News Release : 05 November 2001

LONDON, THE SOUTH EAST AND THE EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONS TO LOBBY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Three Regional Bodies are to make representation to Government for help in rapidly increasing the supply of affordable housing in London, the South East and the East of England.

At a recent meeting of the Advisory Forum on Regional Planning for London, the South East and East of England, there was agreement between all three regional bodies that there is an urgent need to increase the amount of affordable housing in the three regions in order to tackle problems of social deprivation and exclusion, and to ensure that key services and businesses can be staffed.

The decision to lobby Government on the issue came after debate on a paper by the Greater London Authority (GLA), following a research study it commissioned to look at the use of the planning system, and how mixed tenure housing developments could provide more affordable housing.

Advisory Forum Chair, Cllr Nick Skellett, from the South East England Regional Assembly said: "It has been agreed that the three regions together will make representation to central Government with proposals which could realistically increase the supply both of social housing and intermediary housing. This issue underpins the economic success of the South East, and is of importance nationally too."

London's Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron said: "It is absolutely vital for people and businesses in London and the other regions that there is a sufficient supply of affordable housing. The three regions are determined to work together to address the need for affordable homes."

Cllr Roy Davis, Regional Planning Chair for the East of England Local Government Conference, said: "We are all feeling the same pressures - even for those of us some distance from London, and there has to be a common solution."

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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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