Housing

Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (Push)

Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (Push)

"The PUSH vision is to improve South Hampshire's quality of life in the broadest sense, including economic, social and environmental wellbeing.  We are looking forward to working in partnership with Government to deliver our strategy which is focussed on the continued regeneration of the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton and the adjoining urban areas".

Councillor Seán Woodward, Chairman of PUSH.

Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) - (Partner authorities, East Hampshire District Council (DC), Eastleigh Borough Council (BC), Fareham BC, Gosport BC, Hampshire County Council (CC), Havant BC, New Forest DC, Portsmouth CC, Southampton CC, Test Valley BC, Winchester DC).

South Hampshire is the largest urban area in the South of England outside London and is home to over 1 million people. The sub region has some outstanding natural and physical assets but its economy has been under performing over the last two decades compared to south east average growth rates. The eleven local authorities in the area have formed a partnership known as PUSH with a common vision and a clear agenda to progress an economic growth-led strategy for the sub region, with growth rising to at least the South East average by 2026.

Critical priorities for PUSH include:

  • promoting a buoyant and diverse economy 
  • securing sustainable communities
  • safeguarding a quality environment 
  • reducing inequalities and developing skills 
  • providing quality housing for all 
  • improving accessibility
  • providing quality recreational and leisure facilities
  • improving health
  • a desire to maintain the separation of settlements

In supporting PUSH as a New Growth Point, the Government is entering into a long-term partnership with PUSH, recognising their ambitions for growth, subject to the statutory regional and local planning process. In planning for this growth PUSH will be developing a range of tools including an Economic Action Plan (including reducing economic inactivity, skills development and enterprise and innovation), common policies on affordable housing and sustainability, a Sub Regional Housing Strategy and co-ordination of Local Development Frameworks across South Hampshire. These documents will support partners' local ambitions which include: 

  • a programme of regeneration focussed on the two cities and adjoining urban areas 
  • redevelopment of a number of significant brownfield sites
  • planning for the provision of 2 million square metres of new employment floor space
  • planning for 80,000 new homes over the period up to 2026 of which 40,425 will be provided by 2016 providing critical infrastructure to deal with current deficits as well as newly arising needs
  • two new Strategic Development Areas, one linked to Southampton and the other linked to Portsmouth
  • a Strategic Employment Area at Eastleigh close to Southampton Airport

Levels of growth will be subject to comprehensive testing and public consultation through the regional and local planning processes to ensure that individual proposals are sustainable, acceptable environmentally and realistic in terms of infrastructure. For PUSH future work will include carrying out a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to inform locations of growth; developing an Integrated Water Management Plan which will be used to inform levels and locations of growth to ensure that water quality impacts are managed and adequate infrastructure is provided; working closely with the Environment Agency and relevant water companies on development and implementation of measures to achieve water saving and efficiency; assessing and mitigating the impacts of growth on local habitats; devising a Greenspace Strategy for South Hampshire and ensuring that greenspace considerations are integrated with development and adverse impacts are mitigated; and further examination of the transport infrastructure needed to support growth, including work on investment priorities and delivery structures.

Achieving these ambitions will depend on a range of public and private funding programmes, including developer contributions. Government is committing to work with local partners to achieve sustainable growth to get the best outcomes from this investment and to help overcome obstacles to delivery. In support of PUSH's growth ambitions Government is allocating around £3.66m in 2007-08 from the first year's funding pot, subject to detailed negotiation and appraisal. Future funding is dependent upon the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007.

For further information on PUSH's proposals please contact Liz Kite at Southampton City Council on 023 8083 3040 or by email: liz.kite@southampton.gov.uk

As a new growth point PUSH's aim is to build around 40,425 homes by 2016.  

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