News Release : 27 March 2001

NEW REGIONAL PLANNING GUIDANCE AT LAST!

The South East England Regional Assembly has welcomed the formal publication by the Government of Regional Planning Guidance for the South East.

"This Guidance has been too long delayed," said Councillor Nick Skellett, Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee, "and its publication is, therefore, welcome because many local authorities will be able to push ahead with overdue revisions to Local Development Plans".

He also added: "We look forward to working with Regional Guidance which for the first time will allow mid term revisions and greater flexibility in regional planning. However, what is disappointing is that the Government appears to have ignored some problems arising from the consultation on housing allocations. Several Counties have demonstrated that their own allocations are environmentally and economically unsustainable but the Government has not responded to them properly."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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