Quick Links:

• What is the South East England Regional Assembly?
• What are the Regional Assembly's Key Work Areas?
• What is the South East Plan?
• What is the South East England Regional Housing Board?
• What is the South East England Regional Transport Board?
• Fact or Fiction?

What is the South East Plan?

1. What is the South East Plan?
The South East Plan is the regional framework for managing future sustainable development in South East England and will replace current Government planning guidance for the South East region. This framework has been prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly. It will set the standards and principles for the physical development of the region until 2026 and will be used to guide the production of local plans and strategies by district and unitary councils. It fulfils the requirements of a Regional Spatial Strategy that we are charged with producing under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2. What is the timescale of the Plan?
The South East Plan is expected to come into effect in spring 2008 and will cover the period up to 2026. The Regional Assembly submitted the first draft of the Plan to the Government in March 2006. Government then held a 12-week consultation in advance of an Examination in Public (EiP) in winter 2006-2007. The inspectors published a report on the changes they believe are needed in summer 2007.

Reviews of the South East Plan are being carried out on Minerals and Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

The timetable for the remaining stages of the Plan will be confirmed by Government.

3. What themes are covered in the Plan?
Key themes for the South East Plan include:

• Making urban living more attractive through physical and social regeneration, improved design and a renaissance of our towns and cities, including improvements to public spaces and transport
• Improving access to South East housing by providing what the region needs in terms of new homes, including affordable homes to buy or rent
• Making access easier for people who need to reach services such as shops and doctors, workplaces or leisure, cultural and recreational facilities. A key aim is to reduce the need to travel long distances by car
• Encouraging more prudent use of natural resources such as water and energy as well as reducing the amount of waste we all produce.

4. What consultation is taking place for the South East Plan?
The Regional Assembly asked for public opinion on important choices about development in our region from January - April 2005. Further local consultation was carried out on district housing figures in autumn 2005 by local authorities.

After the submission of the draft South East Plan to Government on 31 March 2006, there was a 12-week consultation on behalf of an independent panel of inspectors. Following this there was an Examination in Public that ran from November 2006 to 30 March 2007.

Government will carry out further consultation if it feels any changes to the Plan are needed.

5. How will the South East Plan relate to other regional strategies on sustainability and the economy and the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan?
The objectives of the Sustainable Communities Plan have been incorporated in the South East Plan. The original timeframe for the Communities Plan was set for 2016; our Plan will cover up to 2026. The South East Plan will provide the spatial context for the other regional strategies (Regional Housing Strategy etc) and will be in line with the Regional Sustainability Framework.

For more information, see the South East Plan website.