Danny Cowley has been in charge of Colchester since January 2024 Colchester United boss Danny Cowley hopes his good final-day record can help to conjure up a place in the League Two play-offs The U's are 10th following defeats in their past two games They must beat Barrow on Saturday and hope none of Salford Grimsby Town or Chesterfield are victorious in their games "I'm a football romantic so I always believe anything is possible for sure," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport "We've had some good moments last day of the season - in my first-ever season at Concord Rangers there were three of us that could all win the league and we won 1-0 "At Maldon & Tiptree we won to get into the play-offs we'd come from nowhere in our first season in Ryman Division One North." who beat Wrexham in their penultimate game to get into the National League play-off places and managed to hang on by beating Altrincham in their final game we drew with Yeovil to get into the play-offs in our first season back in League Two The final day has not always been positive for Cowley as his Portsmouth side lost to Accrington at home in front of an empty stadium because of Covid in 2021 allowing Oxford United to claim the final League One play-off spot "Football works in mysterious ways and I'm hoping it will turn the other way for us this time around," said Cowley Losses at Doncaster Rovers and Salford City saw Colchester slip from seventh place which they must now reclaim to have a chance of returning to League One for the first time since 2016 that negative results throughout the season had made the players work even harder we're going to do our best to try to get things done on Saturday and hope for the best," he told BBC Essex Sport "Naturally as a player you look at the league look at the fixtures and play different scenarios out in your head but ultimately we know we can only do what we can do "That is us working as hard as we can to get ourselves in the best shape possible and put a good performance on and I think we deserve that as a group." Ellis Iandolo aiming for U's to finish on a high Zhao claims historic victory over Williams in Crucible final Premier League: Nottm Forest draw at Crystal Palace to stay in top-five race - reaction Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. my last encounter with the Neil Cowley Trio had been here at the 2017 Gateshead International Jazz Festival the first set was a track-by-track walk through of new album “Spacebound Apes” and the second was what later turned out to be a valedictory romp through the back catalogue I could sense at the time that they’d perhaps become a little too familiar with the material and were craving fresh challenges and their decision to take what eventually became a seven-year hiatus didn’t come as a complete surprise Reconvening in 2024 to record “Entity” eloquently described for UKJN in Bruce Lindsay’s September 2024 review (*) the music although instantly recognizable as Cowley’s took a number of interesting new turns Looking a little more seasoned than in 2017 Rex Horan (bass) and Evan Jenkins (drums) were clearly relaxed and delighted to be back in business Cowley also took the time to introduce the band’s fourth member a toy Allosaurus known as Derek The Dinosaur The band’s semi-official mascot since 2008 we learned of Derek’s recent scrape with an over-zealous customs official The programme had promised a night of “Jazz and for the most part that’s exactly what we got Tracks from the new album were interspersed with older material keeping us guessing as to what was coming next Taking full advantage of the hall’s naturally resonant acoustics each member of the trio had space to be heard and in one very funny moment the acoustics were perhaps a little too good Detecting a mystery squeak from the upper circle Cowley rolled his eyes and incorporated it into the piece as he played I really liked the fact that some pieces felt a little ragged and under-rehearsed and as the trio craned across the stage for visual cues it felt true to Cowley’s vision for Entity as a “warts and all” music “The Sharks Of Competition” from Spacebound Apes was attacked with the ferocity of Jerry Lee Lewis and evergreens including “The Face Of Mount Molehill” “Hope Machine” and “His Nibs” rocked the room and drew generous applause But the evening wasn’t entirely given over to head-nodding and as much as anything Entity was characterised by its restraint and elegance Drawing on Cowley’s neo-classical leaning solo work Sir Benjamin and V&A unfolded with a dreamlike quality Ethan Johns’ production had also introduced some subtle electronic overlays to the album redolent of Cowley’s electro-acoustic collaborations with German composer Ben Lukas Boysen but for tonight’s entirely acoustic performance the trio had to create their own ambience Skilfully choreographed emotional crescendos on old favourites like Lament Meyer and Slims were an object lesson in old-fashioned stagecraft andthe three had clearly rediscovered the joy of making music together The UK jazz scene has changed significantly while they’ve been away but the revived Neil Cowley Trio continue to be relevant Purists might question Cowley’s credentials as an improviser an expert in the art of throwing a melodic hook and what’s more he doesn’t take himself too seriously In a crowded field of piano trios I can’t imagine they’ll ever vanish into anonymity Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a78ce91827d0fd41b1b577301650833f" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please check your inbox (and also your spam or junk folder We kindly request to oblige by fair use rules when quoting or sharing our content All original content is copyrighted unless credited otherwise but does take on work as a paid publicist and/or sell advertising packages Where a piece published after 26th October 2012 appears which is linked to this activity the content will be clearly sign-posted with the PP symbol Receive our weekly email newsletter with Jazz updates from London and beyond If you’ve been on our list all along Oxford City Council commissioned a consultant team to undertake a feasibility study and deliver a concept design for a new public bridge for walking wheeling and cycling over the railway line.  The bridge would provide connectivity between Blackbird Leys to the south of the Cowley Branch Line and the communities and facilities to the north of the line Arc Oxford and the station platform of the proposed new Oxford Cowley Station.  Image of visualisation of bridge looking east   The consultants developed several bridge options which were assessed against key selection criteria These were reduced to two preferred options (Curving and Compact).  The two options were presented to stakeholders to review and agree on a preferred single option.  A final single preferred option (Curving) was selected and taken forward into concept design development (RIBA Stage 2) in early 2024.  The preferred bridge option has a gently curving alignment that prioritises wider connections and ease of use for cyclists and wheelchair users.  It would sit entirely within Oxford City Council and Network Rail owned land.  The proposed bridge is a laminated timber and concrete construction supported on V shaped piers with gentle approach ramps making it easy for cyclists and wheelchair users to access the bridge Pedestrians will have access via separate stairs on both sides of the bridge The deck is proposed to be 4.0m wide which increases to 5.0m on the curving section over the railway line giving good forward visibility Coloured surfacing would provide visual separation between users.  