Helen Goodman

Helen has welcomed the latest draft of the North East Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), but has repeated her call for further improvements to local transport and for further development at a number of ‘key employment sites’.

The latest draft of the RSS – which provides the template for development in the North East until 2021 – has been open to a two-month public consultation, which closed today (April 2nd).

Helen supported many of the changes proposed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP) in February 2008: in particular, proposed increases in housing numbers and the renewed commitment to sustainable development and combating climate change.

   
Helen said:

“The RSS now recognises the urgent need for more affordable homes to be built in the North East, and I am delighted that the new proposals allow for housing numbers to be reviewed regularly and increased as needed.

The RSS also helps ensure that sustainability and environmental concerns underpin regional development, and I welcome proposals for a ‘regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory’ and a tighter regional climate change action plan”.

But Helen also called for the RSS to be allow further development at a number of ‘key employment sites’ including NetPark (see right), Teesport, the Eastgate Renewable Energy Village, the Tursdale Freight facility and the proposed media and film centre at Seaham.

Helen said:

“It’s fantastic news that the latest proposals allow for a 70 acre development at Heighington Lane West, but the RSS needs to be more ambitious in allowing key sites like NetPark and Teesport to realise their potential”.

Concerns also remain about RSS proposals to improving the region’s transport network.

Helen said:

‘The RSS remains committed to improving public transport, but I’m disappointed that the proposed changes do not go beyond merely identifying the need to ‘address capacity issues’ on the East Coast Main Line, and that there’s still no suggestion that the Tees Valley Metro will be extended to Bishop Auckland.

Similarly, I’m concerned the RSS will not adequately tackle transport problems in rural communities, and there is a real need for the RSS to go beyond merely undertaking ‘major transport studies’ on the A1.

Helen submitted her proposals today to DCLG and the Government Office for the North East, who will consider all public submissions before announcing the final RSS in the summer.