Thousands Of New Homes Planned

17 March 2010, 05:00

25,000 extra homes have been proposed for the East of England each year until 2031.

The East of England Regional Assembly's draft plan outlines housing and job growth up to 2031.  However, the numbers they have agreed on are roughly equivalent to the lowest option put to the public in a consultation which received over 16,000 responses.

In our area, the number of new houses are shown in the table below:

Area Total New Houses Houses Per Year
Bedford/Kempston/Northern Marston Vale 19,500 980
Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis/Leighton Buzzard/Linslade 31,700 1,590
Rest of Bedford Borough 1,300 70
Rest of Central Bedfordshire 12,000 600
Huntingdonshire 11,000 550
Broxbourne 5,100 260
Dacorum 6,100 310
East Hertfordshire 11,000 550
Hertsmere 5,000 250
North Hertfordshire 15,800 790
St Albans 7,000 350
Stevenage 6,400 320
Three Rivers 4,000 200
Watford 5,100 260
Welwyn Hatfield 5,800 290

EERA Chairman, Cllr John Reynolds, said: "The Government’s call for a massive programme of house-building in the region is unrealistic and we have firmly rejected it. Having listened to our residents and considered all the evidence it is clear that a more balanced level of housing and jobs growth which also respects the environment is needed. We believe the draft Plan can deliver this.

"Fundamentally, our priority must be an excellent quality of life for all – so that by 2031 the East of England is a better place to live, learn, work, and invest. We do need growth over the next 20 years, which is why the draft plan puts in place a framework that promotes sustainable development; addresses housing shortages; supports the growth of the economy and enables all areas to share in prosperity.

"Any growth strategy requires much more investment than the region currently receives, and we will continue to remind Government of its pledge that no growth will take place without adequate infrastructure to support it."

The final East of England Plan will not be completed until 2011 and the public will have more opportunities to have their say in the meantime.  It is the responsibility of local councils to decide the exact locations of where new homes should be built through their local development frameworks.