Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

3 Introduction
Regional Housing Strategy for the East of England: 2005–2010
3.1 This second Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) appears at a time of significant regional change
as confirmation is awaited from Government of the merger of regional planning and housing
functions. The RHS is likely to be delivered under different arrangements from those that it was
conceived under. With the roles of the Regional Housing Board (RHB), Regional Housing Forum
(RHF) and the EERA Housing and Sustainable Communities Panel (H&SCP), likely to change.
3.2 The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has a potential new role as the regional housing
body, taking on the functions of the existing RHB. Therefore throughout the document the
following terms have been used
• EERA/RHB to refer to functions currently held by the Regional Housing Board
• Regional Housing Delivery Group (RHDG) which will build upon and replace the RHF
3.3 A more detailed note of how new arrangements are anticipated to work in delivering and
monitoring the RHS is contained in section 9.
3.4 Whilst regional roles and responsibilities will be changing it is still necessary to produce a regional
strategy for housing that both informs regional stakeholders and prioritises action
and investment.
3.5 The RHS moves from a consideration of key issues for housing in the East of England to identify
the challenges and risks and how they might be overcome. In dealing with the challenges it is
important to recognise that this RHS cannot do everything; there must be prioritisation. Likewise
the RHS cannot work in isolation; there must be a shared agenda with other strategies
and recognition of the role of delivery agents. Policy frameworks are proposed as a basis for
co-ordinating activities.
3.6 The context document, lodged on EERA’s website, gives a comprehensive picture of housing and
related issues in The East of England. The following are some of the key issues that the RHS has
to deal with.
3.7 The population in the East of England grew by 5.5% between 1981 and 2001. Population
projections 1996–2021 suggest a growth of 12.2%, and an increase in households of 24.7% 2 .
3.8 If recent population trends continue, the major gross flows will come from London (approximately
40% of all in-migrants) from overseas (20%) and from the South East Region (15%). There is a
net outflow of migrants from the East of England to all British regions except London. 3
3.9 The East of England has a close functional relationship with London. Migration from London
to the Region has been a key driver of past population growth although the London Plan 2004
seeks to encourage a high proportion of its expected population to remain in the capital. It is
unlikely however, to accommodate all its population pressures and a net outflow of people from
London to surrounding regions is likely to continue. 4
3.10 Three of the Government designated Growth Areas impact on the Region. The East of England
accounts for nearly a third of Growth Area housing – the biggest contribution outside London 5 .
3.11 The number of households is increasing as household size decreases. A significant proportion of
the growth in households and population will be as a consequence of natural growth: 59% of
household growth will come from the formation of new households within the existing
population, 18% of the population growth will come from the continued excess of births over
deaths. 6
2 ONS mid-year estimates:1996 based population projections ODPM 1996 based household projections from GO-East
3 Draft East of England Plan, December 2004.
4 As above
5 GO-East
6 Draft East of England Plan, December 2004.
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