The economy around Reading, Slough and Basingstoke is central to the UK's global economic performance but success also brings problems such as congestion that must be tackled. The South East England Regional Assembly sets out its plans for maintaining economic success and quality of life at 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 councils, aims to deliver economic growth that makes the most of the area's competitive location without putting additional stress on local services and transport. The area, known in the South East Plan as Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley, aims to create 111,500 new jobs by 2016 but maintaining residents' quality of life needs greater investment in public transport, local services, health facilities, affordable housing and water resources. Landscapes and protected wildlife in the area such as Thames Basin Heaths also need special attention. Transport improvements alone are estimated at £2.3 billion over the next 20 years.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly, said:

"The area plays a significant role in our economy; it hosts many companies' international headquarters and gives the region its competitive edge with Reading, Slough and Basingstoke taking the lead. It is vital to support this success without damaging the quality of life of our residents. Ironically, the area also has some of the poorest districts in the region that need attention but we hope that its buoyant economy will help to ensure that everyone in the area can benefit from its success."

Topics at the hearing in the next two weeks in Reading Town Hall, Reading:

• 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
• Tuesday 27 March - Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley, focusing on housing
• Wednesday 28 March (morning) - Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley, focusing on infrastructure and implementation
• Wednesday 28 March (afternoon) - Other parts of Surrey, North Hampshire, West Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

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