Nestor Pharma celebrates a year of trading by showcasing its success

25 September 2009

Nestor Pharmaceuticals Ltd, an Indian owned business which set up its UK headquarters in Mildenhall, Suffolk, has opened its doors to showcase its newly refurbished facilities.

Visiting from India, Nestor chairman Mr Rahul Sehgal, welcomed guests which included county and district councillors, who heard how the high-tech manufacturing plant plans to grow from employing 30 people to over 100 in the next few years, bringing vital employment to the area.

To date over £10 million has been invested in the facility to enable the company to start producing a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medications including Amoxicillin, Aspirin and Diazepam. The company now plans a further £3 million expansion to increase the packaging capacity beyond the current 1 billion tablets a year and also install liquid filling lines and a powder sachet processing plant.

The event was organised with East of England International (EEI), the region’s inward investment agency, who were instrumental in securing Nestor’s investment in the region and who provided extensive practical support to make it easy for the company to set up in the UK, such as arranging work permits, organising utility supplies and advising on regulatory matters.

EEI also worked with the Choose Suffolk and Forest Heath District Council in helping with recruitment and training, as well as advising on housing and schooling for some of Nestor’s employees transferring from India.

Kamlesh Patel, managing director of Nestor UK, advocates Suffolk as a great place to set up business: “The transport links are excellent and the proximity of the Port of Felixstowe is important to us, as is the commitment of the local people who work for Nestor including the many local suppliers we use.”

David Riches, chief executive of East of England International, remarked: “Increasingly, we are seeing businesses from the major developing economies such as India and China looking to set up in the UK and choosing the East of England as their preferred location. Already 25% of the region’s economy is based on foreign owned businesses and we are working hard to attract as much inward investment as possible to the region which has so much to offer them.”

Nestor’s ethos is to use local companies and resources for its ancillary services and its large investment has brought about significant work for a wide range of local suppliers such as logistics, construction, HR and accountancy work. The antibiotics facility which is the company’s latest outlay was built by Hi Tech of Bury St Edmunds.

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Note to Editors

Nestor is a leading pharmaceutical company with a mission to provide low cost, high quality drugs for the many, instead of high-priced drugs for the few. Every capsule, injection, tablet, ointment, syrup and powder that carries the Nestor symbol ensures integrity, purity and safety, endorsed by 50,000 doctors and 200,000 pharmacies each month.Six Nestor factories serve India, Nigeria and the UK. Our next expansion phase will see us in the strategic markets of S.E. Asia, North Africa and Central Asia.

East of England International (EEI) works with companies seeking to trade internationally and assists foreign-owned businesses looking to invest in the region. EEI is funded by and works in partnership with the UK Government, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and a wide range of businesses and partners in the region.

In the East of England, EEI’s Trade Team delivers UK Trade & Investment’s export services.

UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade and foreign businesses focused on the UK as an inward investment location. It brings together the work of teams in British embassies and FCO posts overseas and government departments across Whitehall. In England, international trade support is coordinated by nine International Trade Directors working in partnership with each Regional Development Agency.

East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is the driving force behind sustainable economic regeneration in the East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Its vision is to create a leading economy, founded on a world-class knowledge base, creativity and enterprise to improve the quality of life for all who live and work here. EEDA funds EEI’s Inward Investment activity.

For further information on the above organisations visit:
www.nestorpharma.com
www.eei-online.com
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk
www.eeda.org.uk

KATE HOEY MP LAUNCHES ‘RESPONSE TO REDUNDANCY’ IN LAMBETH

The Hon Kate Hoey, Member of Parliament for Vauxhall, visited TBG Learning in Lambeth (Thursday 24th September 2009) to officially launch the new ‘Response to Redundancy’ service in the centre. The flagship government programme aims to help people who have been made redundant, or who are facing redundancy, back into employment. TBG Learning has been awarded the prestigious contract to deliver the programme in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth.

The MP had a tour of the centre where she met learners currently on the programme, including Roy Chambers and Barry Rowland, who were made redundant recently, and who have joined the Response to Redundancy programme to top up their skills and hopefully get back into employment.

