COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (181) issued by The Government News Network
on 17 July 2008
A consultation on
the South East's vision to tackle climate change and
flooding, address housing shortages and affordability, secure and
strengthen the region's economy, provide essential
infrastructure and enhance the environment, was launched by the
Government today (17 July 2008).
Following a thorough independent public examination Proposed
Changes to the South East Plan have been published today for
public consultation until 24 October 2008. Views are welcomed.
Key elements of the draft Regional Spatial Strategy are:
* A modest 4% increase above the regional housing provision
recommended by the Panel to address long term housing shortages
and affordability issues people face in the region brings the
total to 33,125 houses a year. In the South East the average age
of a first time buyer in the region has risen to 33; the latest
regional household projections forecast that 35,850 new households
will form a year up to 2026 - over 70% of those will be single
person households; and almost two thirds of the projected
population growth will be people over 60.
* Affordable housing will make up 35% of the total housing
provision - already there are over 200,000 households on council
waiting lists and over 7,500 homeless households living in
temporary accommodation in the region.
* 22 regional hubs have been identified as the focus for housing,
economic growth and transport investment. New Growth Areas funding
has already been allocated in Milton Keynes (£24m); Ashford, Kent
(£22m) and New Growth Points in - Basingstoke (£5m), Didcot
(£2.3m), Reading (£5.5m), Oxford (£5.5m), Maidstone (£5m), South
Hampshire (£21m), Reigate and Banstead (£5.3m). Dover and
Shoreham have also just been identified as New Growth Points and
will now be eligible to bid for further growth funding.
* Plans to help tackle climate change and contribute to
delivering our national renewable energy targets.
* Strategic flood risk assessments will ensure new development is
delivered in a way that mitigates the threat of flooding. The
proposed strategic development area south west of Reading has been
removed because of concern about flood risks.
* Rebalancing the transport system to promote sustainable travel
with a greater emphasis on management measures, together with
upgrading international and inter-regional corridors, supporting
regional hubs and urban renaissance, and improving accessibility.
* Strategies to maintain adequate water supply and quality,
reduce waste and increase recovery and recycling.
* A co-ordinated approach to protect the Thames Basin Heaths and
other key habitats from future development pressures including
policies to conserve and enhance the National Park and areas of
natural beauty. 80% of South East is still classified as rural.
Announcing the consultation, Communities Minister Parmjit Dhanda said:
"The South East needs a long term development vision that
addresses housing shortages, tackles the threat of climate change
and strengthens the region's economy.
"Beyond the short term squeeze of the credit crunch the
number of new households are still outgrowing the number of homes
being built - first time buyers are getting older and more people
are choosing to live alone. If more homes are not built now for
the long term the housing ladder will get even further out of
reach leaving the next generation with nowhere to live."
"The proposals in this plan set out the vision for the South
East's future. It is important that local views and all who
are interested in the future development of the area take this
opportunity to comment on the proposed plan."
After considering views received during this consultation a final
revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy will then be published.
Notes to editors
1. Copies of the Strategy and companion documents will be widely
distributed and made available to all MPs, MEPs, Local
Authorities, Parish councils, statutory consultees, those who
participated in the examination-in- public or commented on earlier
drafts, and other interested parties and organisations. They are
available from today on the Government Office South East website
at http://www.go-se.gov.uk
When they have been distributed the documents will also be
available for public inspection at local authority offices and
libraries across the region during normal working hours.
2. The consultation documents published to-day form the Secretary
of State's proposed changes to draft Regional Spatial
Strategy produced by the Regional Assembly. When finalised, later
this year, the published Regional Spatial Strategy for the South
East will form part of the statutory Development Plan, providing
the regional framework for local development frameworks, local
transport plans and day to day planning decisions. It also
provides guidance for investment by commercial developers and
public and private infrastructure providers.
3. A Sustainability Appraisal of the Strategy and an Assessment
under the Habitats Regulations are also being published. A non
technical summary will also be available.
4. All the consultation and other documents can be viewed and
downloaded from the Government Office for the South East's
website - http://www.go-se.gov.uk.
Further information for those wishing to comment is available from
the Regional Strategy Team at Government Office for the South East
on 01483 882532 or toni.wootton@gose.gsi.gov.uk. The Government
Office website provides an online form which can be used to
comment on the Proposed Changes. Alternatively, a response form
can be downloaded from the website, or requested from the
Government Office, and can then be returned by email or post.
5. The South East Regional Assembly published the draft RSS in
March 2006. This was considered by an independent Panel of
Inspectors at an Examination in Public between November 2006 and
March 2007. The Panel published its Report in August 2007. These
documents can also be viewed and downloaded from the Government
Office for the South East's website.
6. There are several eco-town proposals currently under
consideration within the region. As these are still at an early
stage they have not been included in the current review of the
Regional Plan. Shortlisted eco-towns in the region have only
reached the first stage and locations have to go through public
consultation and a detailed Sustainability Appraisal to test the
merits of each one. If approved through the planning system they
would be included in any future RSS review.
7. The timing of future reviews of the South East RSS will be
discussed with the Regional Assembly. However it is important that
the Plan allows for rapid recovery of housing supply to meet long
term demand. The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
recently published advice on the long term levels of housing
needed to meet the growing needs across English regions.
Yesterday, Government published guidance on how this advice should
be used by Regional Assemblies in any future reviews.
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