We must strike a balance between economic, environmental and social needs when building new homes, the South East England Regional Assembly said this week at the hearing into the South East Plan.

The Plan recommends an annual average of 28,900 homes for the next 20 years and sets a target of 35% affordable housing (an average of 10,000 homes per year). But this level of housing can only be achieved with investment in the necessary infrastructure such as transport and local services.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly said:

"It is the Assembly's responsibility to take a broad view on the region's needs. We have spent three years preparing the South East Plan and listening to interest groups and the public. For the South East to remain an attractive place to live, striking a balance between economic, social and environmental needs is essential. The Plan holds the key to sustainable prosperity for the next 20 years and Government cannot ignore the fact that the region knows best."

He added:

"With the publication of two new documents on housing this week, Government risks muddling the discussion and the timing is very unhelpful. All the evidence shows that just building more homes will not make them more affordable. Tackling affordability requires public investment in the right tenure and type of housing."

Topics at the hearing (formally called Examination in Public) this week:

• Tuesday 5 December - Economy, jobs and housing alignment
• Wednesday 6 December - Housing levels
• Thursday 7 December - Spatial Distribution
• Friday 8 December - Green Belt and Strategic Gaps

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. What is the South East Plan?
   It sets a framework for how the region needs to change through to 2026 - for example to provide the jobs, homes and environmental protection that will make sure we continue to be economically successful and offer all residents a good quality of life. The Plan is based on evidence gathered over three years, with significant input from councils, businesses and community organisations and extensive public comments.
2. Examination in Public
   Four months of public hearings, which started on 28 November, will examine the Assembly's South East Plan. The hearing on Wednesday 6 December will discuss the level of housing. A panel of three independent planning inspectors will hear views on the Plan's content from organisations in the region before making recommendations to Government about any changes they think may be needed.
3. Facts and figures about the Assembly and the Examination in Public
4. The Assembly's statements
5. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
6. The Assembly was established by South East local government in January 1999 to provide a representative voice for the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
7. Assembly members include elected councillors from the region's 74 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.
8. The Assembly has four key roles:
• Advocacy
  Pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels.
• Accountability
  Scrutinising the plans and performance of regional bodies such as SEEDA to align the region's priorities.
• Regional planning
  Preparing and delivering the South East Plan - the 20-year statutory plan for the region that sets the framework for the sustainable development of the South East.
• Regional policy
  Advising Government on the co-ordination of regional strategies and spending priorities for housing, transport, planning and economic development to improve the impact of public expenditure.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 21 August 2007