On officially launching the programme Kate Hoey MP said “It is great to see this wonderful centre right in the heart of this community which is helping people like Roy and Barry get through this difficult period. I have been struck by the genuine keenness of the staff to really help people and I am sure that everyone who comes to TBG Learning on the Response to Redundancy course will feel welcome and will be given all the support they need to get them back on track.”

Roy addressed guests and said: “I have been in work all of my life so being unemployed has been an alien situation for me. I realised I needed to improve my IT skills quickly so the Jobcentre referred me to TBG. On starting the course I was assessed on literacy and numeracy skills and then attended a CV workshop – I had not altered my CV for over 20 years! I found the staff to be knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, with lots of patience for dinosaurs like me. Having been shown how to compile all my experiences and format into a CV, I feel more confident in competing in today’s job market.”

Abi Osho, Regional Manager, TBG Learning, London, said: “Stories like Barry’s and Roy’s are very real and are just a snapshot of what is happening in society today due to the recession, so there’s never been a greater need for the kind of individual support we provide through TBG Learning.”

The Response to Redundancy programme can be short and sharp, such as receiving intensive help on CV writing, application letters and interview techniques. Or a longer term programme of tailored help can be developed, with TBG Learning providing access to further training through its range of local training partners.

Over 1,400 people living in South London will be able to benefit from the programme over the next 18 months, whatever their line of work or educational background. It is for people of all experience and skill levels, manual workers to those from professional and management roles. The programme is jointly funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund.

TBG Learning, which also has seven other centres across London, as well as in 11 other locations in England, is a leading local provider of work-related training and employment help for young people and adults.

The Lambeth learning centre is TBG Learning’s flagship centre, and opened in March 2009, having moved from premises in Ellerslie Square on Lyham Road.
As well as Response to Redundancy the centre offers a wide range of courses as well as job-focused help and advice for local people looking to improve their skills and qualifications and find meaningful employment. The courses and supports available include Employability Skills, Entry to Employment (e2e) (for 16-18 year-olds), Literacy, Numeracy, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL), Apprenticeships, Business administration and Computer qualifications (from beginners to advanced).

For further information please contact:
Helen Sharkey, Project PR – 01473 326405 (07521 318127) helen.sharkey@projectpr.biz

TBG Learning South London 094

Notes to editors:
TBG Learning Ltd is an independent training provider. Its mission is to ‘improve people’s lives through learning’ and its focus is on helping each individual achieve employment related skills and qualifications.
It operates 21 Learning Centres in some of the most economically challenged areas of Britain with over 6,500 learners at any one time.
It also works with over eight hundred employers in London, Kent, Essex and the Midlands, delivering Apprenticeships and Train to Gain to employees in the workplace.
Many people achieve their first ever qualification through courses such as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Information Technology (from beginners to advanced), Literacy, and Numeracy.
Employability Skills Programmes (for unemployed adults) and Entry to Employment (for 16-18 year-olds) are just two of a wide number of programmes offered at many of the centres.
TBG courses are funded through a wide number of organisations including the Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, Regional Development Agencies, Colleges of Further Education.
TBG (The Training and Business Group) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the charity Rehab Group, which provides a range of training, employment health and social services to people in England, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland.

Sensible shoppers live in East Anglia

A national survey on shopping habits commissioned by Ipswich Building Society has shown that East Anglian women are more clued up about money than female shoppers living in other parts of the country.

61% of women polled from East Anglia said they budget each month and only spend what they can afford. The East Midlands was the only region to poll higher, with 62%, whilst in Northern Ireland only 40% of women said they planned their spending.

It also emerged that East Anglian women are the biggest bargain hunters in the UK, with 83% admitting to scouring shops for the best possible buys. They are also the most likely to know how much their monthly credit card bill is, with 75% saying they will be aware of the amount before the bill hits the mat.

Paul Winter, Chief Executive at Ipswich Building Society, said: “I suspect many women reading about this will admit to enjoying the adrenaline rush which spending gives them - it makes them feel great in the short term. But it’s worrying that even in East Anglia 39% admit they don’t budget and often spend beyond their means.''

The poll of 5,347 women by research agency 72 point revealed that every week the average shopaholic will spend around £10 on things they don’t really need such as a fast food lunch, chocolate, beauty products, nice shampoo, make up and accessories.

More than half of those polled (53 per cent) admitted it didn't matter what they bought, as long as they bought something.

