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Designated Growth Areas

Answer

Government remain strongly committed to the principle that infrastructure must be sufficient to support growth and is an essential element in achieving more sustainable communities. For example, between 1998–99 and 2002–03 public spending in the South East and Eastern Regions increased by over 17 per cent. in real terms per head of population.The Government's approach is to ensure that infrastructure, including public services, is provided in step with growth, as plans for individual growth locations are developed. The main elements of this approach are ensuring that mainstream funding reflects the needs of growth, maximising the potential for private sector contributions and making available selective additional grant funding to unlock major growth schemes and locations.Assessing the infrastructure requirements for particular localities is a complex and lengthy process. It needs to assess the detailed layout of a development as it evolves and to allow for changing approaches to service provision affecting what is needed and when. The Government are encouraging local delivery partners to focus on identifying, prioritising and sourcing investment in their locations—based on their individual circumstances and priorities, and using a mix of public and private funding. This approach is being taken forward in the Milton Keynes Prospectus and is being developed in other growth location business plans.The Government's aim is to provide as much information as it can on likely future levels of support but this needs to be made within the context of the public expenditure cycle.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

27440; 439 c1688-9W;439 c1690-1W

Session

2005-06

Related items

Designated Growth Areas
Thursday, 8 December 2005
Written questions
House of Commons

Designated Growth Areas
Monday, 12 December 2005
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Construction Housing Infrastructure

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk