North East regional strategy announced

Ministers have reinstated a policy requiring 10% embedded renewable as a minimum target for major new developments in the revised regional spatial strategy for the North East, just announced.

The plan sets out to deliver 128,000 new homes and focuses on accelerating economic development within the Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley city-regions as well as creating a flourishing rural economy. It also confirms a target set out in the regional strategy to create up to 73,000 new jobs by 2016.

The strategy’s key development areas include the Tyne River Corridor, the River Wear Corridor, Durham City, South East Northumberland, the Durham and Rural Coalfield area and east Cleveland. Some 3,400 hectares of land has been identified for new business. The revised RSS also provides protection for the region's Green Belt in respect of countryside encroachment around Tyne and Wear and Durham City. There is also a policy to prevent settlements from merging in Tees Valley.

The North East Assembly has welcomed the main thrust of the revised RSS and applauded the Government's  decision to include the North of England for the first time in its New Growth Point programme (see News Round-Up).

Alex Watson, chair of the North East Assembly, said: "We are pleased that the [employment] sites at Heighington Lane West and Faverdale have been recognised as of significant importance to the region and remain in the strategy in line with our recommendations. These sites offer unique opportunities to enhance the economy, particularly in the logistics sector, in line with the key employment locations policy in the RSS."

He added: "We also welcome the Government listening to our advice by retaining the South of Seaham site in the strategy. The proposed new media centre will enable new cultural opportunities to be identified and realised in our region, attracting investment from the film industry which will provide an added boost to the economy."

Communities minister Baroness Andrews said: "This plan is about realising the full potential of the North East through major social and economic renaissance. We want to deliver a high quality of life for present and future generations by addressing housing shortages, strengthening the economy, modernising transport networks, protecting the environment and tackling climate change."

Read the Communities and Local Government news release.

Roger Milne

17 July 2008