Paul Winter continues: "What’s amazing is that we are in a recession, when generally spending is down and the job market isn’t good, but there are nearly 1 in 4 women in our region who admit to being a shopaholic.”

TOP 10 NON ESSENTIALS WHICH EAST ANGLIAN WOMEN BUY EVERY WEEK
East Anglian women spend a total of £9.35 on average each week on (in order of most bought items first):
1. Chocolate
2. Food from the supermarket
3. Lunch out
4. Magazines
5. Treats from vending machines
6. Beauty products
7. Children’s toys
8. Nice shampoo
9. Nail varnish
10. Make-up

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Ref: IBS 004-09

For further press information please contact:
Penny Arbuthnot or Amy Bullard, Project PR
Tel: 01473 326403
Email: amy.bullard@projectpr.biz

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning this Friday

Ipswich Building Society and Suffolk based coffee company Paddy & Scott’s have teamed up to invite neighbouring businesses to a deliciously fresh coffee and cakes event this Friday, as part of The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.

The fun event takes place on Friday 25 September, 12 noon to 2pm at Ipswich Building Society’s Head Office, 24 The Havens (near to David Lloyd centre). Gazebos, tables and chairs are all provided for the comfort of guests, along with fresh roasted coffee, courtesy of Paddy & Scott’s and scrumptious cakes, thanks to Sainsbury’s. Hatfield Catering has also pledged its support and all money raised will go to MacMillan.

“Our branches have supported MacMillan coffee mornings for many years but this year we wanted to get involved at Head Office as well. We are hoping lots of employees from nearby companies will come along in their lunch hour to have some fun helping us raise as much money as possible for MacMillan Cancer Support,” said Paul Winter, Chief Executive, Ipswich Building Society.

Paddy Bishopp, co founder, Paddy & Scott’s, said: “Paddy and Scott's have always admired the work of Macmillan and have supported The World's Biggest Coffee Morning every year since we started. We hope everyone enjoys a fantastic cup of coffee.”


MacMillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. It provides practical, medical and financial support and pushes for better cancer care, relying on voluntary donations for 99% of its funding.

Employees at Ipswich Building Society, including Chief Executive Paul Winter, have been giving up their lunch breaks to deliver leaflets about the coffee and cake event and will be serving on the day. For further details call Jo Palfrey at Ipswich Building Society on 01473 278435.
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Ref: IBS 005-09

Photo Call - Friday 25 September, 11am-12 noon
Ipswich Building Society Head Office
24, The Havens IP3 9SJ

Paul Winter, Chief Executive, Ipswich Building Society together with employees and mascot Pound the Hound will be brewing fresh coffee for guests at MacMillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

For further press information please contact:
Penny Arbuthnot or Amy Bullard, Project PR
Tel: 01473 326403
Email: amy.bullard@projectpr.biz

Notes to editors:
Ipswich Building Society has approximately 65,000 members and currently has over 80,000 savings accounts and over 5,000 mortgage accounts.
It has nine branches across Suffolk and one contact centre.
80% of the Society’s members live in East Anglia
In 2008 the Society’s assets grew by 5% to £423.2 million.
The Society has successfully grown its mortgage lending. In May 2009, gross mortgage applications increased 137% from May 2008.
Ipswich Building Society was established in 1849 and is celebrating its 160th anniversary in 2009.
See www.ibs.co.uk

Ipswich Building Society strong for the future

Ipswich Building Society is in a strong position with ambitious plans for the future, says its chief executive, who has responded to a report by accountants KPMG which said UK building societies ‘face challenges around profitability’ and will need to cut costs.

Paul Winter, Chief Executive, Ipswich Building Society, who was interviewed for BBC TV’s The Politics Show, which was broadcast on 13 September, has spoken out in response to the annual Database produced by KPMG about the future of the UK’s 53 building societies.

He says: “The executive summary in KPMG’s report created headlines that aren’t borne out by the figures. At Ipswich Building Society we are very positive about our future profitability and growth.”

On the strength of its performance in 2009 Ipswich Building Society has revised its Corporate Plan and aims to grow its total assets from £450 million to £550 million by the end of 2010.

