More than three quarters of the South East's 850,000 unfit homes need energy efficiency improvements that can only be solved by a joint commitment across the region, a housing conference has heard.

The South East England Regional Housing Board (RHB) has pledged £20 million over two years to improve poor quality private sector homes but sees effective partnership working as the only way to solve the problem of fuel poverty among vulnerable groups such as pensioners, young families and disabled people. Improvements will also help reduce the region's carbon emissions.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and RHB organised the conference to gain the region's commitment to integrated and co-ordinated action on energy efficiency. More than 70 representatives from the South East England Regional Assembly, local councils, central Government, energy advice centres, housing associations and the voluntary sector discussed how funding and delivery of energy efficiency measures can be simplified and channeled to meet the needs of vulnerable households.

Chairman of the Regional Housing Board, Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, said:

"About 850,000 homes in the South East need improvement today, particularly as three quarters of these are failing the 'Decent Homes Standard'. Through the Regional Assembly's South East Plan, we encourage sustainable construction and aim to reduce resource use. The Board is taking first steps in delivering more energy efficient homes and we are dedicated to delivering solutions and providing an improved funding framework for energy efficiency measures. This meeting was an opportunity for practitioners to influence the Board's policy, which was a successful start in tackling the issues."

SEEDA commissioned the University of Birmingham's Centre for Urban and Regional Studies to investigate the problems of poor housing conditions in the private sector in South East England. The study identifies key issues and where efforts need to be focused:

• the need to build capacity and increase collaboration within the region to tackle the issues
• the need to consider new mechanisms for maximizing resources available for renewal such as equity release, loans etc
• the need to respond to more dispersed properties in rural areas
• the need to improve engagement with private sector landlords, particularly with Houses in Multiple Occupation
• the opportunity to actively promote preventative strategies in the region
• the continuing need to obtain more reliable data.

SEEDA's Chief Sustainability Advisor Graham Tubb MBE, who chaired the conference, said:

"It is crucial that we share best practice to define the way forward in light of this research and target resources to have the biggest impact possible. Vulnerable and low income households are disproportionately affected by energy efficiency issues. So it is important that funding is aimed where the need is the greatest, ensuring all our homes are fit for the future. Also, as a region, we must work together to find ways of minimizing the use of increasingly scarce natural resources. The strength of feeling on this subject at the event gives me great hope for what our region is capable of achieving."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Lucy Smith, SEEDA PR Manager for Development & Infrastructure
Tel: 01483 484272
Mob: 07810 153709
www.seeda.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

1. Research on poor housing conditions in the private sector by the University of Birmingham's Centre for Urban and Regional Studies
2. Decent Homes standard - more details on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website

The South East England Regional Housing Board

1. The Regional Housing Board operates as a partnership board to advise Government on the region's housing priorities.
2. Members of the Board:
   
   Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, Chairman of the Board and member of the South East England Regional Assembly.
   
   Other members from the Regional Assembly are:
   Cllr Don Turner (Brighton and Hove City Council),
   Cllr John Goddard (Oxford City Council),
   Ann Santry (Social Housing) and
   Douglas Horner (CBI).
   
   Members of other organisations:
   Shelia Drew Smith (Housing Corporation),
   Cllr Keith House (SEEDA),
   Trevor Beattie (English Partnerships) and
   Darren Richards (Government Office for the South East).

South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

1. SEEDA is the Government funded agency responsible for the economic and social development of the South East of England - the driving force of the UK's economy. Our aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled workforce, supporting and enabling our communities while safeguarding our natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural heritage.

The South East England Regional Assembly

1. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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