THE leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Cllr Keith Mitchell, has joined his fellow leaders from across the region to launch ‘The Battle for the South East’.
Today, Tuesday, November 28, a Government appointed panel begins its examination of the South East Plan before making recommendations to Government about exactly how many new homes should be built in the South East over the next 20 years.
Councillor Mitchell joined leaders from West and East Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Hampshire and Surrey at a flagship development in Basingstoke, Hampshire where roads and a new school will be put in place before 950 new homes are built.
The Battle for the South East apparently aims to ensure that:
More affordable homes are built for young people and essential workers.
No new homes are built without adequate and timely investment in infrastructure, such as water and sewerage systems, road and rail networks.
No more than 28,900 new homes a year (578,000 in total) are built.
Oxfordshire County Council has stated that: “Those in Whitehall appreciate the strength of feeling in the South East and understand that any increase in house building, above the the amount outlined in the Draft South East Plan, will not be tolerated.”
Councillor Mitchell said: “This event was aimed at displaying the unanimity there is in the South East over this critically important issue.
“We will not roll over and let the Government take decisions that will destroy our environment. The South East is the economic engine room of the country. Oxfordshire is an important part of that. We are a largely rural county but, at the same time, economically dynamic. It is acknowledged that more houses are needed, that is why it has been agreed that the figure should be 28,900 per year. Any more than that and we risk ruining Oxfordshire’s character and harming our economic success.”
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