REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY MUST REFLECT THE POTENTIAL OF THE NORTH EAST
Helen has called for the North East Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) to more accurately reflect the growing potential of the region to experience sustained economic growth.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP), Helen once again outlined her concerns about the RSS and urged;
i) The inclusion of a number of ‘prestige employment sites’, viz.,
● NetPark in County Durham
● A film and media centre at South of Seaham in Easington
● Heighington Lane West in Sedgefield
● The expansion of Teesport to include a deep-sea container terminal
● The Tursdale Regional Freight Facility
● The Eastgate Renewal Energy Village.
ii) An increase in housing provision for County Durham to take account of recent population increases, rising regional economic performance and the Government’s redoubled efforts to significantly increase housing supply.
iii) Greater assurance that the RSS will provide the transport infrastructure the North east requires to achieve sustained economic growth. Helen called specifically for the RSS to include the upgrading of the East Coast Main Line, the A66 and the A1 in County Durham.
Helen said:
“While I welcome the broad aims of the RSS, I remain concerned that, as it stands, the RSS does not match the ambition of the local community.
“If we are to continue to progress to a knowledge and skills-based economy, the RSS must encourage economic development as far as possible – and it is for this reason that I urge the reassessment of proposals to allow the development of prestige and reserve employment sites, to increase projected housing additions and to provide the transport infrastructure the North East so desperately requires”.
You can read more about Helen’s concerns regarding the RSS here
