DRAFT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH EAST PUBLISHED

Joint announcement from
The South East England Regional Assembly
and
The Government Office for the South East

The South East England Regional Assembly today issues its draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy, 'Harnessing the Elements' which will replace the energy efficiency and renewable energy policies set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9).

The Strategy develops the proposals and policies which will provide the basis for linking energy efficiency and renewable energy to the economic development, social and other goals of the region.

It is now open to public consultation and comments should be received by 29 July 2003.

The proposed alterations have been prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly in its capacity as the regional planning body for the South East. The Assembly sought the views of stakeholders on a consultation draft in the autumn of last year.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive of the Regional Assembly said "I am delighted to hand over to the Deputy Prime Minister, on the Assembly's behalf, the draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy. The current level of renewable energy production in the South East is negligible. Therefore we are making the case in our Strategy for a substantial increase in that energy supply over the next 25 years. We have included in the Strategy a set of minimum targets for the region. By 2010, at least 5.5% of our electricity should be generated from renewable energy sources and this should increase to at least 16% by 2026.

"The recent Energy White Paper highlights the Government's commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy and thus we look forward to working with both them and other stakeholders to deliver the Strategy's detailed proposals."

Responsibility for finalising the proposed alterations now lies with the Secretary of State, who is appointing an independent panel to help him in this process. The Panel will be chaired by Corinne Swain OBE, MA (Cantab), M Phil, FRTPI, and will hold a Public Examination at Reading Town Hall in the week commencing 24 November 2003 to discuss the most significant points.

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