The bridge would have open and closed angled parapets which help to maximise visibility (open) at appropriate points and avoid overlooking adjacent houses and the railway line (closed) whilst still allowing views to wider connections The bridge proposals have been developed through continuous engagement with stakeholders through RIBA Stage 1 & 2 of the design process You'll need to consent to cookies set by Google Maps to see the map on our website To change your cookie preferences select or click the 'set my cookie preferences' link at the footer of all our web pages Open the Cowley Branch Line development location in Google Maps This commission has been funded as part of the wider “Reopening the Cowley Branch Line to passengers” project.   The delivery phase is still to be funded and the delivery of the bridge is subject to Planning Permission Cowley Branch Line pedestrian and cycle bridge RIBA 2 documents Further information about this project - including the full report - is available on request. Please contact cowleybranchline@oxford.gov.uk The Sunday Times announces Jason Cowley has joined as a commentator, features writer and book reviewer. Jason Cowley is an award-winning journalist, magazine editor, and author. Until recently, he served as editor-in-chief of the New Statesman for 16 years, during which time he earned multiple British Society of Magazine Editors awards for his leadership in the politics and current affairs category. Prior to this one of his first journalism roles was at The Times in 1996 as a staff writer, and he has also served as editor of Observer Sport Monthly and editor of literacy magazine Granta. Cowley is also the acclaimed author of several books, including The Last Game, the essay collection Reaching for Utopia: Making Sense of an Age of Upheaval , and his most recent work, Who Are We Now? Stories of Modern England, which examines contemporary England. Ben Taylor, editor of The Sunday Times, said:"Jason is an incisive political and cultural thinker, renowned for his elegant and intelligent writing. He will contribute commentary, features, and book reviews to The Sunday Times. I’m delighted to welcome him to the team."  “The Sunday Times is an outstanding newspaper with brilliant journalists. I always enjoy writing for it and I am delighted to be part of the team.” News UK & Ireland Ltd1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GFUnited Kingdom Copyright © 2025 News Corp UK & Ireland Limited. All rights reserved. Danny Cowley (left) last won a Manager of the Month award in 2022 Colchester United boss Danny Cowley hailed his side's defensive consistency after being named League Two Manager of the Month for March The U's won their first five games last month have bounced back with four points from their two matches so far in April And they go into Saturday's game at Newport County just three points outside the play-off places as they look to return to League One for the first time since 2016 so it's always been (started) from the front," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport Whenever we've started the season at a club we've always been able to keep the goals below one a game "That's something we really work hard on because you know you're not going to win many games 3-2." Although Colchester let in four against AFC Wimbledon Walsall and Bradford City and three against Morecambe they have nevertheless only conceded 40 goals in 41 games so far "There's 15 goals there that maybe would have made our defensive record look even better," said Cowley "But over 41 games we've participated in I think we've been pretty consistent defensively." The overall figure is in large part due to 18 clean sheets including six in a row from 23 November to Boxing Day Cowley first won a Manager of the Month award in October 2016 when he was in charge of Lincoln City in the National League He won the Championship award exactly three years later when he was in charge at Huddersfield Town but said he preferred receiving the accolades later in the season I like them in March and April because it shows the team grows and develops as the season unfolds You're always trying to peak at the business end of the season," the 46-year-old said we didn't like the way we finished it but we've been more happy with the way we've started April - four points in the last two games has been credit to the group particularly with so many things going against us." He added: "It's been a team effort the players have been brilliant for sure but congratulations to the staff for the way they've supported the players who have been incredible and have definitely played a big part in this award Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto It’s seven years since Cowley broke up the band for a ‘solo’ career ballsy and ecstatic as ever with the gloriously melancholic Entity the beards bigger and future plans bigger still When Cowley went into the solo side of his life in 2017 he was hardly to know that it would presage the pandemic lockdowns of 2020 which was also the year his solo debut Hall of Mirrors dropped Cowley had no choice whether he was ‘solo’ or not “I didn’t enjoy a single moment of that solitude,” he says ‘I could do this for the rest of my life!’ I was thinking ‘Well I couldn’t!’” “‘What is the socially most active thing I can do The socially most cohesive group that I know didn’t have to be alongside Rex Horan’s bass and Evan Jenkins drums Cowley had long been a serial collaborator across many genres before the trio hit the scene in 2006 Yet he never had a moment’s doubt about bringing his Antipodean brothers in rhythm back to the fold I didn’t want to break up the band again,” he explains “It was all the cause and effect of my own neurosis But Evan and Rex support me in beautiful ways Rex has a musical brain the size of a planet But with the complex Cowley rivers run deep There’s a reason he calls Horan and Jenkins ‘brothers’ general contact wise it was a severe cut off “There was a certain amount of hubris on my part A management team came along who had big ambitions that I could be even ‘bigger’ I’m enjoying the essence of just doing it (making music) and not going off in different directions.” Yet Cowley has no regrets about his explorations into electronics and contemporary classical music “I’d guess you’d call what I was doing neo-classical…” he says “I wanted to explore sonically what I could do on my own ‘Grace’ the solo piano tune was such a massive thing for me.” Cowley’s connection to classical music goes back to when “the borough’s music adviser (Eric Stephenson) campaigned to find talent in places you didn’t expect to find it I didn’t like the culture; I didn’t like the people surrounding me and during his brief teenage stay at the Academy Stephenson “taught me a lot of Russian and Eastern music A schizophrenic element of me was that when I went out I put on this hat that said I was a ‘classical prodigy’ “At home [with his mother] we’d be listening to James Brown Dudley Moore and what he thought about Garner and Oscar Peterson All this while me mum was playing Fats Waller and we’d be dancing in the front room to him “And all this while loving and learning Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No 2 (which he performed at the Royal Festival Hall aged 10.) So the clusters of 5ths down at the bottom end the nasty little 10ths chords that Errol Garner played ‘cause he didn’t know what he was doing bless him…then there’s the delayed right hand he always played against the metronomic left which I analysed and analysed just like Dudley Moore “Whether you want it or not you’ll always hear that in me “the heart-felt jazz-soul-blues stuff: and then the head to lay this duality (Cowley uses ‘duplicity’ and ‘schizophrenia’ to describe himself but he’s tough about his own emotions) at the door of Cowley’s upbringing nurturing mum after she had a brief affair with Max Miller’s musical