Communities and Local Government

London Stansted Cambridge Peterborough (LSCP) spans both the East of England and the London regional planning frameworks.

The draft East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (the draft Plan) was published by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) in December 2004. The draft Plan proposed around 129,000 new homes in LSCP between 2001-2016, around 26,800 more than currently planned for. Following public consultation the draft Plan was subject to its independent examination in public. The independent panel published their report in June 2006. The independent panel recommended a higher level of growth across the region. The Government will now consider the panel's recommendations and will consult on any proposed changes to the draft plan towards the end of the year, with the final plan being issued in Spring 2007.

The London Plan, published by the Mayor of London, sets a target for the five London LSCP boroughs of 66,860 additional homes between 1997-2016. In October 2005 the Mayor published for consultation new draft housing targets which would increase the London LSCP target by around 5700 between 2007-08 -2016-17. The Mayor's proposed new targets were subject to independent examination in public in June 2006. The independent panel will make their recommendations to the Mayor in Autumn 2006, with the Mayor publishing the alterations in Spring 2007.

The London LSCP boroughs face different challenges to other parts of the Growth Area. The continued growth of the London economy puts pressure on housing in the capital and its population is forecast to grow considerably over the coming years. Changing land use patterns in North East London often present capacity for housing on brownfield land: however the cost of remediation can prove a barrier to developers. Infrastructure improvements are often needed in areas where housing densities are set to increase.

The London LSCP boroughs have benefited from around £30m Growth Areas Funding from Communities and Local Government.  

In addition £10m Community Infrastructure Funding has been awarded to assist provision of housing above the new Dalston Junction East London line station, and £5m has been awarded for a new north-south spine road through the Haringey Heartlands development area.

LSCP is benefiting from major levels of Growth Areas Funding. Around £59m was allocated to the Growth Area through the first round of the Growth Areas Fund (2003-2006) and around £73m has been allocated to capital projects in the second round (2006-2008), including £13m for greenspace projects.

In addition, over £32.5m of the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) has been allocated to projects in LSCP.

In addition to Growth Area and community infrastructure funding, other recent Government investment in LSCP includes:

• the £490m A14 Ellinton to Fen Ditton Improvement scheme 
• £95m support for the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway
• £4.14m for the East of England region from the Department for Transport's bus Kickstart scheme and 
• £385,000 for Cambridgeshire from the Transport Innovation Fund

Peterborough has a history of successful growth through the original New Towns Programme. Studies have identified significant potential for growth - both town centre regeneration and urban extension. The role of Peterborough as a growth hub is widely agreed and supported. Peterborough's inclusion in the Growth Area in 2004 was a response to local aspirations for growth, already reflected in draft RSS14. An Urban Regeneration Company (URC), Opportunity Peterborough was established in 2005.

The regeneration of the city centre through the city's Masterplan and the wider rejuvenation and development of Peterborough could see major additional inward investment of some £750m over the next 15 years. Proposals for significant housing growth in the sub-region will also be addressed. Peterborough has benefited from around £24.6m Growth Area funding from Communities and Local Government to bring forward regeneration of city centre brownfield sites for housing and commercial development.

Peterborough also benefited from £7m Community Infrastructure Funding to support the Fletton Parkway transport improvement project to the south of the city.

For further details please visit the Opportunity Peterborough website on the right of the page.

The economic success of Cambridgeshire has made it one of the most attractive places to live and work in the UK. However, ongoing prosperity is crucially dependent on the provision of new homes and infrastructure, which will provide the foundations for the well-being of the area. The Cambridgeshire Structure Plan will deliver 47,500 homes by 2016 to address housing need.

Cambridgeshire is benefiting from around £42.5m Growth Areas Funding from Communities and Local Government to directly unlock housing sites, as well as transport funding for improvements to the A14 and £95m for a guided bus scheme, which will run between Huntingdon and Cambridge. 

Delivery in the sub-region is driven by Cambridgeshire Horizons who are responsible for bringing together local partners to deliver sustainable communities in line with the Cambridgeshire Structure Plan.

Harlow is a key centre for growth identified in the draft East of England Plan.  Harlow's New Town legacy means that there are significant regeneration needs. With housing growth Harlow could reach a critical mass of population needed to sustain its role as a sub-regional centre.

Harlow is benefiting from around £22m Growth Area Funding from Communities and Local Government for capital projects to develop town centre housing and replace ageing leisure facilities, enhance green spaces in the town and build modern learning facilities at the college. 

An interim local delivery vehicle,  Harlow Renaissance, has been established by local partners to support and take forward regeneration of the town.

As with Harlow, Stevenage is a former New Town and growth will support the regeneration of the town and help it fulfil its role as a sub-regional centre.

Stevenage has benefited from around £7.5m Growth Area Funding from Communities and Local Government to unlock housing sites and regenerate a neighbourhood centre through three schemes designed to best exploit the limited brownfield opportunities within the new town.  £3.1m Community Infrastructure Funding was also allocated for improvements to the A602 Corridor between Ware and Stevenage.