Paul Winter added: “We have an excellent branch network and a contact centre to support customers who live across the UK but particularly in our heartland of the East of England, so we have the infrastructure in place to support our continued growth and success. We also have strong customer loyalty and simple, transparent products which people understand and trust.”

Ipswich Building Society achieved a 55% increase in receipts in savings and investments in the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2008. Its mortgage applications have soared and the Society is one of few to open a new branch (in Sudbury, Suffolk) in the midst of recession.

For further information about Ipswich Building Society telephone 0845 230 8686 or visit the website at www.ibs.co.uk

PPI Engineering receive the Queens Award for International Trade from the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk

15th September 2009

Norwich based Engineering company PPI Engineering officially received their Queens Award for International Trade today, at a ceremony hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

The event took place at The Norfolk Club on Upper King Street, and guests included Councillor Evelyn Collishaw, Lord Mayor of Norwich, Professor Tim O'Riordan, Sheriff of Norwich, Mrs Shelagh Gurney, Chairman of Norfolk County Council, and Brian Iles, Norfolk County Council Cabinet member for Economic Development, as well as representatives from several Norfolk based companies who are currently going through the Queens Awards application process for 2010.

PPI Engineering designs, specifies, and provides site support for large rotating electrical machinery, and wanted to expand trading into overseas markets. They participated in UK Trade and Investment business support programmes ‘Passport to Export’, and the ‘Overseas Market Introduction Service’, which are delivered in the East by East of England International (EEI), to develop relationships and understand markets in the Middle East and South America. So far, the company has traded directly with businesses in China, USA, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Tanzania and Gabon amongst many others.

The Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk presented Dr Mike Robinson, Managing Director of PPI with the award. On handing it over, he said: “The Queens Award is the most prestigious award for business performance and recognises and rewards outstanding achievement by UK companies. They are given to whole organisations, from the newest recruit to the Director. My congratulations to everyone employed at PPI Engineering.”

On receiving the award, Dr Robinson said: “PPI Engineering is thrilled to have received this prestigious award which recognises the hard work and commitment of everyone in the company. The support we received from East of England International through the UKTI programmes was invaluable to us. It enabled us to plan our entry into the new markets with confidence.”

David Riches, Chief Executive of EEI added: “We are delighted to be here celebrating PPI Engineering’s success, which is very well deserved. We are happy that EEI were able to support PPI with their expansion into foreign markets and they are a shining example of how trading overseas can help grow a business.”

At the event John Rimmer, International Trade Advisor for EEI also launched the new ‘Norfolk Exporters Club’.

For further information about East of England International call 0845 641 9955 or visit www.eei-online.com.

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PAUL CLARK MP HELPS TO CELEBRATE LOCAL REDUNDANCY SUCCESS STORIES IN GILLINGHAM

The Hon Paul Clark, Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham, visited TBG Learning in Gillingham (Friday 11 September) to see the centre first hand and meet learners, including some of the 85 local unemployed people who have been helped through the ‘Response to Redundancy’ course which TBG Learning has been delivering in Kent since June this year.

TBG Learning, which also has centres in Gravesend, Folkestone and Ashford, as well as in 16 other locations in England, is a leading local provider of work related training and employment help for young people and adults.

Mike Burger, Regional Manager, TBG Learning, Kent, said: “The number of unemployed people in Kent has nearly doubled in the last 12 months so there’s never been a greater need for the kind of individual support we provide through TBG Learning.”

On his visit Paul Clark MP met Nick Harding, who was an export manager for a local Kent brewery before being made redundant in May this year. He said: “I had been in a senior position for over ten years and it was an unexpected blow to be made redundant. TBG Learning helped me identify the skills I had developed as an export manager and which I could use again in a different job. Through the one to one sessions with tutors I discovered what I was enthusiastic about doing next, which was coaching and managing other people.”

Since completing ‘Response to Redundancy’ Nick has become a tutor for TBG Learning in Kent.

Paul Clark MP said “Nick’s story highlights how important it is for companies such as TBG Learning to work with individual people. Tailoring training programmes is vital, as we are not just talking about numbers and statistics; we are talking about real people who are affected by real issues outside of their control. The work undertaken by TBG Learning shows how it is essential for governments to take leadership and work with partners to ensure funding for these fantastic programmes.”

