Growth and Regeneration in the Gateway - london.gov.uk - Greater ...

20
expand to meet growth as well as deal with relatively high
current levels of educational under-attainment in parts of the
Gateway. There must be vigorous investment in skills’
development. These investments will be essential for the
achievement of truly sustainable communities.
5.4 Much of the cost of providing the necessary infrastructure will
fall to the private sector, which will gain from the enormous
development value generated by the sheer scale of growth.
However, some opportunities will be difficult to realize because
of remediation and other preparation costs and the need for
better access. Substantial public sector resources will therefore
be needed to promote development in areas that will otherwise
be unattractive for investors or will be vulnerable to
development at low-density and below the required quality.
5.5 Environmental improvement is an essential part of the Gateway
strategy. There is a vast range of ecological and environmental
assets of the highest importance, including, of course, the River
and its environs. Sites of high biodiversity value must be
protected and, where appropriate, extended and mechanisms
such as Bio-diversity Action Plans used to support this. Good
practice on matters such as energy and waste management can
create jobs as well as improve the environment. The government
has identified the potential of the area in “Greening the
Gateway” 15 . All the regional bodies are developing green grids
to co-ordinate and make best use of open spaces. The Green
Belt should contribute to the meeting of the needs of
sustainable communities through its amenity value for leisure
and other appropriate uses. The capacity of the Gateway will
only be fully realised if new investors and residents can be
attracted to it in very large numbers. This will only happen if the
image of the area improves, including under-grounding of
power lines.
5.6 All development will meet required standards of flood defence.
In practice the major areas of development are already protected
to the maximum 1:1000 year level. The Environment Agency is
studying flooding issues in detail: the regional planning process
will take into account the results of this work. Regional planning
will take into account the implications of growth for water,
energy, utilities and waste management.
15 Greening the Gateway ODPM.