Growth in South Hampshire could revitalise the area and drive the South East's economy forward, 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 in conjunction with the region's local authorities, argues that 4,000 new homes a year for the next 20 years alongside increased investment in transport and skills will help realise South Hampshire's economic potential. The Plan also aims to deliver high quality regeneration, more jobs, and protect and enhance the area's environment.

Assembly Chairman, Cllr Keith Mitchell, said:

"South Hampshire has many qualities with Portsmouth and Southampton as the lynchpins. It has world class higher education institutions, a high quality environment and good transport links. However, without adequate investment, particularly in the overall transport network and local services to keep up with development, the area will lose out on great opportunities in becoming a key driver of the region's economy."

He added:

"The Assembly strongly supports the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), which can help deliver the sustainable development the area needs. We will continue to work with the authorities to drive positive change."

Topics at the hearing this week at Chichester Park Hotel, Chichester:

• Tuesday 23 January
  South Hampshire - Strategy, economy, housing and countryside
• Wednesday 24 January
  South Hampshire - Housing and countryside
• Thursday 25 January
  South Hampshire (discussion on infrastructure and implementation); other areas of Hampshire, New Forest and Isle of Wight.

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, will examine the Assembly's South East Plan. The hearing on Wednesday 6 December will discuss the level of housing. 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 a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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