An innovative approach to delivering infrastructure in the South East was agreed this week by the South East England Regional Assembly in Winchester. It is a regional business plan that identifies who needs to take action on what and when.

The Implementation Plan is a key part of the South East Plan and will be submitted to Government at the end of March. It:

• Prioritises the investment needed for the region, in particular for areas identified for more jobs and housing
• Sets out costs and funding sources
• Allocates responsibility for actions
• Sets out the infrastructure delivery role for the South East Plan
• Will be regularly monitored to check progress on actions and delivery.

For the first time it joins up the approach to infrastructure, showing how key organisations need to align investment decisions, including stakeholders such as Central Government, regional agencies (SEEDA and the Environment Agency) and regulatory bodies. The region now has an overview of what schemes and services are needed to deliver growth in the South East. This evidence will help press the Assembly’s case for adequate investment with the Government.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said: “The Implementation Plan will make the South East Plan reality. People and organisations will know what they need to do and what they can expect from others. It is the first time we have a plan on such a scale. This is a real workplan involving a wide range of agencies and groups across the region, which will deliver the South East Plan.”

The Assembly agreed the South East Plan, including the Implementation Plan on 1 March 2006 in Winchester. Work continues with Assembly members and especially local councils will provide detailed costs for infrastructure projects for the Examination in Public into the South East Plan, which starts in November.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. View the South East Plan's Implementation Plan here.
2. Annexes to the Implementation Plan are available with the plenary meeting documents (Agenda Item 4 - Section F).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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