Chief Executive, Nova Fairbank, sat down with Copper’s James Hyde
With Norfolk and Suffolk set to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) in 2026, the opportunity to have greater influence over the region’s transport solutions is a significant one.
One organisation keen to maximise the connectivity benefits of proposed devolution and wider local Government reorganisation is the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, whose Chief Executive, Nova Fairbank, sat down with Copper’s James Hyde recently to take part in her Five Questions With… interview.
The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce serves to support the business community across the county and, through collaboration, the Eastern region, and its focus includes increasing growth, prosperity, jobs, and skill levels, as well as supporting the future prosperity of Norfolk as a whole.
Nova believes that devolution will help: “Devolution will give us more control, and hopefully the ability to invest where we actually need it.
“As a region, we know what transport solutions we need. Dualling the A47, the A12, and the Eastbound West Winch Rd on the A10. The Norwich Western Link is one of them. Rail improvement is another to both London and East West Rail. We have brand new rolling stock for the first time in decades on the Great Eastern Mainline, but we’re running it on the equivalent of a farm track.”
A big thanks to our friends at BTTC, M Group Highways, Norfolk County Council, and National Highways for sending over these great questions. Let’s dive straight in.
1. How vital is it that devolved status provides opportunities to enhance integrated rail services across the eastern region, as well as better connecting our counties to the rest of the country? Louisa Quarterman, Project Consultant at BTTC
“I think devolution is vital for our region. The East is often overshadowed by Cambridge and London and thus misses out on funding opportunities, particularly in the Midlands and the North.
“As a multimodal rural county, it’s crucial to have control over our own transport budget to be able to use our local knowledge, utilising investment to make the biggest impact in this region.”
While the current version of devolution does not afford the new Mayoral Authority control over its own budget, Nova is hopeful that this iteration is “just the start of our devolved powers”.
“The ability to control our own destiny is critical”, she says. “It’s important that we have one voice and one goal when it comes to our transport needs.”
Criticisms of recent reforms
2. How important is it to the Chambers that the proposed devolution of Norfolk and Suffolk significantly influences the region’s transport strategy in terms of improving infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing connectivity between the rural, urban and coastal communities in Norfolk? Adam Sharpe, Project Manager at M Group Highways
“Norfolk Chambers and the business community have backed devolution in its many guises over the years. The ability to control our own destiny is really important.
“When you consider our all-energy coast and the large number of NSIPs [Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects] we have in this region, we have the ability to become a clean energy centre of excellence, and we need to enable our local populations to access those upcoming job opportunities.
“We need to be cleaner in our transport. We haven’t had electric buses for very long, but you can already see a significant difference. Those buses need roads to run on. We need road and rail infrastructure that is going to be able to handle quality transport opportunities. We are one of the very few regions in the whole of the UK that doesn’t have a motorway, so our transport being as effective and productive as possible is really important for our economic growth.”
Nova was keen to stress the benefits that major infrastructure can have on both business and residents alike:
“One of our oldest economic drivers is our visitor economy. That relies on visitors being able to access us easily.
“We have so many opportunities and high-growth sectors here. What’s holding us back is our infrastructure, which isn’t a cheap or quick thing to deliver – but we need improved road, rail and digital connectivity in order to succeed.”
3. How do you and your members feel that the upcoming local government reorganisation can impact and improve opportunities for local suppliers and businesses to engage in processes, learn new skills, and develop and retain local expertise? Chris Starkie, Director of Growth and Investment at Norfolk County Council
“Local government reorganisation (LGR) presents both opportunities and challenges. Opportunities to streamline and make the public sector system more effective and more productive, but challenge in that you are effectively trying to reduce eight entities into one, two, or three, alongside putting them into a devolved MCCA [Mayoral Combined County Authority] on a tight timescale.
“A significant impact that devolution and LGR could really have on businesses would be if it makes it harder for them to get things done. Might they not get planning permission? Are they going to struggle with business rates? Do they know whom to apply to for their licencing?
“Perhaps the role for the Chambers of Commerce is to work with the public sector, whatever that looks like, and ensure that sense of place and local voices don’t get lost amongst the reorganisation.”
That sense of collaboration is of paramount importance to Nova, working with local partners and stakeholders to establish shared goals and aspirations to benefit the communities in the Eastern region:
“The Norfolk and Suffolk business boards are already looking at collective working, bearing in mind we know devolution is coming. We’re also working with the sub-national transport body Transport East, our business communities, and local politicians to effect change.”
4. How do you feel we can create a better, more mutually beneficial relationship between National Highways and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce in the future? How do you think this would benefit the region? Frank Hughes, Stakeholder Manager at National Highways
“Norfolk Chambers, together with Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex, and Hertfordshire Chambers, have created Chambers East, effectively our lobbying arm on the big-ticket items like road, rail, broadband, and skills that impact us all.
“We’d be really keen to explore how Chambers East can work better with National Highways. It would be good to have a single point of contact in the East, which would allow us to have improved dialogue with them.
“At the end of the day, what we want in Norfolk is improved infrastructure. We appreciate National Highways have got a national job to do, but they need to work with the local communities and partners.”
The A47 is one of just two roads, alongside the A11, in Norfolk that form part of the Strategic Road Network operated by National Highways.
A bid to connect the A47 to the Broadland Northway by building the ‘Norwich Western Link’ had long been supported by the Chambers.
However, earlier this year, the planning application was withdrawn by Norfolk County Council after failing to agree on a solution with Natural England over protections for barbastelle bats.
5. After the recent withdrawal of the planning application for the Norwich Western Link, what solutions can be found which allow for infrastructure projects to move forwards successfully, while also observing vital protections for local communities, nature, and biodiversity? Laura Nelson, Copper Consultancy
“The withdrawal was frustrating, especially as we were quite far down the line in terms of moving the project forward. But protections for local communities, nature, and biodiversity are vital.
“Plans are already in motion to consider other options and alternatives. It will involve lots more public consultation, and it will involve looking at a slightly different route. The Norwich Western Link is a key priority for Norfolk, our wider business community, and Transport East, so it’s not going away.
“Going forward, I’d call for greater collaboration with Natural England and other bodies. We need a pragmatic and practical approach from everyone to achieve progress, whilst maintaining the balance of nature and diversity across the region.”
Transport projects have the potential to create huge positive change for communities, but Nova is aware that the interim period can be challenging:
“It’s vital to ensure that the impact of construction projects on local communities is a positive one. They are facing significant change that can take many years. So they need to see the benefits.”
With the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station set to be built on the Suffolk Coast, Nova believes that maximising the potential of this significant investment in the region will be crucial:
“Norfolk Chambers are heavily involved in ensuring local businesses are dialled into the supply chains. Norfolk and Suffolk both suffer from a lower skills level than the rest of the UK.
“This is the opportunity for us to make Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Eastern region an attractive place to upskill and have a career.”