News Release : 24 November 2006

FUTURE OF THE SOUTH EAST UP FOR DEBATE

Hearing into 20 year regional plan starts

The future of the South East for the next 20 years is the subject of a crucial debate starting Tuesday 28 November.

Four months of public hearings will examine the South East England Regional Assembly's South East Plan, which sets targets for homes, the economy and environmental protection in the region through to 2026.

Hearings led by a panel of three independent planning inspectors will hear views on the Plan's content from organisations in the region before making recommendations to Government about any changes they think may be needed.

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

"Our partnership of councillors and communities has spent three years on the research and public involvement that underpins the South East Plan. We believe it holds the key to a successful region for the next 20 years and that Government cannot ignore the fact that the region knows its needs best."

He added:

"This is an exciting milestone. The hearing into the Plan will be a challenging period but I can say without doubt that this has been the most open and public debate for a regional plan ever held since the birth of regional planning in the 1960s."

Assembly Chief Executive Paul Bevan, who will give the opening statement at the hearing, said:

"We have done our homework, we know what is needed, when and how. Our vision for the region covers vital issues such as housing and the environment but, importantly, we have also set out the investment needed in areas such as transport, schools and health to make sure that we deliver not just homes but a good quality of life for our residents."

The panel is expected to publish its report advising the Government in summer 2007.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

 

Notes to editors:

  1. pdf documentExamination in Public programme (on panel website)

  2. Facts and figures about the Assembly and the Examination in Public

  3. The Assembly's statements

  4. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.

  5. The Assembly was established by South East local government in January 1999 to provide a representative voice for the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.

  6. Assembly members include elected councillors from the region's 74 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.

  7. The Assembly has four key roles:

    • Advocacy
      Pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels.
    • Accountability
      Scrutinising the plans and performance of regional bodies such as SEEDA to align the region's priorities.
    • Regional planning
      Preparing and delivering the South East Plan - the 20-year statutory plan for the region that sets the framework for the sustainable development of the South East.
    • Regional policy
      Advising Government on the co-ordination of regional strategies and spending priorities for housing, transport, planning and economic development to improve the impact of public expenditure.

Last updated: 01 July 2008

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