Research shows that the South East's growth plans for the next 20 years will need at least £89bn investment in transport, schools, hospitals and flood defences, the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee heard this week.

The Assembly and Environment Agency have jointly estimated that we need at least £42bn for flood defences, water resources, maintaining water quality, waste treatment and countryside protection *. This is on top of the £47bn already calculated for other infrastructure such as health services, schools and transport if the region is to grow sustainably.

The newly elected Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr Moira Gibson, said:

"Recent flooding demonstrates the importance of adequate investment in infrastructure, including flood defences and water supply. Some investment is in hand but there remains a significant funding gap. We will continue to press Government for more investment to make sure the South East's thriving economy keeps going; we need a bigger slice of the budget cake."

Cllr Gibson, Conservative Leader of Surrey Heath District Council, was elected Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee on 25 July. She added:

"I am honoured to be elected Chairman of the Planning Committee. We are dealing with important planning issues that affect local councils and communities so it is important we represent their interests in Government through democratic leadership."

She takes over from Christine Field, who was Committee Chairman for two years.

Ian Hepburn, representing social and environmental partners, was elected Vice-chair of the Planning Committee.

* The Environment Agency (EA) based the costs on forecasts and is working on detailed projects and timescales, which will inform the delivery of the South East Plan. The Assembly and the EA will identify how much funding comes through regular budgets and an approximate funding gap.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
2. The 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.
3. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning:
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing:
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport:
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy:
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability:
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment:
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

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