director never told his own family of their half-brother’s existence there were secrets within secrets for Cowley “Every fortnight he would call from a phone box tell me a joke and the pips would go before he got to the punch line And every coupla years we’d go to Brighton (to meet him).” seems vital to Cowley’s musical trajectory Whereas I was left to prosper on my own at the piano I think I’m quite an experiment genetically I don’t want to disparage him: he was a magnificent fellah But in a way there was a bit of fire in me that I was going to be better than him.” “Sub-consciously I used the angst as a driving force in my twenties when I did announce myself (to his half-siblings) I worried I might lose my edge and he lives in what he calls “a quintessentially English Village “I have a little room at the end of the garden,” so he’s close to domestic delights but slightly separated “My grandfather lived in a chicken coop at the end of the garden.He had 9 children I always need to do that: deal with my own doubts otherwise I get waylaid by the opinion of others It’s all those ‘dualities’ that make Cowley so listenable and the Trio so loved “I’ve always had trouble fitting into a ‘genre’ I’ve always felt that any genre I’ve dipped into people have said ‘Are you really one of us?’ And I may think But that’s Cowley’s gift: to yoke together different styles and traditions I want to point people to the universal rather than what is on the ground We are utterly ludicrous as a species to think we are any more important than that mote of dust over there There was a reason Ray Brown nicknamed Garner ‘The Happy Man’ And it may just be Cowley has found his happy place It’s the swimming in doubt that keeps us going And a sense of duty to the Jean Andersons and Eric Stephensons of the world We all need our feet on the ground – and our head in the stars The Neil Cowley Trio play EartH, Hackney on 19 November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival: efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of Jazzwise. Never miss an issue – subscribe today Danny Cowley has previously managed Lincoln City Colchester United boss Danny Cowley has promised they will "go right to the bitter end" despite their play-off bid now appearing likely to end in failure Colchester were beaten 4-1 at Salford City on Saturday an untimely second successive defeat for the U's having reached the top seven following a 0-0 draw with Crewe earlier this month Cowley's team must now beat Barrow at home on Saturday and hope that none of Salford Grimsby Town or Chesterfield manage a victory But even a draw could be good enough for Salford as their goal difference is superior by five than Colchester's "While there is a one per cent opportunity to get into the play-offs, we will fight for it," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport. "It's a huge disappointment (to lose again) and as a consequence there'll be a lot of regret for all of us but we want to finish strong - we have made big strides as a football club crazy league and football is wonderful game because you never know This is ultimately why we all love the game so much "We will suck this disappointment up and try to react we certainly owe the supporters a performance and we'll certainly try to give them that come Saturday." Colchester have been a League Two club since relegation in 2016 and since finishing sixth in the Covid-affected season in 2020 have done no better than 15th place Their hopes of a positive result at Salford were undermined by a goal almost straight from the kick-off and they were 3-0 down by half-time "It's the hope that kills you and we've given people a lot of hope," added Cowley who was appointed in January 2024 on a contract to run until the end of next season "It was the quickest in nearly 1,000 games of football my team has ever conceded goal - 80 seconds "It's not like we didn't know what was coming kick it long to Haji Mnoga and he tries to flick it in behind we didn't deal with it and in the first 20 minutes we didn't make a tackle Danny Cowley oversaw a 13-match unbeaten from January to March that included nine wins and propelled Colchester into the play-off places Colchester United boss Danny Cowley says their opponents will "have to kills us to beat us" in the two remaining games of their League Two play-off challenge The U's take on top-seven rivals Salford City on Saturday in a match that could make or break both side's hopes of promotion One point and one place separate the two sides with the U's just a single point behind Grimsby Town in the last play-off spot just to come this far," Cowley told BBC Radio Essex "I can promise you - and anyone with Colchester United in their hearts - we're going to go there on Saturday and give it a right go." Bradford loss could be Colchester's 'best day' - Cowley Colchester's 3-0 defeat by leaders Doncaster Rovers in their last match was their first loss in five games and followed a goalless draw at home to Crewe Alexandra It leaves them in scrapping to save their promotion hopes after dropping out of the play-off places after a heavy loss at Bradford City seven games ago "We've all sacrificed a lot to get this club to this point - it's taken an huge effort from everybody "We will dust ourselves down we'll be really focussed and determined to respond in a really positive way." In addition to the loss of injured top-scorer Lyle Taylor, who will miss the rest of the season Colchester will also be without suspended winger Owura Edwards and midfielder Jamie McDonnell who came off with an ankle injury in the same game Cowley said his side will not let their focus drop as they prepare to keep their promotion push on track with Barrow to follow on the last day of the regular season on 3 May you'll have to kill us to beat us," the 46-year-old added "We'll got to Salford and we might have some injuries and problems but we're going to give it one hell of a go "This isn't a time to feel sorry for ourselves It's a time for us to dig deep." Just a five-minute stroll from the imposing spires of Magdalen College lies Cowley Road renowned for its grand dining halls and neoclassical facades is not a place where street art is the first thing that comes to mind Cowley Road transforms brick and concrete into a vibrant canvas – capturing the city’s community and vitality in bold A striking example is the mural on Stockmore Street, just off Cowley Road, depicting Horns of Plenty (pictured above) – a community street band formed in East Oxford in 2007 Commissioned for their tenth anniversary and the Cowley Road Carnival in 2017 the piece was created with support from Oxford City Council created by renowned local street artist Andrew Manson (known as Mani) radiates the community’s energy Its striking contrast of cool blues and fiery reds demands our attention while its towering presence makes it impossible to miss their large figures placed at the top centre one member plays the saxophone while skateboarding their lively energy mirrors the booming sounds of Cowley Road’s Carnival The overlapping figures and surroundings further emphasize the city’s bustling atmosphere during this time A closer look at this piece – now far from the vibrant freshness it once had – reveals peeling paint and signs of decay surviving vividly in the memories of those who saw it The exposed brick beneath grounds it in the city’s fabric reinforcing its connection to urban life.  