DRAFT STRATEGY FOR ASHFORD GROWTH AREA 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 strategy for the Ashford Growth Area. This strategy will replace the policies on Ashford currently set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9).

The Ashford area was identified as a regional growth point by the Government in RPG9. Following a detailed study of the potential of the Ashford area for growth, ‘Ashford’s Future’, this draft strategy now sets out proposals for the scale and form of development at Ashford until 2016.

Within the strategy, it is recommended that:

• Until 2016 there should be an increased level of growth in Ashford with provision for 13,100 additional homes.
  
  
• Of the houses built, up to 30% should be affordable housing.
  
  
• Particular emphasis must be placed on action to encourage job growth.
  
  
• Along with a growth in houses and jobs, there needs to be substantial investment in transport infrastructure, particularly improvements to public transport and a key junction on the M20.
  
  
• There also needs to be timely investment in other key infrastructure such as health and educational facilities, water resources and flood prevention measures.

The draft strategy has been prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly in its capacity as the regional planning body for the South East. It is now open to public consultation and comments should be received by 4 September 2003.

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the Regional Assembly said "I am pleased to hand over to the Deputy Prime Minister, on the Assembly’s behalf, the draft strategy for the Ashford Growth Area. The Government’s Sustainable Communities plan identified Ashford as one of the four important growth areas in the South East. What we, as an Assembly, are seeking with this strategy is increased levels of growth in Ashford, coupling housing development with job growth and substantial investment in transport, educational and health infrastructure. "

Responsibility for finalising the draft strategy 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 Ashford International Hotel, Ashford, in the week commencing 15 December 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