One of the questions I’m asked most often is how we bring more good, secure jobs to Peterborough, Huntingdonshire and our wider region – jobs that people entering the workforce (or changing careers) can build a future on without having to leave our local area. That’s why developments like Project FAIRFAX at RAF Wyton really matter.
Last week, I welcomed Government Ministers to RAF Wyton alongside colleagues from across Huntingdonshire to mark the launch of the new unified Military Intelligence Services. Wyton will play a key role in that work. It was an important moment – not just for the base itself, but for the wider region it serves.
RAF Wyton is already home to thousands of skilled personnel and the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence. Project FAIRFAX builds on that strength. The ambition is to build a defence technology and innovation industry in Huntingdonshire, bringing together the armed forces, industry, and academia. Over the coming years, this could create thousands of high-skilled jobs, with many more supported indirectly through supply chains and local services.
What matters most to me is what this means for people locally – including residents across Peterborough. Many people already travel between Peterborough and Huntingdonshire for work – a growing defence and technology cluster around Wyton means more opportunities within commuting distance. Roles range from engineering and digital skills to project management, logistics and support services – offering something for everyone.
This isn’t about a single employer or a closed-off site. The wider plans being developed look at how innovation can spill out into the local economy – attracting businesses, encouraging investment, and creating pathways into well-paid work. That includes opportunities for apprenticeships, training partnerships with local education providers, and clearer routes for young people into skilled careers.
And there is serious potential here. Businesses across the defence sector are already asking how soon we can get moving. At the recent launch, a statement of intent was signed between Huntingdonshire District Council and RAF Wyton. And the cross-party backing here – from the Labour government and me as a Huntingdonshire Labour MP, the Liberal Democrat-led Huningdonshire District Council coalition, and the Conservative MP for Huntingdon itself – gives investors certainty for the long term. We’re working together well in our region to deliver for our communities – and I’m proud of that.
Of course, any major development has to be done properly. Local people quite rightly want reassurance about infrastructure, housing, and the character of surrounding communities. Those conversations are ongoing, and they matter. Growth only works when it brings people with it, not when it’s imposed from the top down.
I’ll continue working with colleagues across councils, government and and our military community to make sure local voices are heard and local people benefit. There is real excitement about this work, and I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly we can make it happen.