You spoke………we listened!
12 March 2010
25,000 new homes across the region per year up to 2031 are being recommended by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) in the draft East of England Plan > 2031 which was approved by the Regional Assembly today. This figure broadly reflects the lowest figure suggested in the public consultation last year.
The draft Plan outlines housing and job growth up to 2031 whilst setting ambitious targets to drive up energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, improve water efficiency and recycle an increasing percentage of waste. It also sets new policies to manage coastal change and underlines the need for increased investment in infrastructure to realise its vision.
The Plan provides the basis for local authorities to prepare their local development plans and for other organisations such as the NHS, Highways Agency and water companies to plan their future investment.
EERA Chairman, Cllr John Reynolds, said: “The Government’s call for a massive programme of house-building in the region is unrealistic and we have firmly rejected it. Having listened to our residents and considered all the evidence it is clear that a more balanced level of housing and jobs growth which also respects the environment is needed. We believe the draft Plan can deliver this.
ldquo;Fundamentally, our priority must be an excellent quality of life for all – so that by 2031 the East of England is a better place to live, learn, work, and invest. We do need growth over the next 20 years, which is why the draft plan puts in place a framework that promotes sustainable development; addresses housing shortages; supports the growth of the economy and enables all areas to share in prosperity.
“Any growth strategy requires much more investment than the region currently receives, and we will continue to remind Government of its pledge that no growth will take place without adequate infrastructure to support it.”
The East of England Regional Assembly will cease from the end of March 2010. The draft plan will be taken forward from the beginning of April by the East of England Local Government Association and the East of England Development Agency. (See notes for editors).
Draft East of England Plan > 2031 – Housing Growth
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Policy Areas
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Draft East of England Plan > 2031
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Draft East of England Plan > 2031
Per Annum
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Bedfordshire and Luton
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64,640
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Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
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96,600
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4,830
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100,760
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Essex, Thurrock and Southend
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124,500
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6,225
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132,960
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Hertfordshire
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71,300
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3,570
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75,460
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Norfolk
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79,500
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3,980
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83,000
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Suffolk
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64,300
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3,220
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64,300
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East of England
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500,700
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25,040
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521,120
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An information pack that provides more information about the draft East of England Plan > 2031 and lists the number of new homes to be planned for in each Council area in the region can be downloaded at: http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAzADcAOAAxAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The draft East of England Plan > 2031 is available at:
http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAzADcAOAAwAHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1
For further information or to arrange an interview with an EERA spokesperson, please contact:
Claire Sefton, Tel: 01284 729427 Mob: 07920257940 Email: Claire.sefton@eera.gov.uk
Stephen Hinchley, Tel: 01284 729430, Mob: 07710 312237, Email: stephen.hinchley@eera.gov.uk
Public Consultation
Four broad scenarios on the scale and distribution of housing growth were put forward for consultation, ranging from 26,000 to over 33,000 new homes per year. EERA had already rejected the highest end of the range of new homes being proposed by the Government – around 39,000 new homes per year.
Overall, two-thirds of the 16,000 members of the public, local authorities or businesses who responded to the consultation preferred a housing growth scenario similar to, or less than, the lowest level of growth.
The full outcome of the consultation is set out in a separate document
http://eera-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/rssto2031scenarios which accompanies the draft East of England Plan > 2031 document.
East of England Plan > 2031
The review of the East of England Plan will be completed in 2011. There will be public consultation at key stages of the process to enable members of the public and others to contribute. The review will consider:
· jobs and homes targets for 2011-2031 including affordable homes;
· broad locations for new development;
· regional infrastructure needs e.g. transport;
· targets to reduce the use of natural resources (energy, water) and greenhouse gas emissions;
· priorities for the environment such as the countryside and biodiversity protection.
In undertaking the East of England Plan > 2031, the Assembly is working closely with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East).
The Regional Strategy Board
The Regional Strategy Board is the partnership arrangement agreed between Local Government in the East of England through the Leaders’ Board (LB) and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). The Regional Strategy Board provides leadership to the region on the preparation and delivery of a Regional Strategy and accountability to the region through the Leaders’ Board and EEDA.
East of England Regional Assembly
1. The East of England Regional Assembly is independent of Government and is not a Government agency or quango. It represents the regional interests of people living and working in the East of England.
2. The Assembly has 96 members of which two thirds are elected councillors (from the 52 local authorities in the region) and one third are stakeholder representatives. Its meetings are open to the media and general public.
3. The Assembly is the designated Regional Planning Body for the East of England until March 2010 when it will cease to exist.
For more information on EERA, see the website at www.eera.gov.uk
East of England Regional Assembly Group Leaders
Cllr John Reynolds (Chairman), Conservative 07720 379699
Cllr Kathy Pollard (Deputy Chair), Liberal Democrat, 07889 123702
Cllr John Kent (Deputy Chair), Labour, 07799 074120
Michael Allen (Deputy Chair), Community Stakeholders, 01223 742007
Cllr Peter Jones (Group Leader), Independent, 07787 186735