In July 2000 The Deputy Prime Minister announced that there was potential for 200,000 homes to be provided additional to current plans by 2016. This was echoed in the Communities Plan launched in February 2003. Much of this growth will be contained in the growth areas, identified in Regional Planning Guidance for London, and the rest of the South East. These areas include the already established Thames Gateway and the three new growth areas of Milton Keynes and South Midlands, London-Stansted-Peterborough-Cambridge and Ashford.
Sustainable Communities
We make an important contribution to the Government’s commitment to thriving, vibrant sustainable communities. The Sustainable Communities Plan will affect every region as part of the drive to raise the quality of life in our communities through increasing prosperity, reducing inequalities, more employment, better public services and better health and education. A regional programme of action sets out proposals for maintaining and creating sustainable communities in the South East.
New Growth Areas
A £164 million Growth Areas Funds programme to support the three newer growth areas was announced in the Communities Plan. The funds are to:
- enable a rapid start to be made on “early wins” housing sites to lay the foundations of large scale future growth
- support local delivery mechanisms
- provide start-up funds for key projects
- unlock “log jams” that are blocking development
What about the environment
The alternative to creating sustainable communities would be for growth to be scattered and much more random across the South East. The first page of the Sustainable Communities Plan makes it clear that “we must raise the quality of what we build, protecting and enhancing the countryside and green spaces for all to enjoy”.
What about infrastructure
Over the long-term (30 years), major investment is required. But some of this investment would be required even if the growth areas were not being proposed to meet existing South East growth needs. The Government will be considering in future spending reviews, what can be afforded beyond the sums already committed. Work is also underway with the private sector to look at alternative sources of funding.