Street art now contributes to Cowley Road’s vibrant energy, but it wasn’t always so revered. Originating from illegal graffiti, street art formerly faced widespread criticism. However, local artists like the Mes Crew (Must One and Seven) have collaborated with councils and the community to establish the Open Walls Network – legal spaces around Oxford The Mes Crew has also created stunning works around Oxford, including the vibrant redesign of The Library pub on Cowley Road in summer 2024 This piece features a range of characters from books by renowned authors with ties to Oxfordshire On the bottom right you’ll find the Cheshire Cat with his mischievous grin who studied mathematics at the University of Oxford.To the top right is the iconic Cat from Dr Dr Seuss himself completed his postgraduate degree at Lincoln college the White rabbit from Alice and Wonderland appears alongside the Witch from C.S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia – Lewis himself an alumnus of Magdalen College a scene from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings pays tribute to the renowned author who was both an Oxford professor and a close friend of C.S Lewis.  Another striking piece of street art in Cowley is a mural of the Radcliffe Camera, created by renowned street artist Reeves One in collaboration with the Oxford Street Art Collective. Painted during the 2017 Cowley Road Carnival, it can be found on Moberly Close, just off Cowley Road. The mural reimagines one of Oxford’s most iconic buildings in a bold contemporary style. Set against a mysterious purple background, the Radcliffe Camera is rendered in vivid, unexpected colours – yellow-tinted windows and a turquoise dome – that reimagines its classical form with a bold, industrial aesthetic. The striking palette creates a powerful contrast between tradition and modernity. The dome appears to hover, with machine-like elements emerging from both the top and base. These details suggest a fusion of past and present: the classical architecture merges with an industrial, futuristic vision, reflecting the changing nature of art and design. This mural creates a visual dialogue between Oxford’s classical heritage and its dynamic street art scene, celebrating the coexistence of tradition and evolving creative culture. Street art in Oxford is a powerful reflection of the city’s energy and culture. So next time you think of art in Oxford, don’t just picture the ornate ceiling of the Radcliffe Camera or the marble sculptures of the Ashmolean – consider the street art, created by and for the community. Unlike the permanence of Oxford’s historic buildings, its beauty lies in its ever-changing nature, a vibrant symbol of modernity.  Colchester United boss Danny Cowley believes their 4-1 defeat at Bradford City could prove to be their "best day of the season" if they use it as a spur to help continue their play-off push Saturday's loss at Valley Parade ended a run of five successive wins and 13 matches unbeaten in League Two But the U's are eighth in the table and only one point outside the play-off places as they seek a return to League One for the first time since 2016 "I've been lucky enough to have six promotions and sometimes the journey towards the top and for us the journey towards the play-offs is tough - but when you get (up) there it becomes even more of a challenge and even more difficult," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport "Prior to Christmas we went on a brilliant run we then reacted very quickly off a couple of defeats and went 13 unbeaten "This day can be our best day of the season if we taken really good learning from it We hope we have some bigger games to come." A crowd of 23,381 watched second-placed Bradford register their 20th win of the season - the largest in their history for a fourth-tier game I'll never know - that was some atmosphere," Cowley added who are next in action at home to Grimsby Town on Friday had been disrupted by illness affecting three or four players in the build-up to the weekend they were perhaps unable to reach the performance levels they are capable of Harry Anderson levelled the scores following Calum Kavanagh's opener but George Lapslie restored Bradford's lead before the interval and there was no way back after that for the U's He continued: "Although we have players in our team that have played in front of big crowds and big games this is the first time we've had this kind of occasion "If we can learn the lessons about how we control the emotions we will be able to play individually with more consistency and collectively with more cohesion." Danny Cowley keen to move on after U's defeat - BBC Essex A new campaign group has been established aiming to restore a passenger rail service from central Oxford to Cowley The Cowley Branch Line has been closed for passengers since 1963 and has since  been reserved for freight trains.   The newly established Campaign for Cowley Branch Line has supported the planned creation of two new stations, which would allow for a nine-minute journey time between Oxford central and Cowley. According to the group, the restoration of a passenger rail service in east Oxford would provide a “fast and reliable” transport link to the city centre.  The campaign promises that the project will be complete in years enable over 1 million journeys in its first three years and allow for the development of 2.5 million square feet of new workspace.  The two new planned stations would be Oxford Cowley (for Advanced Research Computing Oxford and Blackbird Leys) and Oxford Littlemore (for the Science Park and Littlemore) Regular services would go to the city centre while twice-hourly trains would also run to London Marylebone.  Oxford City Council gave £500,000 to a project to help design the new branch stations Currently the only passenger rail services in Oxford run from Oxford Station in the city centre and from Oxford Parkway Station in the far north of Oxford.   The detailed business case for the Cowley Branch Line is due to be submitted to the government this spring and Oxford City Council and Network Rail have said that they will work to progress the reopening as quickly as possible.   Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds, who has campaigned for the project, said: “It’s important to deliver this project because it goes beyond just a transport measure and helps us deliver much needed housing for Oxford residents as well as creating a new expanded hub for innovation and economic growth.”  Ms Dodds told Cherwell: “I have campaigned for the reopening of this line to passengers since I first had the privilege of being elected … The biggest benefit of reopening the line is that it would slash journey times for people living in Blackbird Leys Cowley and Littlemore travelling into the city centre “I have to say that I’ve very rarely found anyone who isn’t hugely positive about the idea of opening up the line for passengers Every year I arrange a ‘Cowley branch line walk’ to show support for the reopening and every year even more people are keen to demonstrate their backing.”  A consultation carried out by the local authority, external in November reported “overwhelming support” for the reopening proposal.   