Catriona Riddell has been appointed as Planning Strategy Director for the South East England Regional Assembly. She will manage the Assembly's planning policy function and play the lead role in taking the South East Plan through its Examination in Public later this year.

Catriona's responsibilities include:

• Planning policy and research
• Conformity of Local Development Frameworks
• The South East's Integrated Regional Framework
• Liaison with London and neighbouring regions.

Catriona joins the Assembly from Surrey County Council as Head of Spatial Strategy and Information, where she led preparation of the award winning Surrey Structure Plan.

Chief Executive of the Assembly, Paul Bevan said: “I am delighted to welcome Catriona to this senior role in the Assembly; she will add further expertise to what is already acknowledged as a strong and creative team.”

Catriona will work alongside Martin Tugwell, appointed last October as Planning Implementation Director to oversee regional delivery.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Photos of Catriona Ridell are available on request
2. The South East England 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 Regional 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
4. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
• It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
• 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.
• 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