Further consultation on South East Plan announced.

The Government has launched a consultation on the South East’s vision to tackle climate change and flooding, address housing shortages and strengthen the economy.

The publication of Proposed Changes to the South East Plan follows an independent public examination and public consultation will last until October 24.

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.

"Key elements of the draft included an affordable housing target of 35%, plans to tackle climate change, transport improvements and 22 regional hubs identified as a focus for economic growth."

But proposals for South East housing targets have come under fire from the regional assembly, which has warned they may be unsustainable.
Ministers want to increase regional housing provision by what they say is "a modest 4% rise" above the amount recommended by the independent panel of inspectors who published their assessment of the RSS nearly a year ago.

The administration has argued that the extra provision is needed to address long-term housing shortages and affordability issues which people face in the region. These latest proposals would bring the overall regional total to 33,125 houses a year.
 
Ministers have pointed out that in the South East the average age of a first-time buyer 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.
 
Newly elected South East Regional Assembly Chairman councillor Paul Carter said: "Government seems determined to show it has the power to override 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, to 662,500."

He added: "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."

Announcing the consultation, Communities minister Parmjit Dhanda said:  "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."

Under the Government's proposals affordable housing will make up 35% of the total housing provision. At present the region has over 200,000 households on council waiting lists and over 7,500 homeless households living in temporary accommodation.
 
A total of 22 regional hubs have been identified as the focus for housing, economic growth and transport investment on the region. According to the latest strategy a proposed strategic development area west of Reading has been removed from the plan because of concern about the risk of flooding.]

A feature of the strategy is a co-ordinated approach to protecting the Thames Basin Heaths and other key habitats from future development pressures. Some 80% of the South East is still classified as rural.

Read the Communities and Local Government news release.

Read the South East England Regional Assembly media release.

Planning Portal

17 July 2008