Student reaction to the news has been mixed An undergraduate who wished to remain anonymous told Cherwell: “The college takes the mick with second- and third-year accommodation already But if the commute time became quick with this planned train I wouldn’t put it past them to start building far-out accommodation in Cowley and making it a commuter town Cycling in from Summertown is bad enough: Cowley would be a nightmare.” The Cowley Branch Line last saw passenger trains in 1963 with services being withdrawn to cut costs at the time the line has remained open for freight purposes nowadays being primarily used in order to serve the BMW Mini factory There’s fun for all the family at the Cowley Village Fete with everything from a dog show to live music in May 2025 There’s no shortage of fun at the annual Cowley Village Fete Taking over the glorious grounds of Cowley Manor hotel — which reopened in June 2023, revealing an extensive renovation carried out by new owners, Experimental Group — the festivities kick off at 2pm with The Pop Tarts ukulele duo There's a 'top of the pups' contest and dog show giving furry friends a chance to put their best paw forward to win a rosette Visitors can enjoy a summer drink at a pop-up licensed bar and look forward to plenty of food a flaming hot barbecue and a cake stall serving up tasty treats Kids won't want to miss the alpaca corner while there's a whole host of children’s games each entrance ticket includes entry into a prize draw for a night for two people at the luxurious Cowley Manor each entrance ticket includes entry into a prize draw for a night for two people at Cowley Manor Hotel Weekly lifestyle and business highlights straight to your inbox Being able to favourite articles is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Being able to create your own lists is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits We ventured into a few places on Cowley Road before the lightbulb moment hit perhaps best suited to the evenings when a lavish meal and some stunning cocktails are the order of the day colourful enticing restaurant is offering a stonking lunch menu which delivers on every front we were delighted to find that not only did their tapas lunch include numerous veggie vegan and meat options but they were all astonishingly good value for money the udupi special came complete with a mini uthappam steamed rice and masala potatoes for £8 (yes you read that right) So we sat at a window seat watching the comings and goings on Cowley Road the udupi special complete with a mini uthappam steamed rice and masala potatoes for £8 (yes you read that right) and the mango malabar delight boasting an onion bhaji A uthappam is a type of dosa from South India filling one of the thali compartments on the traditional metal tray its two accompanying curries – the spicy potatoes and rich the dishes all carefully spiced and balanced The mango malabar delight was even more of a treat crispy bhaji perfectly fried and served with a tamarind sauce its neighbours – the piquant mango kari and succulent mushroom and pea offering – so delicious we had to order more we threw caution to the wind and ordered a masala dosa (£13.50) because when things taste this good dip and eat – dosas are one of life’s great pleasures it’s an Indian savoury pancake loaded with different fillings and served with a lentil based sambar and a coconut chutney dip and eat and it’s one of life’s great pleasures otherwise you can eat it more politely with a knife and fork So next time you’re trying to decide where to go for a spot of lunch head down to Dosa Darlings on Cowley Road because you won’t be disappointed Plus its one of the rare places that are open all week from Monday to Saturday (12 noon to 10pm) and Sunday (12 noon to 9pm) Dosa Darlings are at 56-60 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JB. https://www.dosadarlings.com Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Pilkington continues to operate on part of its former site Site promoters BXB Land Solutions and Promenade Estates have signed an agreement with the combined authority and St Helens Council that paves the way for 1,100 homes and 200,000 sq ft of employment space The legal agreement provides for active travel infrastructure and comes from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement a pot of £710m set aside for projects across the Liverpool City Region The Cowley Hill site was formerly part of the Pilkington complex one of the glassmaking town’s largest operations The western part of Cowley Hill Works has been retained by Pilkington and remains in operation A new road funded by BXB will run from north to south through the site a project that includes junction improvements at each end that will support new active travel routes to serve the development and the nearby town centre “We’re delighted to have arrived at this point and couldn’t have got here without a genuine partnership with both the Combined Authority and St Helens Council,” said Gary Goodman “We can now bring forward the site in its entirety unlocking a range of new homes and employment opportunities for local people whilst improving connectivity with the town centre to the south.” The first phase of the site, capable of accommodating 200 homes, was sold to affordable homes provider Torus early last year The transport grant allows the remainder of the site to be brought forward with confidence Site investigation work will begin next month as a precursor to full construction with the main contractor expected to be appointed later this spring cabinet member for inclusive growth & regeneration at St Helens Council said: “This marks the beginning of a partnership project that will not only provide much-needed high quality new homes to the Cowley Hill area on brownfield land overcoming significant and complex viability challenges but also bring valuable employment opportunities to the area “The new spine road will significantly improve connectivity to St Helens town centre – which is undergoing exciting transformation as part of our regeneration plans – for all aspects of transport As part of St Helens and development partner ECF’s £100m regeneration programme in the town, contractor VINCI has now lodged plans for an upgraded bus station chair of the transport committee at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said that improvements in public transport and in active travel infrastructure play into the agenda to give people alternatives to car use as the city region looks to achieve net zero He said: “The Combined Authority are committed to encouraging and supporting active travel as part of Mayor Rotheram’s mission to build the world class transport system the Liverpool City Region deserves “The £10m being committed to this new scheme comes on top of the more than £100m in total funding to upgrade walking and cycling routes across our region joining up new and existing developments – like the one at Cowley Hill Works – and provide access to areas and opportunities that were previously out of reach.” Cowley Hill is one of the largest brownfield land allocations in the St Helens Local Plan and its remediation fits with Promenade Estates’ ‘brownfield first’ strategy “With the right technical approach and a genuine partnership with the public sector we can unlock more former industrial sites to help meet the nation’s housing needs our technical expertise can address constrained sites and bring life and spending power back into our towns and cities.” The masterplan for the site was devised by architect Brock Carmichael with CPC appointed as project manager and Nexus advising on planning Gardiner & Theobald is the scheme’s cost consultant with Curtins the structural and civil engineer DB Remediation is undertaking the physical remediation works Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" House’s are good but where’s the school Seems a bit of an isolated site some distance from basic amenities Contractor Morris & Spottiswood has begun building the facility off Market Street a short distance from the outdated station it will replace Liverpool will see work on the highly anticipated rail station begin early next year following the city council’s unanimous approval of the scheme Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Cowley College Sumner Campus held its robotics competition on April 23-24 Sumner Newscow report — Cowley College hosted another successful Sumner County Robotics Competition at its Sumner Campus on April 23–24 welcoming enthusiastic student teams from across the region for two days of robotics innovation The Basic Competition This non-coding event focused on accessibility and fun giving students of all academic