Fight for region that had to be won (From The Northern Echo)

Fight for region that had to be won

10:29am Wednesday 16th July 2008 in Campaigns By Mark Tallentire

THE Government yesterday set out ambitious plans for an economic and social renaissance in the North-East, abandoning crippling limits on the region’s aspirations for housing, transport and jobs.

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews’ vision was revealed in the final draft of the North-East Regional Spatial Strategy, a crucial planning blueprint which aims to deliver 73,000 new jobs, 128,900 new homes, and 3,400 hectares of land for new business by 2021.

Yesterday’s publication marks the successful conclusion of the year-long Shaping the Future campaign, in which The Northern Echo and the North-East Chamber of Commerce had joined forces to call for urgent changes to the strategy, which in an earlier form had threatened to stifle this region for a generation.

Among the key revisions demanded of the Government in a dossier of evidence presented by The Northern Echo in August were: an increased allowance of new houses; the goahead for greater expansion of the flagship Netpark science technology centre, in Sedgefield, County Durham; support for major job creation projects in Durham City, Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Seaham; and backing for the growth of Teesport.

Yesterday’s revised draft accepts all those demands.

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), also known as the North-East of England Plan, also envisages each person living in the region making an increasing contribution to the economy, taking advantage of better housing, services and jobs.

Baroness Andrews said the RSS was about realising the full potential of the region, through “major social and economic renaissance”.

She said: “This North-East Plan sets out a vision for reducing the social and economic gap between the North- East and other regions while building upon its distinctive strengths and assets.”

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the strategy, saying there was much to applaud about it.

He said: “We are delighted to see that damaging suggestions that the North-East is a low-wage economy have now been removed.

“The return of sites such as Heighington Lane and Faverdale as key sites for economic development is also to be welcomed.

“The scaling down of ambition at the North-East Technology Park (Netpark) has been reversed –- an essential move that will ensure that there is room for growth for some of the region’s most exciting companies.”

The first draft RSS was published by the North-East Assembly, before the Government watered down many of its proposals last year.

Alex Watson, chairman of the assembly, said: “We are delighted that the Government has endorsed our shared vision for the North-East and the main themes of a stronger economy and improved communications remain at the heart of the strategy.”

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who last year raised the shortcomings of the RSS at Prime Minister’s Questions, said: “All in all, I am pleased with the document and very pleased that kicking up a fuss over the original plans has made a real difference.”

How the future was shaped, then rethought

June 2005North-East Assembly submits to the Government its first draft of the RSS, which includes ambitious proposals for the region’s economic growth.

March 2006

Independent panel gathers evidence on the proposals as part of the strategy process.

May 2007

The Government launches a ten-week consultation after publishing its proposals to revise the RSS, watering down commitments to key proposals such as the deep sea container port at Tees Port and NetPark, in Sedgefield.

June 5, 2007

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, says he is “stunned” at the revised strategy, which he describes as an “abomination”.

June 13, 2007

The Northern Echo and North-East Chamber of Commerce join forces to launch the Shaping The Future campaign, highlighting the key jobcreation proposals put at risk by the revised strategy.

June 13, 2007

Roberta Blackman-Woods highlighted the issue in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions. Tony Blair promised to look at the issue after the Durham City MP said the document’s shortcomings were “potentially very damaging indeed to economic development in County Durham”.

June 14, 2007

Stung by growing revolt among North- East MPs, Local Government Minister Phil Woolas announced during a House of Commons adjournment debate called by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman that there would be a further eight-week consultation process on the strategy, and raised hopes of concessions by saying: “It is very important that the Government listens and takes note of what has been said.”

June 28, 2007

Durham North MP Kevan Jones describes the strategy, and its limitations on house-building in particular, as being like “a return to Soviet planning”.

June 29, 2007

Hazel Blears replaces Ruth Kelly at the Department for Communities and Local Government as Gordon Brown takes over as Prime Minister and immediately hints to local MPs of further concessions to come.

July 11, 2007

Cabinet Minister John Hutton, speaking during a visit to NetPark at the height of the Sedgefield by-election campaign, drops heavy hints that the proposal to limit the growth of the science park will be dropped. He told The Northern Echo: “The consultation has to run its course, but everyone sees the benefits of expanding the site – all the indicators are positive.”

July 12, 2007

Newly-appointed Minister for the North-East Nick Brown MP admits the document has gone down very badly with the region’s MPs. “I will not be recommending it to the Government in its current form,” he tells The Northern Echo.

July 14, 2007

Campaigning in the Sedgefield byelection, Hazel Blears MP says: “Ministers are fully aware of the strength of feeling on this issue – local MPs have been doing their job.”

July 23, 2007

Pressed by Kevan Jones MP, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper hinted that restrictions on house building in the RSS would have to be eased if the Government were to achieve its target on affordable homes.

July 24, 2007

Lib Dem MP Alan Beith and Conservative MP Peter Atkinson back The Northern Echo’s campaign, giving Shaping The Future cross-party support.

July 31, 2007

The North-East Assembly, authors of the original report, comes out against the revised proposals.

Aug 6, 2007

The Northern Echo delivers a dossier of evidence, compiled during the campaign, to Hazel Blears calling for the Government to rethink their proposals.

Feb 6, 2008

The Government caves in to pressure from the region and publishes new proposals, with major concessions, including more housing, the growth of NetPark, reinstatement of employment sites at Heighington and Faverdale and a commitment to Tees Port.

July 15, 2008

Following a further consultation period, the Government publishes its final version of the strategy.