SOUTH EAST DELIVERS HOUSING CHALLENGE

South East local authorities are delivering on their housing promises, building an average of 30,600 homes a year over the past five years, reveals new data from the South East England Regional Assembly.

The average figure matches the commitment made by Assembly members in March this year at hearings into the South East Plan, a 20-year planning framework. Over the past five years, annual housebuilding rates ranged from a low of 24,725 to a high of 34,563 in 2006, giving an average of 30,600 a year. Five year averages are a realistic indicator of what the region can deliver because they even out the impact of factors outside a council's control such as infrastructure needs, environmental constraints and landownership.

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

"We would like to congratulate all South East local authorities for building much needed housing. Providing new homes is a difficult task but it shows we are realistic in what we can achieve and that we deliver on our promises. The region still has a challenge in building the right type and size of homes and we must keep pushing for new infrastructure investment to support homes because this remains a high priority when delivering growth."

He added:

"Delivering affordable housing remains a huge challenge for the South East and this can only be tackled through significant public funding. Just building more homes will not solve this issue."

The Assembly's South East Plan target has now risen to over 30,000 because councils have offered to accommodate more housing. Inspectors, who reviewed the South East Plan, have recommended the region builds 32,000 homes a year.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The South East England Regional Assembly spent three years preparing the South East Plan, which is built on robust evidence and extensive public consultation. It sets 20-year targets for housing, transport, the economy and the environment.
2. Independent planning inspectors published their report on the South East Plan on 29 August following four months of public hearings from November 2006 to March 2007.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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: 12 November 2007