The Partnership established a Planning and Regeneration Group having recognised that to achieve its aspirations would require closer woring relationships between the various Partners and especially the Local Authority Planning Offices. The Group contributed substantially to the sub-regional chapter of the draft East of England Plan and recognised a year ago that there was a need for a document between the Plan and local planning documents.

This key document, referred to as a 'non statutory sub-regional framework', is not required by law, however, it will deal with cross boundary issues, guide individual plans, prioritise issues and sites and provide a delivery framework.

In 2005/06 three major studies were completed focusing on:-

• A housing capacity and infrastructure needs study that identifies the amount of new land that needs to be allocated.
• An employment land study that includes quality and availability as well as location. Because of the changing face of employment in the sub region from manufacturing to service there will be a need to allocate new high quality sites.
• A regeneration and implementation study addressing major regeneration sites and factors influencing their implementation including indicative costing and possible sources of funding.

To view the studies click here.

To ensure that growth is balanced with the environment the Partnership is carrying out, using Countryside Agency funding an assessment of urban access to green infrastructure. Consideration is also being given to developing a green infrastructure strategy to respond to the significant population growth we envisage by 2021.

The partnership is working very closely with a sister organisation responsible for the development of a housing strategy for the sub-region and there is a reciprocal arrangement for members to sit on their respective working groups.