News Release : 29 July 2005

ASSEMBLY HANDS OVER THE SOUTH EAST PLAN TO GOVERNMENT
Landmark in regional planning

The South East England Regional Assembly handed over the Draft South East Plan Part 1 to Government today. Part 1 sets out core regional policies to create a planning vision for the region through to 2026.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly said: “Handing over Part 1 of the South East Plan to Government is a real landmark in regional planning and partnership working. The Plan is the result of a huge amount of work by Assembly members and officers. It follows extensive consultation with South East residents and a large range of stakeholders. While there are those who disagree with our conclusions, particularly around levels of housing growth, the Plan reflects the views expressed to us about some very complex and controversial issues and carries the support of a substantial majority of the Assembly. We are conscious that this Plan will impact significantly on the social, economic and environmental well-being of the South East for the next 20 years and we want to get it right. The Assembly has already started work on Part 2 of the Plan, including sub-regional priorities. Preparations for public consultation on district level housing numbers are under way. We are committed to delivering the full Plan in March next year and expect Government to take serious account of it.”

The Draft South East Plan, Part 1 includes policies and information on how the region will respond to key challenges facing the South East such as climate change, the need for better infrastructure, economy, homes for our growing population, transport, natural resources, town centres and health aspects.

The Plan sets an annual average of 28,900 homes to be built for the next 20 years, with a higher number in the first 10 years to help reduce homelessness and the region’s housing backlog. It also aims to plan for economic growth of 3% GVA per year until 2016 and includes the spatial strategy for how growth will be distributed.

Assembly Chief Executive Paul Bevan said: “After two years preparation it is a major milestone to send off Part 1of the South East Plan, which will deliver balanced growth across the region. The Assembly’s core regional policies provide a clear vision for the future of the South East.”

County and unitary councils will carry out consultation later this summer on the number of homes per district.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Draft South East Plan, Part 1: Core Regional Policies can be viewed on the Assembly’s South East Plan website from Monday 1 August 2005.
2. 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.
3. The Assembly is made up of 112 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).
4. 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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