News Release : 16 February 2004

ASSEMBLY SUGGESTS REWARD SCHEMES TO IMPROVE HOUSING SUPPLY

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY’S PLANNING COMMITTEE WANTS Government to introduce incentives encouraging local authorities to achieve housing targets. Discussing Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply, the Committee said the Interim Report offered a valuable analysis but it did not go far enough in clarifying barriers to delivering houses such as the performance of the house building and construction industry.

To overcome housing shortages the Committee recommended specific incentives - such as adjustments to Government grants - to encourage and reward local authorities achieving house building targets.

The Committee stresses that the following issues need to be addressed in Kate Barker’s final report:

• Tackle the skills shortage in the construction industry as it could hold back increased housing production;
• Achieve more secure funding of regional infrastructure, preferably prior to development;
• Demonstrate more clearly the connection between economic prosperity and adequate housing supply;
• Encourage greater adaptation and movement within existing housing stock.

Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly’s Regional Planning Committee: “Kate Barker provided a clear and precise analysis of the housing supply. The Interim Report presented new perspectives but demonstrated there is no single issue that can resolve the housing problem. The final report, which is to be published in March this year, should address key issues such as funding infrastructure, skills shortage and incentives for local authorities, and bring forward specific and well thought-out new proposals. The Assembly will then carefully consider the results while preparing the South East Plan, the South East ’s regional spatial strategy.”

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. For further comments on Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply by the Regional Planning Committee, please see the Planning Committee paper.
2. Information on Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply, please visit the Treasury Website
3. Additional information on the Assembly’s South East Plan (formally Regional Spatial Strategy) see our South East Plan website.
4. 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.
5. 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).
6. 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