What is the South East Plan?
The South East Plan is the regional framework for managing future development in the South East and will replace current government planning guidance for the South East. It is prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA). It will set the standards and principles for the physical development of the region for 20 years and will be used to guide the local plans and strategies produced by councils.
What is the timescale of the Plan?
The South East Plan will come into effect in 2006/07 and will cover the period up to 2026. SEERA submitted the first complete draft of the Plan to the Government Office of the South East in March 2006.
What themes are covered in the Plan?
Key themes for the South East Plan include:
making urban living more attractive through physical and social regeneration, improved design and a renaissance of our towns and cities
improving access to housing by providing what the region needs in terms of new homes
making access easier for people who need to reach services such as shops and doctors, workplaces or leisure, cultural and recreational facilities
encouraging more prudent use of natural resources such as water and energy as well as reducing the amount of waste we all produce
South East Plan Housing Consultation
In July 2005, SEERA agreed that 28,900 homes should be planned for in the South East each year and that around 1,900 of these should be built in East Sussex each year.
SEERA commissioned East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to advise how these houses could be distributed around the county.
ESCC believes that Eastbourne cannot sustain its current house building rate and is proposing a reduction in the number of homes built in future years. Over the last 5 years Eastbourne has built, on average, 685 homes each year. ESCC is proposing that:
- this average is reduced to 240 homes each year for the twenty years between 2006 and 2026
- that there will be no new greenfield allocations for homes in Eastbourne
- new homes will all be provided within the existing built up area
For further details of the consultation, go to the ESCC website.
