Local jobs for local people are essential in northern Surrey and Kent to prevent the area from becoming nothing more than a dormitory for London. This is a key message from the South East England Regional Assembly to this week's Examination in Public hearings into the South East Plan - a 20 year planning vision for the region.

The Assembly’s Plan, developed in conjunction with the region's local authorities, aims to deliver sustainable economic growth for these areas bordering London, affordable housing, and increased investment in public transport alongside better managed and protected countryside. Known in the Plan as 'London Fringe', the area will see 37,370 new homes, 40% of them affordable, in the next 20 years.

Proximity to London makes the area attractive for businesses and commuters but this brings congestion and pressure on local services. Creation of local jobs for local people in knowledge based enterprises will help reduce the need to travel and new businesses will be encouraged to re-use previously developed land to make best use of available space.

The area's three regional hubs, Guildford, Reigate and Redhill, and Woking, have an important role in contributing to the local economy but each needs investment in transport and local services.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said:

"This area benefits in some ways from London’s strong economy but its future needs to be more sustainable with local jobs for local people that will cut commuting and ensure a real sense of community with a high quality of life."

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

• Tuesday 20 March – London Fringe, focusing on role, economy, infrastructure and implementation
• Wednesday 21 March – London Fringe, focusing on housing and green belt
• Thursday 22 March – London Fringe and Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley focusing on Thames Basin Heaths and housing
• Friday 23 March (morning) – Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley, focusing on role and economy.

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