In Kent TBG Learning is promoting its range of help for people who have become out of work recently as ‘Back on Track’. The support available can be short and sharp, such as receiving intensive help on CV writing, application letters and interview techniques. Or a longer term programme of tailored help can be developed, with TBG Learning providing access to further training through its range of local training partners Intraining, ATS, East Kent ITEC and Northpoint Training.

TBG Learning’s Gillingham centre opened in December 2008 and since then it has helped nearly 90 local unemployed people back into work through a variety of courses. Individual support from tutors and job-focused learning and advice are ingredients of the centre’s success, as are the wide range of relationships the centre has developed with local employers. Over 125 local companies are working with TBG Learning to offer work placements and through these the learners build their personal confidence and experience.

Anyone is welcome to drop into TBG Learning and find out about the range of courses and help. The Gillingham centre is at Floor 2, Kingsley House, Balmoral Road, Gillingham ME7 4NT or telephone 01634 855629.

Other Kent TBG Learning centres are as follows:

Gravesend: 23-25 King Street, DA12 2DU (Tel 01474 566 588)
Folkestone: Unit 20, Shearway Business Park CT19 4RH (Tel 01303 297 064)Ashford: The Bull Yard, High Street, Ashford TN24 8SN (Tel 01233 634 476)

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A TRUE PROFESSIONAL - THE FORD CAPRI, STILL TURNING HEADS AT FORTY

The Ford Capri is refusing to grow old gracefully as the car designed for the young at heart celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Although production ended in 1986, the Capri lives on within many owners' clubs, including the Liverpool and Cheshire Capri club who will be celebrating its milestone birthday at an event hosted by Polar Ford at their new dealership in St Helens.

Launched in January 1969 as "the car you always promised yourself", the Ford Capri was unashamedly aimed at a style-conscious generation. In just 18 years sales of the European answer to the Ford Mustang reached nearly two million and achieved iconic status with its target audience.

Star status was assured with regular Capri appearances in TV shows such as Minder and The Professionals.

Polar Ford, which opened the doors on its new dealership in Sherdley road last month, is marking the anniversary with a competition to find the ‘best’ Ford Capri, out of 10 that will be on display in the showroom between 11am - 4pm on Sunday 13th September.

Visitors to the dealership will be able to get up close and personal to these stylish pieces of history and will be given a scorecard to rate them on a variety of factors. The owner of the winning Capri will take home a trophy as recognition of his (or her!) commitment to keeping the legend alive.

So for the chance to celebrate the birthday of a motoring icon and get one of the first looks at the brand new Polar Ford St Helens, come along to the showroom from 11am on the 13th September.

Polar Dragons roar down the river for St Rocco's

A team of twelve plucky rowers from Polar Ford took to the river last month as part of the first ever Dragon Boat race in aid of St Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington.

The ‘Polar Dragons’ came 3rd out of twelve teams in what was a challenging but rewarding day and managed to raise over £200 for the independent hospice.

St Rocco’s helps hundreds of patients and their families in Warrington each year, providing clinical treatment, emotional and spiritual support, symptom control and nursing care.

Rowena Pyne, team captain of the Polar Dragons, said: “It was great to get out and about and do something worthwhile for a local charity whilst indulging in a bit of healthy competition. A great day was had by all - we came 3rd out of 12 teams, but got the 2nd fastest time overall. Not bad considering most of us had never been in a boat before we raced”!

The event, which started at Warrington Rowing club, was sponsored by BiG Storage and all money raised by the teams went directly to St Rocco’s to help to pay for patient care at the hospice.

It costs approximately £2million per year to keep St. Rocco’s Hospice running with most funds being generated by the local community from sources such as fundraising events corporate and community donations, legacies, Hospice shops, a local lottery and Gift Aid tax relief.

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Mayor of Greenwich welcomes new dealership at special launch event

The Dagenham Motors dealership in Eltham celebrated its first birthday last month with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at a special event for customers, guests and local people.

The event was supported by the new Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr Allan MacCarthy and Ford of Britain sales director Jon Wellsman, who commended the dealership for the work they had done in the local community since it opened its doors last June.

Dagenham Motors has a tradition of heavy involvement with community initiatives, supporting charities, disabled motorists and local schools. It most recently ran a road safety competition with local primary schools, highlighting ways for pupils to stay safe on the roads.

