Turning the corner in use of resources

The South East is making better use of its natural resources such as water and land, reveals the Regional Monitoring Report 2005 published by the South East England Regional Assembly.

South East residents are using less water, more homes are being built on previously used land and more people are travelling to work by train. These are the first signs of behaviour change that will help us achieve new targets for a sustainable future set out in the South East Plan, the Assembly's 20-year planning vision.

Chairman of the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee, Cllr Christine Field said:

"The Monitoring Report is a valuable document that shows the state of play in the region. Behaviour change is essential to preserve our natural resources for future generations and to maintain a high quality of life. We are seeing encouraging changes in people's behaviour, which will help deliver the South East Plan."

"For example, water use is dropping and we are making real progress in building more homes on previously used land. In other areas we could improve even further such as recycling. The Netherlands recycles more than 60% of its domestic waste but we are turning a corner."

Water use

After annual increases in domestic water use since 2000-01, new data shows that the average person used less water in 2004-05 compared to the previous year:

• In unmetered households each person used 1,460 litres less water in a year (down from 172 to 168 litres per day)
• In metered households each person used 365 litres less water in a year (down from 156 to 155 litres per day).

In a region with more than eight million residents, this represents a significant saving. Factors contributing to water consumption include metering and greater use of water efficient appliances such as dual flush toilets and water efficient showers.

Housing

The region has exceeded housing targets in every area, key findings include:

• 31,900 homes were built in the past year (up from 28,200 in 2003-04)
• 76% of new homes were built on previously used land (brownfield land). This is an increase of 21 percentage points in the past six years
• Fifteen South East towns and cities built 100% of their new homes on previously developed land in 2004/05 eg Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth, Oxford and Guildford
• On average 38.8 homes per hectare were built in 2004-05. This exceeds current guidance of 30 homes per hectare and shows the South East is making effective use of its land.

Transport

Data shows that changes in some South East residents' travel habits are helping to ease congestion on the roads.

• Reduction of 300km in distance travelled per person per year in past three years (down from 8,000 to 7,700).
  
  
• More people are using the train (up from 5% to 6% in 2004). This represents a 20% increase in train use compared to other ways of travelling.

Waste

• A decline in household waste for the first time since 1996 - down 14,000 tonnes in 2005.
• Recycling and composting rates are increasing. In the South East 21% of household waste is being recycled - the highest rate in the country.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Monitoring Report draws on key national, regional and local data to monitor progress of current planning guidance for the South East (RPG9).
2. The Monitoring Report 2005 is the fourth annual monitoring report produced by the Regional Assembly. It monitors progress against:
• Policies set out in the current regional spatial strategy (RPG9) and
• Objectives in the Integrated Regional Framework (IRF).
3. The areas covered by the report include: quality of life, the environment, the economy, housing, transport, infrastructure and minerals.
4. Waste recycling data 2005 - http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050914a.htm
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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