South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Creating Quality Places

"SEEDA has always given the highest priority to quality places, and so the work of the Development and Infrastructure Division focuses on developing Sustainable Communities throughout the Region.

Our priorities are: the Thames Gateway, Ashford, Milton Keynes, and Aylesbury growth areas; the Solent; and many of the regions coastal towns. In all cases, we want to provide places where people want to live, work and visit - in attractive, safe, healthy and economically successful environments.

The regions towns and cities are a vital asset for economic success and community well being and the challenge for us is to balance infrastructure and transport, housing, public realm, community facilities and business space, developed to a high quality and environmental standards."

SEEDA's Director of Development and Infrastructure, Paul Hudson

The Development and Infrastructure Division approaches this through:

• Developing skills, working with organisations to develop their capabilities and encouraging best practice with partners through demonstration projects and providing development advice;
• Influencing the strategic planning and transport framework for the region to aid new development and regeneration;
• Influencing national strategies on development, transport and housing issues, taking into account regional priorities;
• Leading on research and studies to inform Government thinking on key South East or regional issues.

A summary, of the Divisional programmes for the 2005 - 2008 period of SEEDA's corporate plan, is as follows:

1. In support of Urban Renaissance SEEDA will focus on skills development, design and town centre improvement, through a range of initiatives under the umbrella of 'South East Excellence - Sustainable Renaissance', the regional centre of excellence for the South East. Further details will appear on this web site shortly.
2. Although SEEDA is not involved in the direct delivery of Housing, the Agency does offer strategic input into the housing agenda to inform strategy, share best practice and tackle South East related issues as supported and demonstrated through the Division's role in brownfield regeneration;
3. Planning and Infrastructure - the Division will lead on research and studies in targeted areas of the region and where appropriate, help bring forward selected projects and lead or inform European funded transport programmes;
4. Strategic Direct Delivery will demonstrate and highlight best practice in brownfield regeneration of sites into vibrant, economic and successful mixed use developments. This in turn will help to deliver the Government's Growth Areas plan for Ashford, Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale;
5. We will provide comprehensive Development Advice and support on key partner schemes;
6. Local Priority developments will identify areas that demonstrate market failure and key issues through local partnerships (Area Investment Frameworks);
7. Implementation of Managed Workspace schemes will provide accommodation to support business survival and expansion;
8. Hubs and Gateways - The Division works with the Business and International team to provide the physical infrastructure to sustain the Enterprise Hubs and Gateways initiatives. The Enterprise Hubs and Gateways offer support, mentoring, and advice to small and medium sized businesses to enable their growth and expansion.