The South East Plan sets out changes needed to improve the quality of life in the South East England region up to 2026. We have been asked by Government to produce this new document to replace and update current planning guidance, called Regional Planning Guidance 9 (RPG9).

Key topics covered in the Plan are housing, transport, employment and the environment. The Plan sets out the region's approach to:

• highlighting investment priorities for improving transport
• reviewing the number of new homes needed in the region each year
• setting new targets for recycling waste to reduce the need for landfill
• recommending ways to improve health and the environment
• maximising the South East's competitiveness in a global market
• minimising our carbon footprint and flood risks

Why is it needed?

Some projects such as road or rail improvements take many years to plan and build and cross individual local authority boundaries. A regional plan provides a bridge between national policy and local planning.

The Plan also draws together research and guidance in a strong evidence base and takes account of developing issues such as new technological advances and changes in the way people live and work.

Key stages

Following consultation in 2005, the Plan was approved by the Assembly on 1 March 2006 and was submitted to Government on 31 March 2006. Further public consultation ran from 31 March - 23 June 2006, and was followed by an examination in public looking at our proposals. Government then published an independent inspectors' report in August 2007 and its proposed changes to the Plan in late 2008. It is expected that Government will publish the final version of the Plan in early 2009.

All nine regions in England are producing similar documents for their areas. Once approved by Government, they will become statutory documents that local authorities and other agencies will have to follow.