The revised Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will deliver a vision for continuing growth and spreading prosperity to all communities in the East of England in a planned and sustainable way over the next two decades.
Publication of the plan follows a rigorous public consultation and independent examination process. It will deliver a step change for housing and jobs growth that will help the region tackle homelessness and housing affordability. The plan also responds to the major transport, waste and environmental issues affecting the region.
The latest statistical projections show that new households are expected to grow by 30,500 a year up to 2021 in the region which means housing provision needs to accelerate to keep up with demand. The RSS sets out a plan to deliver 508,000 more homes (25,400 a year) and new jobs to hit 452,000 by 2021.
Almost £150m will be invested (2008-11) in new developments around the main cities and towns including Cambridge, Peterborough, Stevenage, Harlow and the growth points announced at Norwich, Colchester, Ipswich and Thetford. Today we are announcing that Chelmsford, Dacorum (Hemel Hempstead), St Albans, St Edmundsbury and Welwyn Hatfield are to be Growth Areas and that King's Lynn's has been confirmed as a growth point.
The Government has made millions of pounds of funding available for growth points infrastructure including schools, hospitals, leisure centres and transport links through the Growth Areas Fund, the Community Infrastructure Fund and Housing and Planning Delivery Grants. In addition the Community Infrastructure Levy currently being considered by Parliament will potentially create another important funding source for councils delivering new housing.
Communities Minister, Parmjit Dhanda, said:
"The East of England needs a long term vision for delivering much needed sustainable growth that tackles climate change, address its housing shortages and strengthens the region's economy.
"Beyond the short term squeeze of the credit crunch our population is still ageing and more people are choosing to live alone, meaning new households are growing faster than new homes. If more homes are not built now the housing ladder will get even further out of reach leaving the next generation with nowhere to live.
"This plan is a big step forward in addressing the demands in the East of England. It will deliver the affordable housing, better transport networks, stronger environmental protections and new jobs that the region needs."
Speaking at the launch event in Letchworth, East of England Minister, Barbara Follett will say:
"The Regional Spatial Strategy is a key milestone for delivering sustainable housing growth and tackling problems of homelessness, housing affordability and climate change here in the East of England. The plan went through a rigorous consultation where all views were heard. It is vital for all communities that the Regional Assembly, local planning authorities and developers continue to support the plan and work to quickly and effectively implement its delivery."
Summary of key points in the Plan:
- Higher housing growth to deliver 508,000 homes by 2021 - revised from 478,000 to reach the latest housing projections, following the independent examination panel recommending the need for higher growth.
- Job growth targets increased from 440,000 to 452,000. This includes the addition of Bedford as a key employment location.
- New growth towns close to London have had nearly £28m pounds of growth funds confirmed today. Chelmsford (£11m), Hemel Hempstead (£6.5m), St. Albans (£0.6m), St Edmunsbury (£4.8m) and Welwyn / Hatfield (£4.6m). Confirmation that King's Lynn and Harlow will be important growth towns.
- Not including the Thames Gateway other housing development and additional growth investment, announced in December, will be focussed on brownfield sites and urban extensions in Cambridge (£36m), Peterborough (£17.5), Stevenage (£6.7m), and the recently announced new growth points at Norwich (£12m), Thetford (£6m), and Colchester and Ipswich (£17.5).
- It has identified areas where further work should be carried out to determine the additional measures needed to tackle congestion and support growth.
- The social need for housing is recognised with a minimum affordable housing target in new developments set at 35%. In addition Rural Exception sites are identified as a key tool to support housing in rural areas.
- Water management is recognised as an important regional issue in the East of England with per capita consumption targets and an emphasis on the sewage work investment needed to reconcile growth and river quality.
- The plan sets targets for the first time for waste recycling; with landfill of untreated waste to be eliminated by 2021.
- The regional plan actually delivers a net increase to the green belt as a result of extensions to Hertfordshire's green belt.
New eco-towns could also be part of how the East of England meets their housing shortfall. Any successful bid from the region will be included in the further RSS review to be carried out which will take the plan up to 2031 and take account of new population and housing projections.
The 4 shortlisted eco-town locations in the region have only reached the first stage. Bids that have cleared the first hurdle will face considerably tougher tests ahead if they progress and will need to improve proposals still further. All the shortlisted locations will face further examination including public consultation and a detailed Sustainability Appraisal which will test the merits and challenges for each one.
All bids will have to reach zero carbon standards by promoting leading edge green technologies, provide high levels of affordable housing, demonstrate how they will deliver key infrastructure such as good public transport, schools and health facilities and safeguard local wildlife. Importantly no new eco-town housing will be on the green belt.
Richard Powell, Chair of Sustainability East welcomed the launch of the strategy, saying:
"Growth is a hugely complex issue, and its impacts are far reaching in terms of housing, transport, schools and hospitals, as well as the natural environment around us, and the resources which support us. We welcome the fact that through this process Government and regional partners have recognised that all of these issues have to be brought together and thought through strategically, and clearly, and drawing on the expertise of regional partners.
"Sustainable development is, at its heart, about achieving integration between the demands of growth, protecting and enhancing our natural and historic environment whilst ensuring equality and opportunities for all. Sustainability East will continue to challenge those delivering this plan to make sure we are achieving that integration, without this growth cannot be seen as sustainable. Business as usual isn't an option."
This RSS plan is part of an ongoing process of Government reforms and delivery that is strengthening regional regeneration, growth and accountability. For example, on top of the rigorous public consultation process already in place, elected local leaders will have even more say over housing and planning under the single regional strategy post 2010 giving them a stronger role in developing and signing off regional strategies, and better scrutiny of RDAs through local leader forums.
From 2010 the spatial plan (RSS) and economic plan (RES) will be joined up to create a new East of England implementation plan for new jobs, homes, transport and investment for the first time. These plans will continue to require transparent and open consultation with councils, local communities, businesses and environmental groups.
