Media Releases
News Release : 19 June 2001REGIONAL BODIES COMMIT TO "URBAN RENAISSANCE" IN SOUTH EAST Creating a successful "Urban Renaissance" in towns and villages throughout the South East of England needs the active participation of local communities and businesses, as well as a stronger commitment from Government and local authorities. That was the message at the recent South East England Regeneration Conference, held in Brighton. Organised jointly by four key regional bodies - the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), Regional Action & Involvement South East (RAISE), the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the South East England Regional Assembly - the conference was sponsored by Mars Confectionery, which is playing a key role in regeneration of Slough town centre. Over 150 delegates participated in the conference, representing a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector bodies from across the region. Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Martin Perry, commended the work of the regional bodies in urban renewal, and shared his insights into the social dimension of regeneration, urging other sporting and commercial organisations to "commit to helping those around them." He told the conference about the Club's Football in the Community Programme and its valuable work with Sussex Police to create a community partnership to beat crime and disorderly behaviour. Highlighting the importance of good urban design, Bartlett Professor of Planning at University College London, Sir Peter Hall, talked about his own study of regeneration in the South East. Cited as examples of successful regeneration were the revitalisation of town centres such as Horsham - now competing successfully with its larger neighbour Crawley - and Reading, which had experienced "spectacular change" through well planned development alongside waterways. Sir Peter singled out Oxford for its "excellent public transport" and housing development built around the transport infrastructure. These towns, he said, were examples of how to make urban living more attractive and prevent towns being "abandoned". SEEDA Chief Executive, Anthony Dunnett, said that the South East had suffered from "decades of chronic under-investment" but now faced the greatest development pressures of all UK regions, putting an increased strain on the region's infrastructure. The challenge for SEEDA and its partner organisations was to ensure that future development was sustainable - both environmentally and socially - and "driven by needs on the ground and not something imposed from above." Urban renewal needed "long term strategic planning that addresses a broad mix of problems in our communities - skills issues, jobs, space for development, transport and funding." It was "absolutely scandalous", he said, that the South East still had pockets of deprivation alongside some of the most affluent areas, and that over 600,000 adults in the region lacked basic literacy skills. Making the South East's voice heard The Assembly, he explained, could play a key role in this through its new role in developing Regional Planning Guidance and the Regional Transport Strategy. Both Anthony Dunnett and Paul Bevan said they felt that the Government's regional agenda, and ongoing devolution of power within the UK, offered new opportunities for the South East. Area Director of GOSE, Andrew Campbell, said that the major themes of the Government were social inclusion and public service delivery, both of which impacted heavily on the approach to regeneration in the South East. GOSE was working to the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, demonstrating that regeneration of communities was at the heart of Government policy for economic development and growth. Local authorities had been given "an enhanced role in community leadership", he told the conference, and he hoped to see much greater cooperation between the region's public, commercial, voluntary and community sectors - "a genuine partnership approach". Chief Executive of RAISE, Rob Woolley, said he was pleased that his organisation, representing the South East's voluntary and community organisations at a regional level, was now accepted as "an equal partner" alongside the region's main public and private sector bodies. The next step was for this regional network to "build a strong and cohesive regional identity" for the South East. He said he recognised that, even with more vigorous championing of the region's interests, "there will probably never be enough money for regeneration in the South East, so what we have to do is to be smarter about how we use the resources that are available." Conference Chair and Regional Chair of the CBI, Gordon Storey, said that his company - Mars Confectionery - was "actively involved in urban renewal in Slough. We have a very real commitment to helping to raise the quality of life in the town." Regeneration projects there were being taken forward thanks to the successful partnership between Slough Borough Council, local companies and community groups. Gordon Storey underlined the importance of coordination, and said he hoped the conference would lead to better coordination of regeneration programmes region wide. This view was echoed by SEEDA Board Member and Leader of Milton Keynes Council, Kevin Wilson, who told the conference: "Deprivation is unacceptable in a wealthy region like the South East. But it is not solely about economic growth. Tackling deprivation is about a whole raft of economic, social and environmental issues. These must be pulled together in a focused, sustainable approach. Individual, fragmented initiatives are not the most effective way forward." He also urged all the regeneration bodies in the South East to ensure maximum involvement from the local communities affected. "Local people must have ownership of the regeneration process", he said. Among the other speakers at the event were Stephen Thake from the University of North London, Peter Field from Brighton & Hove Business-Community Partnership, Tony Horton from Family Assurance Friendly Society, and Caroline Carruthers from Business in the Community. Actions from the conference will be taken forward by the four main regional bodies, in partnership with local groups, recognising that "only an effective regional network can make a national impact." ContactLesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223 Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221
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