backgrounds the chance to explore robotics through team-based challenges Activities ranged from drone knockdowns and maze navigation to robot mini golf and creative challenges like the “Make Van Gogh Happy” art station Students also engaged in thrilling contests such as Sumo Dash the Advanced Competition focused on coding and engineering Sixteen teams from six schools participated These students tested their programming and problem-solving skills through a variety of events programming Sphero robots through obstacle courses and completing precise navigation tasks using block and text coding challenged teams to decorate their robots using artistic creativity then prove the decorations didn’t interfere with robot function Robots had to perform a task decked out in their best outfits with the winning team’s robot even dancing to a song plastic duck trophy captured the most excitement a new humorous trophy will be introduced for this special category “This event allowed Cowley and our sponsors to bring the excitement of robotics to middle school students featuring a non-coding event on Wednesday and a coding event on Thursday,” said David Hays Mathematics & Computer Science Instructor “We are entering an age where AI and automation will replace many positions and impact many aspects of our careers at all levels Those who do not embrace this new future will be at a significant disadvantage Judging by the looks on the students’ faces we achieved our goal of getting them excited about technology — the critical first step.” Cowley College extends its thanks to KanOkla and Harper Industries for their continued partnership and support which make events like this possible and accessible for area students Fighting for quality news media in the digital age Cowley will continue to write for the New Statesman as a columnist and essayist New Statesman editor-in-chief Jason Cowley has announced he will step down at the end of December after 16 years at the title Cowley will continue to write for the New Statesman as a columnist and essayist He became editor after the acquisition of the New Statesman by Datamonitor founder Mike Danson in 2008 and has led its transformation from a weekly political and cultural magazine to a multimedia brand The New Statesman today has a paywalled website and a raft of award-winning podcasts newsletters and video journalism strands in addition to the flagship weekly magazine New Statesman Ltd managing director Will Crocker said: “I would like to thank Jason for his tremendous work over the last 16 years “He took the New Statesman to a 40-year high in circulation, he is a multiple winner of the British Society of Magazine Editors’ editor of the year award (politics and current affairs) and he has always championed good writing and independent journalism he has been a brilliant talent-spotter: a new generation of political journalists and writers rose to prominence under his leadership We will be very sorry to see him step down but are delighted he will continue to contribute to the New Statesman through his elegant and intelligent writing.” Journalists recruited by Cowley who have gone on to success elsewhere in the media have included: Helen Lewis ‘Home-grown’ writers still with the NS who were recruited by Cowley include senior editor (politics) George Eaton Britain editor Anoosh Chakelian and senior commissioning editor Anna Leszkiewicz Cowley told Press Gazette: “I’ve loved editing the New Statesman for so long “Most rewarding has been helping to develop and nurture a new generation of talented political and cultural writers bringing them on to the team and giving them an opportunity to write and broadcast and it is fantastic to see them flourish and go on to have big careers in the media “As well as having significant writers on the team the New Statesman should be nurturing new writers and encouraging new talent I think that’s the thing the Statesman does best and should continue to do “I’ve also been proud of the New Statesman having sceptical politics trying to keep an open mind and championing what I would call a kind of independent liberalism whilst also growing the brand and making it the multi-platform digital title that it is today “I’m also delighted that I will continue to have a relationship with the magazine and write for it “I’d like to thank all my colleagues for their dedication support and hard work and I expect the title to go from strength to strength.” The Christmas special will be Cowley’s last as editor He said: “I became editor during the last days of a Labour government to move on with Labour in power once more.” 04/12/204 update: Press Gazette is part of the same media group as New Statesman Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog seven years since the Neil Cowley Trio decided to take a break a short while after releasing Spacebound Apes The new trio is the same as the old trio — composer Cowley on piano Rex Horan on bass and Evan Jenkins on drums pictured on the album cover in a strange amalgamation that melds the faces of the stubbled Jenkins the neatly bearded Cowley and the casually hirsute Horan into one image They’ve not been idle in the intervening years each of them has been involved in a variety of musical projects and settings Cowley describes Entity as “a warts and all human sounding record,” differentiating it from the digitally-produced and processed sound that characterises much of contemporary music then it’s a masterly piece of misdirection The album opens with the exquisite “Marble,” a dreamlike and beautiful tune the softness of touch displayed by all three musicians contrasting with the hardness of the title even as Evans’ percussion builds the tempo and tension This approach typifies much of the music: “Those Claws,” “Entity” and “Photo Box” are all notable for this restrained beauty It’s also notable that while “Lemon Meringue” and “Shoop” both display a certain jauntiness and bounce muscularity of some of the trio’s previous work “Adam Alphabet,” which Cowley has described as “rolling along like a surfboard on a bread slicer” and which is driven by one of his insistent The trio’s acoustic instrumentation is to the fore but subtle washes of synthetic/electronic sound do appear credited on the cover with “inducing tears can be defined as “an organization that has an identity separate from those of its members.” Entity is the product of just such an organization an album in which joy and sonic beauty abound LINK: Purchase Entity from Presto Music "a9237ce806ed019b940cc1eed5035ca2" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" one-bath home in Cowley is currently listed for £450,000 While wages have also grown over that time period they haven’t grown nearly fast enough to keep up with rising housing costs housing prices have more than doubled relative to wages since the 90s the median home cost about three or four years of median wages the median home in Oxfordshire sells for over ten years of wages Across the country, rates of homeownership have declined, especially for young people The homes people are left in are smaller: smaller than they were in the past and a lot smaller than homes in other English-speaking countries The average home in Britain is smaller than the average in New York That house in Cowley which costs over five times as much in nominal terms today as it did in 1998 Why has home ownership become so much more unattainable in the UK In 2004, a government report found that England needed 270,000 new homes per year to keep up with demand. Every year – under Labour, the Coalition, and the Conservatives – the real number would fall short of that – sometimes far short outside the pandemic and 2007-2009 financial crisis the government didn’t fall short of its target that was only because Rishi Sunak scrapped the government’s target of 300,000 homes per year after years of Conservative conflictedness about it Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised 1.5 million new homes in England over the next parliament The Conservatives one-upped them by promising 1.6 million (but only in the “right places” the Labour government has revamped the housing targets for local areas It says the targets will be mandatory for councils which are required to approve major development projects.  