UK Plans ‘Forest Towns’ Between Oxford and Cambridge

Published: 05 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

In a landmark initiative blending urban expansion with environmental renewal, the UK government has unveiled plans to build a new series of forest towns between Oxford and Cambridge. The project, which will sit at the heart of a newly declared national forest, represents one of the most ambitious housing and green infrastructure programmes in modern British history — aiming to merge sustainable living with economic growth.

This announcement comes as ministers face mounting criticism from environmental organisations over proposed deregulation in the forthcoming planning bill. Seeking to demonstrate that large-scale housing development can go hand-in-hand with nature restoration, the government has committed to planting millions of trees across England, positioning the initiative as a cornerstone of its green growth strategy.

Nature minister Mary Creagh described the vision as a modern evolution of the garden cities conceived after the Second World War. “A previous Labour government had this great vision of garden cities post-war,” she explained. “Given our promises on tree planting, we thought — how can we create forest cities that bring nature closer to people, create green jobs, and help us tackle climate change?”

At the core of this initiative lies the Oxford–Cambridge corridor, long regarded as one of Britain’s most economically dynamic regions. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed substantial investment in the corridor, describing the plan as an effort to transform it into “Europe’s Silicon Valley.” The government estimates the project could contribute up to £78 billion to the UK economy by 2035, while providing new transport links and thousands of homes.

Under the plan, new railways and roads will connect the two university cities, while extensive forest belts will weave through the landscape, ensuring that no home in the corridor is more than a ten-minute walk from woodland. Creagh emphasised that this was not simply about planting trees but about “creating places and spaces where generations of people can build homes, raise families, and thrive alongside nature.”

The proposed national forest will stretch across parts of Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire, forming the second major forest zone announced this year. Earlier in March, the government confirmed the creation of the Western Forest, the first new national forest in three decades, spanning from the Cotswolds to the Mendips. A third forest, planned for the north of England, will be selected through a national competition to be launched in early 2026. Together, these initiatives form part of a £1 billion parliamentary commitment to tree planting and forestry sector support.

Creagh also hinted that the announcement forms a key part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Cop30 agenda, which will focus heavily on reforestation and global cooperation on climate action. “The prime minister is attending the world leaders’ Cop meeting — this is a forest Cop in the Amazon,” she said. “We’re showing the world that the UK is stepping up.”

The initiative underscores a broader governmental effort to align environmental goals with economic development. Departments across Whitehall have been instructed to link policies to Reeves’ “economic growth mission,” while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has highlighted the job creation potential of meeting national tree-planting targets. According to Defra, reaching those goals could create and support over 14,000 jobs, while a new woodland carbon purchase fund would offer upfront financial incentives to landowners who plant carbon-rich forests.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds reinforced the importance of the new forests for both climate and community well-being. “Our woodlands are vital for regulating our climate, supporting wildlife, and increasing access to nature for us all,” she said. “We are delivering on our manifesto commitment with three new national forests — planting is under way in the West Country, a second will be between Oxford and Cambridge, and we will launch a competition for a third next year.”

Reynolds further noted that the government’s approach is designed to demonstrate that “beautiful, liveable housing and ecological regeneration are not mutually exclusive.” Developers will be encouraged to integrate green corridors, renewable energy systems, and sustainable construction methods into every new settlement. Early concept plans suggest that residential areas will be surrounded by dense tree cover, community gardens, and cycling networks connecting directly to woodland trails.

Urban designers and ecologists have cautiously welcomed the move but emphasised the need for rigorous environmental oversight. Professor David Symons, an urban sustainability expert, noted that while the vision is ambitious, its success will depend on “careful land use planning and genuine long-term investment in biodiversity.” He added that the “forest towns” could serve as a global model if executed properly — but warned that “shortcuts for housing quotas” could undermine both ecological and social goals.

Environmental groups such as The Woodland Trust and Friends of the Earth have expressed optimism about the government’s renewed commitment to reforestation but continue to urge stronger legal protections for existing ancient woodlands and wetlands that could be affected by development pressures.

More detailed policy frameworks are expected in the rewritten Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline how ministers intend to meet legally binding biodiversity and emissions targets under the 2021 Environment Act. This plan is anticipated to include measures for habitat creation, pollution reduction, and enhanced accountability for developers working on greenbelt land.

As the UK prepares to present its climate and biodiversity strategies at the upcoming Cop30 summit in Brazil, the “forest towns” vision between Oxford and Cambridge stands as both a domestic policy initiative and an international statement of intent. If successful, it could redefine the relationship between British urban development and environmental stewardship — ensuring that the future of housing growth is deeply rooted in nature itself.