Infrastructure deficit blocking development

A Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB] product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Dec 23, 2004

Infrastructure deficit blocking U.K. regional development says John Presott.

John Prescott, Secretary of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the United Kingdom's sustainable communities housing and planning project, has extolled the virtues of transport and public service infrastructure in creating the framework for economic growth and the Government's drive for affordable housing.

In Greater London, where more than 100,000 new homes are being planned for the Thames Gateway area, Mr Prescott cited the Jubilee Line tube extension and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link as essential factors in opening up sites previously regarded as derelict and making London 's Olympic bid feasible.

Crossrail will be another component of growth costing about as much as the two major rail projects combined.

At the same time the East of England Regional Assembly has submitted to Mr Prescott's office one of the new-style Regional Spatial Strategy statements of the type commended by Kate Barker in her report to the Government on Housing Supply.

This marks a step change in economic development for the region and proposes a housing target close on half a million homes in 20 years.

The Assembly insists that employment-led growth must be supported by additional infrastructure investment currently estimated at £1.5 billion.

So far no commitment has been forthcoming from the Government despite the East of England's contribution to its flagship programme Creating Sustainable Communities.

Warning of the dangers of unsustainable growth, the Assembly has suspended its endorsement of the plan due to lack of Government funding.

But the East of England plan demonstrates just how much it is going to cost to realise the economic potential of the region and create the kind of sustainable communities the Government has said it is determined to support.