This Bulletin reports the outcomes of the Regional Planning Committee meeting held on 10 January 2001.

Regional Planning Guidance

The final version of RPG9, the Regional Planning Guidance for the SERPLAN region was published on 18 December. The Government at the same time initiated a consultation exercise on the distribution of housing allocations across the region (deadline: 12 February). SERPLAN has left individual local authorities to respond to that consultation.

The Planning Committee expressed concern that the guidance appeared to prejudge the rate of housing provision that might be required in the region after 2006, and accordingly passed the following resolution:

"The Planning Committee of the South East England Regional Assembly welcomes production of new Regional Planning Guidance for the South East and much of the content of the guidance, including its emphasis on a Plan, Monitoring and Management approach towards housing provision. The Committee is however concerned about references in the guidance that suggest the rate to 2006 might need to be maintained or even increased in subsequent years. The Committee therefore seeks assurances from Ministers that no preconditions will be attached to the future review of regional planning guidance since this would be inappropriate in the context of the new Plan, Monitoring and Management approach."

The Executive Committee on 19 January will also have the opportunity to consider this issue.

A3 Hindhead

The outcome of the study into a tunnel at Hindhead was not available for the Committee meeting: this will be considered by the full Assembly on 14 February.

Ashford Area Planning Study

The Committee agreed to make a financial as well as technical contribution to this important development study which has regional implications.

M27 South Hampshire

The outcomes of this integrated transport study were considered together with the proposed advice to Government from the Assembly on the range of measures recommended. The plenary meeting on 14 February will decide the Assembly's final position.

Trunk Road Improvement Schemes

The Assembly was invited by the Highways Agency to suggest trunk road schemes for early implementation, although the list could not include measures under review as part of multi-modal studies. The Committee agreed to put forward the following:

• M40 Junction 4 Handy Cross
• A23 Handcross to Warninglid
• A2 Lydden to Dover
• M20 Junction 10 Ashford.
• Pan Regional Arrangements

A protocol on planning co-operation between the South East, London and the East of England was signed on 7 November 2000. The South East is taking the first rotation of the Chair and Secretariat for the pan-regional advisory forum established by this protocol. The Committee members representing the Assembly on the 15 strong advisory forum are Cllr Nick Skellett, Planning Committee Chair; Cllr Mike Skinner, Committee Vice-Chair; Cllr Dr Lawrence Silverman; Deirdre Wells (economic partners);
and Dr Robert Page (social/environmental partners).

The first meeting of the forum is scheduled for early March and is likely to include consideration of:

• The Mayor's draft Spatial Development Strategy
• The Mayor's draft Transport Strategy
• The Orbit M25 study
• Regional Planning Guidance
• Key issues and future work programme
• Access to Hastings Study

The Committee gave long consideration to the outcomes of the Access to Hastings study, which is the first of several multi-modal studies (MMS) currently underway in the region, and the first in the country to report. The full resolution of the Committee in respect of this study is reproduced overleaf. The 19 January Executive Committee will consider this issue, ahead of the 14 February Assembly plenary, which will vote on the proposed advice to the Secretary of State.

Access to Hastings

Recommendations to the Regional Assembly as proposed to the Executive Committee on 19 January:

Hastings is the most deprived district in the South East region and is identified in both Regional Planning Guidance and Regional Economic Strategy as a very high priority for regeneration. The Assembly considers that a very substantial transport investment programme must be an essential component of a wider regeneration programme for the Hastings area. It further considers that implementation of that programme needs to begin as a matter of urgency. The Assembly is also mindful that such a programme must be undertaken in a sustainable manner reflecting the social, economic and environmental dimensions of that term and of Regional Planning Guidance.

Public Transport Schemes

1. Bexhill - Ore Metro: recommendation supported. The proposal should be implemented at the earliest possible opportunity within the framework of the replacement rail passenger franchise.

2. Glyne Gap Station: recommendation agreed in principle. The local authorities should work closely with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to consider in detail the supporting case for this proposal.

3. Ashford to Hastings electrification: recommendation supported. The proposal should be implemented at the earliest possible opportunity within the duration of the replacement passenger rail franchise.

4. Enhanced local rail service between Wadhurst and Tonbridge: recommendation supported. The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority be requested to discuss with GoVia opportunities to deliver the identified service level frequency and the service pattern be included as an integral part of the franchise Public Service Requirement.

5. Strengthened Quality Bus Partnership: recommendation supported. The local authorities be requested to undertake a fundamental review of the current bus network with a view to identifying a core network of services that met local travel demand, in particular access to areas of current and potential employment.

6. A ticketing, marketing and publicity strategy for public transport: recommendation supported.

7. With respect to the additional measures proposed in paragraphs 9.7 and 9.8 of the final report, the proposal to provide a direct running connection at Ashford with the CTRL will be difficult to achieve but should be further considered. The proposal to construct the Polegate chord is of strategic importance and should therefore be considered as part of the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal Study.

Remitted Highway Schemes

8. A21 Tonbridge to Pembury: recommendation supported and the Highways Agency be requested to progress design feasibility and consultation arrangements as a priority.

9. A259 Pevensey to Bexhill: recommendation supported.

10. A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass and A259 Eastern Bypass: in order to secure the best chance of economic and social regeneration the construction of an A259 Bexhill-Hastings western bypass and an A259 eastern Bypass on their present alignments be supported.

Options for Highway Schemes

11. A21 Pembury to Hastings: the need for further work to consider the feasibility and potential implications of further improvements in strategic access along this corridor is supported without commitment. Government should be requested to make available to the Regional Assembly funds to undertake this work in partnership with key stakeholders.

Supporting Transport Measures

12. Local authorities should be requested to undertake to progress the measures identified in the report with the intention of including them within a revised Local Transport Plan at the earliest opportunity. Government should be requested to make available capital and revenue funding required to deliver the measures.

Additional Requirements

The package of transport investments identified by the consultant must be accompanied by:

• a wider regeneration package devised by SEEDA and the local authorities;
  further urban capacity studies and design studies to be undertaken by the local authorities, with the assistance of the Regional Assembly, to ensure urban renaissance potentials are realised;
• incorporation within the Local Transport Plan of comprehensive measures for local public transport improvements, with a particular focus on improved bus services and demand management;
• clarification of the feasibility of the proposed rail investment programme; and any other matters to be advised verbally.

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Last updated: 21 August 2007