Cambridge City Council Chief Executive joins our 'World class tech cities' forum

Image: courtesy of Cambridge City Council

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Robert Pollock will join our 'Global Tech Cities' event at the Bradfield Centre, Cambridge Science Park in September as a panel contributor. Robert joined Cambridge City Council as Chief Executive in April 2021.

Prior to that he was a Director at Social Finance, a non-for-profit social investment organization. Robert has held leadership roles at the United Nations in New York, HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure Commission.

Robert has been a Fellow of Practice at the Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government, and a NED at various charities, social enterprises and social investment partnerships. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, and an avid supporter of the Mountain Bothy Association.

At our last Cambridge forum in September 2024, the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Growth at the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service Stephen Kelly (who is part of Robert Pollock's leadership team) added his comments on the importance of affordable housing for retaining Cambridge's position as a globally significant 'science cities' location and the role of sustainability:

'Both councils - the city council and South Cambridgeshire - have very strong commitments to sustainability in council house building. What we would say is that the importance of climate change enhancement and biodiversity is paramount to our developments, and if during conversations with government we unravel those expectations we will lose our community support. The workforce of the future is as demanding about sustainability requirements as any council.'

'We are conscious of how far affordability has moved away from most people in Cambridge. It is really important that the planning authority and those doing the place-making understand this and that new housing is inclusive and that people must see there are opportunities to come here. This is fundamental to our net zero ambitions because the most important thing we can do is stop people commuting.

'Understanding the demographic make-up of our future population is essential. Engagement for us with the market over housing typologies is very important, and while developers may produce 3-bed houses priced at £800,00 this will not keep most families in Cambridge. Also many young people do not think they should be living in flats, and understanding what the incentives are and might be (to live in apartments) is something we want to share with Peter's team at Homes England, while the government wants to accelerate new housing. There is a cost to not doing this. This is globally significant location in the UK, and if (international) companies locating to Cambridge cannot find accommodation for their staff, they will simply go elsewhere.'

Leader of South Cambridgeshire Council, Cllr Bridget Smith said:

'It was encouraging to hear directly from the Minister for Housing, Matthew Pennycook - on his recent visit to Cambridge - that we should listen to the Environment Agency that is blocking housing development. Biodiversity is very important. National tree canopy cover averages at 10% and it is only 7% in Cambridgeshire. We have a serious nature deficit here. Our chalk streams have run dry, the fish have died. We have to get the message across to people that we are talking to government about making this a better place to live in. When people are talking to companies across the world saying the city region is a great place to locate to, it has to be a place that works for everybody. People care about the environment and if Covid-19 taught us anything it was that the people who did best were those with access to fresh air and green spaces. If we don't factor in exemplary place-making then this place will fail, as others will do it better. We have a wonderful opportunity to be an international leader in sustainable growth, with the government's backing.'

Head of Consulting at global engineering firm Buro Happold, Margarethe Theseira added:

'Community engagement often does not work. It works much better if it co-designed with communities. Buro Happold has developed an approach with the University of Manchester called 'Flourish Index' where communities are telling us what they need. We don't just listen but we watch as well, so sensors are put all over the place telling us about water use, how spaces are used and so on. Then we work with the community using the evidence base. Very often there are issues where there is congestion, and lack of access to a new (science) development. It is better (for the community) to know what the opportunity is. The public and private sectors and community groups have to be brought together to resolve tensions before a planning point is reached.'