Infrastructure is key to realising Kent Thames Gateway's potential as a great place to live and work, the South East England Regional Assembly this week told Examination in Public hearings into the South East Plan - the region's 20 year planning vision.

The Assembly's Plan, developed with local councils, identifies and costs key infrastructure improvements needed to support the 48,000 homes and 58,000 jobs over 20 years that the area aims to create in its role as a Government-designated Growth Area. Priorities include:

• Investing in quality health services, education and training
• Improving public transport, for example the Fasttrack priority bus service, and investing in transport projects to support development such as improvements at Bean Junction on the A2 and a feasibility study for a Lower Thames Crossing
• Creating a network of green spaces, and improving wildlife habitats
• Investing in flood defences
• Using previously developed land (brownfield land) where possible instead of green fields.

Assembly Chairman, Cllr Keith Mitchell, said:

"Kent Thames Gateway should be the showpiece of the South East Plan. The Assembly, local councils and communities are working together to make sure the area has a high quality environment for those who live and work there. With the right infrastructure in place and good design, we can deliver quality homes and create good local jobs in an inspiring and dynamic environment. It is our job, together with Thames Gateway partners, to make it happen for now and future generations."

Topics at the hearing this week at Hilton Maidstone, Weavering, Maidstone:

• Tuesday 6 February - Town centre development (region-wide discussion)
• Wednesday 7 February - Thames Gateway focusing on economy, environment, infrastructure and implementation
• Thursday 8 February - Thames Gateway focusing on housing.

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 2006, will examine the Assembly's South East Plan. 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 Examination in Public
4. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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