivity, productivity and place-making, whilst ensuring pioneering environmental standards and enhancements are delivered. Because of the commitments to green growth, its governance and scale, the geography represented, and still does, a unique opportunity to put the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan into action. The creation of a Local Natural Capital Plan for the Arc was seen as an essential first step to ensure a natural capital baseline and framework is provided that helps to monitor environmental change and de-risk growth.
