ASSEMBLY SEEKS BALANCE OF JOBS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOMES FOR ASHFORD

GROWTH PLANS FOR ASHFORD IN KENT NEED SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT in jobs, transport, educational and health infrastructure for success. This is the message from the South East England Regional Assembly.

At the 20 June meeting of the Assembly's Executive Committee, the Committee approved a set of proposals for growth to 2016 for the Ashford Growth Area, one of the four growth areas in the South East identified in the Government's 'Sustainable Communities - Building for the Future' plan. These proposals will now be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for final consultation and Public Examination.

The Ashford Growth Area proposals recommend that:

• Until 2016 there should be an increased level of growth in Ashford with provision for 13,100 additional homes.
  
  
• Of the houses built, 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.

These proposals will be published by the Government as a consultation document in early July. Following this, they will be subject to a formal period of public consultation, culminating in a Public Examination later this year.

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