Reading hosts hearings into the South East Plan

Central Oxfordshire (1) has potential to succeed in the dual challenge of growing its innovative, high tech economy and enhancing the area's attractive environment. This is the message from the South East England Regional Assembly as Reading hosts Examination in Public hearings into the South East Plan - a 20 year planning vision for the region. Hearings start on 27 February 2007.

The Assembly's Plan, developed in conjunction with the region's local authorities, aims to develop the area's economy and build on its role as an international centre for education and innovation. One of the key objectives is protecting and enhancing the environment and the character of the area. It will also help deliver much needed affordable housing as the average house price in Oxfordshire (£169,000) is nearly nine times the national average salary (2). Other priorities include:

• Reducing road and rail congestion
• Improving and promoting public transport
• Investing in local services such as hospitals and schools to support growth.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said:

"Central Oxfordshire is a dynamic area with the university City of Oxford at the centre and an attractive landscape. It has excellent potential to develop its innovative economy and for people to enjoy a high quality of life. The Assembly's South East Plan aims to maintain these qualities and also increase affordable housing, improve transport and local services and help lift people out of poverty so they can reach their own potential."

Topics at the hearing this week in Reading Town Hall, Reading:

• Tuesday 27 February
  Central Oxfordshire, focusing on role, economy, infrastructure and implementation
• Wednesday 28 February
  Central Oxfordshire, focusing on housing and Green Belt
• Thursday 1 March
  Other parts of Oxfordshire, and Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale focusing on strategy and implementation
• Friday 2 March
  Discussion about Aylesbury Vale.

(1) The area of Central Oxfordshire covers Oxford City, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and some parts of West Oxfordshire districts.
(2) UK median annual gross salary is £19,496. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ONS), 2006.

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 Assembly's statements
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 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