Infrastructure Before New Homes

NEW houses should not be built in Oxfordshire or elsewhere in South-East England unless the necessary infrastructure including transport, health and water resources is in place.
This was one of the key messages in a report endorsed by Oxfordshire County Council?s Executive today, as part of the consultation taking place at the moment between SEERA (the South East of England Regional Assembly), councils and other official bodies and the public about the Draft South East Plan.
The plan will determine how the region grows and develops over the next 20 years.
The Executive?s view agrees with that of SEERA itself which states in a summary of the draft plan: ?The Assembly attaches great importance to the provision of infrastructure (transport, schools, health facilities, green space, etc) taking place in a manner that meets the needs of new and existing development.?
The assembly has been asking people across the region whether they think 25,500, 28,000 or 32,000 homes per year should be built in the South East region.

In his report, Chris Cousins, the county council?s head of sustainable development, says that, in his view, based on the evidence provided to date, he cannot see a case for more than 28,000 new homes to be built in the south-east per year which is line with existing plans.

The Executive?s discussion of the SE Plan follows five public debates across the county which the County Council recently conducted, on behalf of SEERA, to ask for people?s opinions on the issues.
According to OCC, a common view at these meetings was that SEERA is ?a remote and unelected body based in Guildford? that should not have influence over the future of towns and villages in Oxfordshire. However, SEERA insists that, because it includes representatives from county and local councils and other groups, it is ?a representative voice of the region.?
To find out about SEERA and have YOUR say about the plan, visit its website at Link