With Councillor Cameron Holloway stepping into the role of Leader of Cambridge City Council, the city is poised for a marked shift in how it approaches growth, infrastructure and community engagement.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment: Cambridge is under continued scrutiny as the Government champions accelerated growth in the region, while local challenges around water, transport and affordability continue to act as headwinds to growth.
Moreover, with a new Conservative Mayor in charge of the Combined Authority and plans for local government reorganisaton starting to gather pace, the city finds itself at a pivotal time in terms of its position within the wider region.
A New Era of Leadership at Cambridge City Council
Holloway succeeds Councillor Mike Davey, who stepped down following the May 2025 local elections. While both are from the Labour Group, Holloway brings a fresh tone and deeper emphasis on environmental integrity, social justice and democratic accountability.
His election as Leader also coincides with the City Council’s formal move to a Leader and Cabinet model – centralising executive decision-making and intended to sharpen accountability, particularly in planning, housing and infrastructure delivery.
Prepared to Challenge on Growth
As Cambridge faces the largest government-driven growth ambitions in its recent history, Holloway has made it clear that he is not a rubber stamp. Sitting on the advisory council of the government-backed Cambridge Growth Company, he acknowledges the potential benefits of national interest but also warns that “if what is being proposed is not reasonable for the city,” he will push back.
Holloway supports acceleration of the city’s emerging Local Plan, which already includes “significant housing growth” shaped by public input. However, he is adamant that any expansion must be infrastructure-led, especially in relation to water and transport.
Key Priorities for Planning, Development and Growth
Holloway’s leadership signals a more values-led approach to development – one that still embraces growth, but with purpose and accountability.
1. Infrastructure-First Growth
Water remains the city’s defining infrastructure constraint. Holloway is firm that no new development should proceed without a sustainable water supply. He welcomes the government’s fast-tracking of the new Fens Reservoir, calling water scarcity “the key barrier to delivering desperately needed homes.”
On transport, he notes that current congestion is already a problem for residents, independent of new growth. He is urging investment in transport improvements as a precondition to sustainable expansion:
“It’s not about building in order to make loads of new homes – that is actually a need right now.”
2. Environmentally-Led Development
Holloway continues to advocate for climate-conscious growth, supporting higher standards such as Passivhaus and net-zero buildings. He also wants to see development actively enhance biodiversity, not just mitigate harm.
“We can build the homes we need without sprawling across green fields – by choosing strategic sites and integrating nature protection.”
3. Tackling Poverty and Housing Inequality
Affordable housing remains a top priority. Holloway is clear that meeting housing targets alone isn’t enough. What matters is who the homes are for:
“We need to build more social housing to prevent homelessness and reduce inequality – not just hit numbers.”
This includes continued support for genuinely affordable and social rent homes and the creation of inclusive, mixed communities.
4. Community-Centred Planning and Deeper Engagement
Holloway sees restoring democratic trust as fundamental. He emphasises the need for early, inclusive engagement, particularly for regeneration schemes and larger developments. The traditional model of consultation, he argues, doesn’t work for everyone:
“Rather than presenting plans on a website, we need to go to communities and ask: what would you like to see in your area?”
He recognises growing public cynicism about politics and believes that visible, small-scale changes – co-produced with residents – can begin to rebuild confidence.
“It’s about empowering residents to be involved in small-scale decisions on their doorstep… and ensuring their voices shape big regeneration projects too.”
5. Greener, More Accessible Transport
Expect continued support for modal shift. Holloway supports reducing car dependency and building infrastructure for cycling, walking, and public transport – not just for climate reasons, but to meet the everyday needs of Cambridge residents.
What This Means for the Development Community
Cameron Holloway’s leadership does not signal a retreat from growth – but it does demand a smarter, more balanced approach. His message is clear: Cambridge is open for development, but not at the expense of fairness, the environment, or infrastructure readiness.
For landowners, developers, and consultants, this means:
- Engage early and meaningfully with communities.
- Demonstrate how your proposals align with net-zero, biodiversity, and social value goals.
- Be ready to show clear, credible plans around water use, transport impact, and housing affordability.
Crucially, Holloway’s appointment comes at a time of heightened regional change with the government-backed Cambridge Growth Company, chaired by Peter Freeman, ramping up efforts to accelerate growth in and around the city.
At the same time, district councils across the region have tabled three different proposals for reorganisation of local government, potentially reshaping how planning, infrastructure, and investment decisions are made in future via the introduction of new unitary authorities covering new geographies.
This coincides with the election of a new Conservative Mayor, Paul Bristow, who is set to play an ever increasing role in shaping how and where growth is focused as part of the government’s plans to hand regional mayors strategic planning powers and the ability to ‘call in’ planning applications of strategic importance.
These developments raise the stakes – and the opportunity – for those operating in the Cambridge development landscape. Successfully navigating this new era will require not only technical excellence, but strategic alignment with local values, infrastructure realities, and a fast-evolving political context.
