Inadequate infrastructure (transport, affordable housing, education, health, utilities etc) investment is a serious concern for the Assembly. The Assembly has therefore undertaken, in association with local authorities and the Government Office, detailed work on both the nature of the problem and potential solutions.

The South East Plan recommends an annual average of 28,900 homes up to 2026 and sets a target of 35% affordable housing (an average of 10,000 homes per year). But this level of housing can only be achieved with investment in the necessary infrastructure, such as transport and local services. We want to ensure the right infrastructure is delivered at the right time in the right place.

Implementation Plan

The Implementation Plan identifies infrastructure requirements up to 2026 and has been informed by extensive work with sub-regional partners and other stakeholders. The updated Implementation Plan (which supersedes that published in March 2006) was submitted to the independent panel of inspectors on Monday 9 October 2006 and formed the basis of the Assembly's evidence at the EiP on issues relating to implementation and infrastructure:
Delivering the South East Plan (30 October 2006) - 589 KB
Delivering the South East Plan Annexes (30 October 2006) - 397 KB

A technical report setting out the assumptions and methodology employed to develop estimates of local infrastructure costs for the revised Implementation Plan was also submitted:
SQW Infrastructure Report (October 2006) - 265 KB

The original Implementation Plan, published in March 2006 is still available:
Implementation Plan (March 2006) - 383 KB

Planning Gain Supplement

PGS was a proposal intended to improve arrangements for capturing the increase in land value associated with planning consent. This could be used to help fund infrastructure to support increased levels of growth.

The Assembly's response to Government's proposed PGS (Dec 2006) can be viewed here:
PGS Consultation response - 98 KB

The Assembly commissioned Hewdon Consulting to investigate the benefits of local PGS administration over the Government's proposed centralised system.
PGS Administration Final Report - 98 KB

Hewdon Consulting was also appointed to give advice on how PGS could provide additional financial resources compared to existing Section 106 arrangements (s106) or an alternative tariff-based system (as developed in Milton Keynes).
Financial Impact of the Proposed Planning Gain Supplement - 296 KB

Regional Infrastructure Fund

A Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) Prospectus has been jointly prepared by the South East and South West Regional Assemblies and Regional Development Agencies.
Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) Prospectus - 209 KB

The Prospectus was submitted to the Treasury, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport, and makes specific propositions in relation to policy areas of each department.

The proposal also addresses some of the key propositions in the Pre Budget Report 2006 and the related Eddington and Barker reviews including:

• The need to prioritise infrastructure investment to deliver critical outcomes and align ways of funding
• Benefits of taking investment decisions in accordance with strategic priorities as established in regional spatial and economic strategies
• Maximising the use of Planning Gain Supplement and road user charging to facilitate the timely delivery of strategic infrastructure
• Establishing effective regional governance arrangements building on the existing Housing and Transport Boards to further extend the Regional Funding Allocations process and align spatial priorities with infrastructure investment decisions.

Environmental Infrastructure

The Environment Agency, has prepared a "Strategy for Environmental Infrastructure in the South East". The study identifies and estimates the cost of investment required to meet the needs of the existing population and of new development proposed in the draft South East Plan for the following:

• Water resources, eg new reservoirs
• Water quality, eg new sewage works and pipelines
• Flood risk management, eg new flood defences
• Waste eg new recycling plants, incinerators and landfills
• Biodiversity eg management and creation of wildlife habitats.

The study was undertaken by consultancy Jacobs Babtie. The Assembly contributed to the study and was on its steering group.
Phase 1 Report - 397 KB
Phase 2 Report (Part 1) - 730 KB
Phase 2 Report (Part 2) - 1.37 MB

Other Infrastructure Investment

Investments by public and private sector

The research covers information from South East public and private sector organisations responsible for investment in housing, economic development, education and skills, arts, culture, sports, waste, water, electricity, flood defences and health services.
Infrastructure Investment in the South East 2006 - 300 KB

Infrastructure for the 2012 Olympics

The 2012 Olympics in London will undoubtedly impact on the South East. The region is hosting some events - such as rowing - and many visitors to the Olympics will travel via our region, will stay here or will visit some of our tourist attractions. Good infrastructure will be essential for a successful Olympics, but it will also deliver lasting benefits to the South East.

Research carried out by the Assembly highlights key infrastructure projects that need to support the region and the Olympics.
2012 Olympics Report - 1.34 MB