But it is still to be seen whether they have the political will to give teeth to this “mandate” – and how much of a dent it could put in a housing crisis that is 40 years in the making Over the last decade, rents in Oxford have been consistently higher than in the rest of the country, and is the most expensive city to rent in outside London Even for students seeking a shared house, it can be pricey. A survey conducted by Oxford Brookes’ Hybrid Magazine found that most students there were paying at least £800 per month for rent (£9600 per year) Omer Mihović is an undergraduate studying Biochemistry Mihović is satisfied with the Cowley house he lives in with five housemates; his only complaint is the price Mihović told Cherwell: “As a foreign student I generally find these rent prices excruciatingly high the rents in Oxford are also considered a bit above average compared to pretty much everyone in the UK as well.” Oxford City Council set an ambitious plan for local housing construction in its Oxford Local 2040 Plan. But the Planning Inspectorate rejected the plan for proposing too much housing – it relied on Oxfordshire’s rural councils to do much of the building in their own districts Oxford City Council notes what anyone who has walked across town might realise: except for the floodplains Short of putting a subdivision on Christ Church Meadow or a skyscraper on a college quad Even on vacant parcels of land inside the green belt, development is incredibly difficult. Local residents have been organising for four years against a plan to build 32 homes in Iffley, arguing that it would damage the rural character of the area and harm one family of badgers Even once the council approves a development, it’s not smooth sailing. A mixed-use development near Thornhill was approved by Oxford City Council in 2022, with every member voting in favour, but it still wasn’t signed off on until October 2024 Local residents often object to new housing development in their area for a variety of reasons sometimes getting labelled as ‘NIMBYs’ (for Not In My BackYard) New development can increase noise and traffic potentially decrease the property values of existing property owners and lead to change that residents just don’t want to see in their area But when every local council can veto new development which benefits the country as a whole despite imposing some local costs And the British planning system gives local residents some of the most power in the world to veto it a professor at the Blavatnik School of Government Kemp told Cherwell: “The house building targets now are being seriously thought about and the government has talked about what it can do as part of its growth agenda But the problem is planning in this country we have one of – if not the – most strict planning systems in the advanced economies.” Unlike countries with by-right development and zoning – where housing development does not require approval in areas zoned as residential – councils in the UK individually scrutinise and can vote down every major development. This can lead to years of delays in planning. In both Oxford and England as a whole, about 30% of planning applications for housing were rejected from June 2023 to June 2024 But Kemp also sees other challenges for the targets a shrinking and ageing construction workforce and lack of funds for building social housing Kemp says that while private developers are building about as much housing today as they were in the 70s construction by local authorities has fallen dramatically.  Kemp continued: “If we really want to get anywhere near the level of housebuilding that the government wishes us to get to we will need an expansion of building of social housing Even if England’s building targets are met for one year it’s not clear that housing would become much more affordable anytime soon Oxfordshire has been fairly close to meeting the new targets set out by the government (Figure 3) it is tens of thousands of units short of where it would be had it met its targets throughout the century Kemp told Cherwell: “If you’ve got a shortage that’s taken 40 years to build up it’s going to take you many decades to solve that problem and only if you’re determined and keep going through whoever is in power.” The same local veto points and anti-development attitudes that have strangled housing construction have also hounded just about every construction project in the UK.  If you want to get to Cambridge, your best bet currently is to take an expensive train to London, or to hack the local bus routes by making a stop in Bedford. East West Rail plans to re-establish a direct connection between the university cities, but there is no set date for the line’s completion, and it is currently being held up because of worries about… bats and water voles Britain’s reservoirs are drying up as demand for water increases, but a new one hasn’t been built since 1991. Local opposition has rallied against a proposed reservoir in Abingdon even while demanding that something be done to protect the water supply (something else Winter fuel payments and the cost of electricity have been a major political hot potato wind farms were effectively blocked if there was any local opposition at all and solar farms were banned from most agricultural land and Britain’s sclerotic approach to building explains much of the cost-of-living crisis Without being able to build a functional rail network it can be cheaper for friends to meet in Spain than buy a train ticket from Newcastle to Birmingham Despite having a strange interest in British planning policy I’m just a wonkish Anglophile who happens to be a visiting student for one year in this fine country When I return to the University of North Carolina next year it will be in an area that has made very different decisions about these matters than the UK has The ‘Research Triangle’ area of North Carolina has nearly 2.5 million people today Where there were tobacco fields just a few decades ago one can now drive through 50 straight miles of low-density suburbs Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire could have followed this path – and in some ways it’s an enviable one I will love paying much lower rent for a much larger house next year But it would be a travesty to see all of England’s green and pleasant land paved over with American-style subdivisions Oxford’s green belt is ten times larger than the developed parts of the city and is itself surrounded by more protected land in the Cotswolds and Chilterns even a small chunk of underutilised green belt land could go a long way towards alleviating the housing crisis and improving people’s quality of life New Statesman editor-in-chief Jason Cowley has announced his intention to step down at the end of the year. He will continue to write for the New Statesman as a columnist and essayist.   Cowley has been editor of the New Statesman since autumn 2008 and successfully led its transformation from a weekly political and cultural magazine to a multimedia brand. The New Statesman today has a paywalled website and a raft of award-winning podcasts, newsletters and video journalism strands in addition to the flagship weekly magazine.  