Government's Planning White Paper misses the opportunity to devolve major planning decisions to regional assemblies who have already shown they can make tough strategic choices on infrastructure.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly, said:

"The mix of councils and communities on regional assemblies is delivering well on strategic planning. Creating a new super quango to take big decisions - an independent planning commission - will only undermine the accountability that the current system offers."

"The South East has a strong partnership approach to planning, with a robust evidence base on economic and environmental needs across council boundaries. The Assembly's 20 year South East Plan already sets out priorities and infrastructure needs in an integrated way, making us the obvious choice to take quick but accountable decisions on major projects. In this way we can both speed up delivery and ensure infrastructure supports our growth aspirations."

Cllr Mitchell added:

"The Assembly supports the White Paper aims of a more flexible and quicker planning system. However, let's build on existing success at local and regional level rather than making fundamental changes to a system that is still relatively new and is largely working well."

Ian Hepburn, planning lead from the Assembly's community representatives, also voiced concerns:

"The White Paper talks about community engagement but threatens to cut the opportunities for input into the democratic process. Giving regional assemblies a role in major projects would ensure business, social and environmental groups have a strong voice alongside councillors in decision making, bringing greater credibility to the process."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Government published a Planning White Paper on 21 May 2007. 'Planning for a Sustainable Future' is available on the Communities and Local Government website.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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