News Release : 17 July 2008

GOVERNMENT BIDS TO INCREASE SOUTH EAST HOMES

Government's bid to force up South East housing targets continues with today's launch of public consultation on building at least 662,500 homes by 2026, says the South East England Regional Assembly.

Newly elected Assembly Chairman Cllr Paul Carter said:

"Government seems determined to show it has the power to over-ride the region's own realistic housing targets that balance growth with the need for decent infrastructure and protecting the environment. These new Government targets threaten to destroy that balance.
"It is unacceptable to increase housing numbers to a level that threatens to be undeliverable - particularly in the current economic climate. The Assembly's original target of 578,000 homes was agreed after three years of extensive research and consultation. First it was increased by inspectors who pushed it up to 640,000 and now we're faced with yet another increase."

He added:

"The Government tried to soften us up a few weeks ago by threatening targets up to a million homes a year prepared by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit so it is good that the Government has clearly given more weight to our work than to NHPAU's.
"We need to consider carefully the impact these proposals will have on our over-stretched infrastructure and the region's green belt. Whatever the final figures the region needs to be assured that the amount of new housing is matched by investment in infrastructure otherwise the South East will be an impossible place to have a decent lifestyle. The people of the South East also need to respond to this consultation and tell Government what they think."

Government consultation comes more than two years after the Assembly submitted its 20 year South East Plan in March 2006. Consultation runs from 17 July to 24 October 2008. More information is available on the Government Office website.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

  1. The table below compares district housing numbers in the draft South East Plan, the Government's Proposed Changes report and recommendations by independent inspectors.
    excel spreadsheetHousing Distribution Comparison - 52 KB

  2. 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.

  3. 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.
  4. The Assembly has six key roles:
    • Regional Planning
      preparing and delivering the South East Plan
    • Regional Housing
      the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
    • Regional Transport
      the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
    • Advocacy
      pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
    • Accountability
      scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
    • 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: 01 August 2008

Copyright © 2004 SEERA Limited. All rights reserved.