In 2013, Cowley led the New Statesman through its centenary celebrations, editing and publishing two bestselling collector’s editions of the magazine showcasing the title’s incomparable archive. In 2019, he edited and wrote the introduction to Statesmanship: The Best of the New Statesman, 1913-2019 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson).  Cowley was appointed as editor of the New Statesman following its acquisition by Datamonitor founder Mike Danson, who continues to own the title.  Daisy Lester checks in Adjacent to the River Churn, Cowley Manor is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland (look out for llamas grazing) in the Cotswolds natural springs and a lake create a magical setting Lewis Carroll was inspired by the hotel’s grounds when writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Read more: Best Cotswolds hotels Read more: How the Bull became the Cotswolds’ hottest hotel Cowley Manor was once owned by the kings of England it became a hotel two decades ago before the slick French Experimental group took over in 2022 and overhauled the interiors There are on-the-nose nods to Alice in Wonderland – think Queen of Hearts print dining chairs miniature doors and checkerboard carpets and wallpapers coloured glossy lacquer and lava stone set against original features The hotel has a relaxed but exclusive atmosphere reflected in the stylish and sophisticated interiors Bold details are balanced with comfort – rugs are soft under feet while the bar and lounge have plush armchairs and sofas to sink into in the evening There’s even a games room with a pool table chess sets and draughts tables that creates a communal vibe Check in is smooth (your bags are in the room before you are) and check out is equally effortless whether it’s serving drinks to guests in the deckchairs across the lawn or assisting with spa treatments dinner was not plain sailing (the starters came out before the long-forgotton bottle of wine) and room service was a tad too long Read more: Why you should explore the Cotswolds by bike The hotel’s 36 rooms are in the main house and the converted stable block Entry level rooms are spacious (some come with an outdoor terrace) while families are well catered for with space-saving sofa bunk beds The treehouse rooms are spread across three floors and a mezzanine La Bruket toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines rainforest showers and colourful glossy surfaces are as inviting as the expansive four-poster beds Patterned headboards and checkerboard motifs are repeated in the rooms with houseplants and natural rattan pieces creating an airy feel The suites are vast and look out onto a romantic view of the manor’s gardens sun loungers and bathrooms bigger than your average London living room Brunswick House chef Jackson Boxer heads up the kitchen at the award-winning restaurant where the dining hall’s interiors are as much of a draw as the food Original dark wood panelling has been restored geometric cushioning and gentle lighting thanks to low-hanging tasseled lamps Inspired by the local area along with salutes to French cuisine caviar and crisps are served with old spot croquettes and moorish honey brioches Mains span classics like lobster and chili taglioni fresh trout from nearby Bibury and indulgent Hereford sirloin steak Breakfast on the manor’s terrace combines superb food with views across the lake Granola bowls and local jams sit alongside smoked fish meats and pastries on the continental buffet – or opt for Boxer’s elevated spin on a full English breakfast so the Cowley Manor bar has a lot to live up to with a huge enamelled lava-stone bright blue bar matching low tables and patterned armchairs and stools There’s a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights but the hotel is yet to match the lively atmosphere of the group’s European outposts The cocktails try to bring the party spirit with the Saint Germain des Pres and Brandy Sherbert packing a punch Read more: 10 of the cosiest Cotswolds cottages Cowley Manor’s outdoor pool is heated all day year-round (meaning even a January swim is possible) Tucked away behind concrete walls that shield against wind the 15m pool is flanked by attractive white scallop umbrellas There’s also a 17m indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling glass that gives the sense that you’re swimming in the middle of a forest There are both adults-only and kids hours at the pool The serene spa has four treatment rooms offering facials The hotel makes the most of its grounds – in summer you can swim in the lake or watch open air cinema screenings on the lawn while audio tours are available year-round to enjoy as you wander the gardens Read more: Best spa hotels in the Cotswolds There are accessible ground floor rooms and wheelchair access to most public areas on the ground floor the spa and pools are not wheelchair accessible Dogs and cats are allowed in rooms with a £25 per pet/night fee but are not accepted in the restaurants and bars open air cinema evenings and children’s hours in the pool Best thing: The outdoor activities – be it the heated pool or the idyllic 55 acres to explore Perfect for: Couples and families looking for a quiet yet stylish countryside break Not right for: Party people – you won’t find the same clientele here as you would at Soho Farmhouse Instagram from: The literary-inspired dining hall Website: cowleymanorexperimental.com Read more: Best boutique hotels in the Cotswolds Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_travel/in_uk/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"cowley manor.png","description":"Cowley Manor Experimental ","caption":"The hotel’s 36 rooms are full of nods to Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland’ The hotel’s 36 rooms are full of nods to Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland’ BMW said that a reason for this is the “multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry” as the UK is seeing weaker demand for electric vehicles at a time of rising consumer costs The site is still earmarked to only produce electric cars by the year 2030 the production of internal combustion engines will continue BMW had previously received funding from the UK government to help enhance its electric vehicle production but now will no longer be able to accept a previously announced UK government grant for the project electric MINIs will continue to be produced in China Automobile manufacturers have precise quotas on the amount of non-electric cars they can produce The UK government plans to prohibit the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 The electric quota increased this year by 6% to hit 28% of total production with companies fined for non-adherence.  Business and Trade Minister Sarah Jones also reiterated in the House of Commons that the investment plans had been “delayed A BMW spokesperson told Cherwell: “Plant Oxford is at the heart of MINI production manufacturing and exporting a range of models sought after in the UK and around the world,” adding that the company is only “reviewing the timing” of the investment “Much of the investment is progressing with construction well underway to make the plant future-ready.” This includes a “state-of-the-art logistics facility.” a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “We recognise the global challenges car manufacturers face and have listened to their concerns by consulting on reinstating the 2030 EV deadline whilst also protecting jobs – a decision supported by a majority of manufacturers who have been working towards this date and are on track to meet their ZEV mandate targets “We’re investing over £2.3 billion to support industry and consumers make the switch tapping into a multi-billion-pound industry that will create high paid jobs for decades to come make the UK a clean energy superpower and help deliver our Plan for Change.”