First steps are being taken by the South East England Regional Assembly to bring together strategic investments in the South East to deliver the infrastructure needed to support South East Plan growth.

The Assembly today publishes new research that for the first time pulls together information from South East public and private sector organisations responsible for investment in housing, economic development, education and skills, arts, culture, sports, waste, water, electricity, flood defences and health services.

This complements work on transport priorities already done by the Assembly. The Assembly is working with these organisations to align their spending decisions as part of the work in developing the South East Plan’s Implementation Plan.

Hampshire workshop

This week the Assembly is organising a workshop in Portsmouth (7 July) bringing together key delivery agencies to discuss how shared investment priorities support growth in South Hampshire. If successful, a workshop programme could be rolled out across the South East.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said:

“This ground breaking work demonstrates the Assembly's commitment to improve delivery of infrastructure by bringing together key delivery agencies. It is the first time this has been done on such a scale. Infrastructure is vital to the future success of the South East and this will help us to identify gaps that must be filled before we can deliver the growth outlined in the Assembly's South East Plan.”

The Assembly will continue to develop the Implementation Plan, which will link investment decisions by the public and private sector in the region.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Assembly commissioned consultant SQW to carry out research into infrastructure investment processes. The report can be viewed on the Infrastructure page.
2. Planning Gain Supplement is a Government proposed infrastructure levy on new development.
3. The South East England Regional Assembly is the "regional partnership" 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