Chris Minter, General Manager for Dagenham Motors, said: “As a local business we feel it is important to give back to our local community which is why we wanted to invite everybody to share in the celebration of our first anniversary. We had a great afternoon and were so pleased to be supported not only by the Mayor himself, but by so many local people”.

Commenting on the event, the Mayor of Greenwich said: "The opening of this new dealership is a real boon for the borough as it not only includes a significant investment into the area but has also created nearly 30 new jobs in the borough at what is undoubtedly a challenging time for the economy. I would like to welcome Dagenham Motors to Greenwich and wish them all the best in the future".

Dagenham Motors is part of Ford Retail, the UK’s largest Ford Dealer Group. The Group invested approaching £1million in the new dealership at the Fiveways junction, which saw Ford return to Eltham for the first time in 10 years.

The celebration of their first anniversary follows another celebration by Dagenham Motors, which was recently awarded ‘Dealer Group of the Year’ by Motability Operations, in recognition of its commitment to helping disabled drivers get back on the road.

SUFFOLK PR FIRM SHORTLISTED FOR SIX AWARDS

4 September 2009: Ipswich-based regional PR consultancy Project PR has been short-listed in the annual Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards for no less than six awards – the most amongst all the PR agencies short-listed this year. The awards are held regionally to recognise outstanding PR agencies based outside London.

“We’re thrilled to be selected as a finalist in six categories covering our work in media relations, social media, consumer and not-for-profit PR. Our business has grown throughout the recession and we’re particularly pleased to be in the final shortlist for the most outstanding PR company in the Eastern region,” said Penny Arbuthnot, director, Project PR.

The awards that Project PR has been short-listed for are: Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy, Not for Profit (for national skills provider TBG Learning), Consumer Relations (PR for Ford Retail’s 40 dealerships around the UK), Best Use of Media Relations and Best Use of Social Media (for Suffolk manufacturer Challs International and their Buster brand of plughole care products).

Project PR’s account manager Helen Sharkey has also been short-listed for the Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year award. Helen, who joined Project PR in January 2008, manages three of Project PR’s clients: East of England International, East of England Regional Assembly and TBG Learning.

During the past year Project PR has won several new clients in competitive tenders including Ipswich Building Society and East of England International. The company’s team of six employees will now have to wait until 7th December when they’ll attend the Eastern region awards ceremony at the SAS Radisson hotel at Stansted.

This year the PRide Awards attracted a total of 1,448 entries from across the UK.

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Have your say on the future of the East of England

The public are being asked for their views on how the region should grow and develop over the next twenty years in a consultation being launched by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) today (2nd September 2009).

The consultation will help EERA to develop a new target for the number of new homes and jobs to be planned for in the region between 2011 and 2031.

In this first stage of consultation, EERA is seeking responses to four different approaches to housing and economic growth as follows:

Scenario 1 - 26,060 new homes p/a – continuation of existing target and broadly based on the views of local councils in the region.

Scenario 2 - 30,100 new homes p/a – promotes growth in areas identified by the Regional Scale Settlement Study published in January 2009. Chelmsford would grow to be a regional city, three medium-sized new settlements of up to 20,000 homes located in Central Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and either Uttlesford or Braintree – and smaller increases in Peterborough, Suffolk and the rest of Essex.

Scenario 3 – 29,970 new homes p/a – promotes growth around successful business locations where new jobs are attracting workers. Additional growth is spread over many districts but with a particular focus on Hertfordshire, south Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Scenario 4 – 33,650 new homes p/a – promotes growth where households are projected to grow. It is based on long-term trends such as people living longer and people moving to the region. It focuses the majority of additional growth in Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Scenarios 2-4 will test the Government’s view that more homes are needed in the region although EERA has already rejected the highest end of the range of new homes being proposed by the Government – about 39,000 new homes a year.

EERA Regional Planning Panel Chairman Cllr Derrick Ashley said: “We need to plan for new homes so that first-time buyers, young families and others in housing need can buy or rent a home at a price they can afford. Businesses also need the confidence to invest in our region.

“But we also want to protect the environment and the quality of life for existing and future residents of the East of England. New development must be appropriate and supported by Government investment.

“We will look closely at all the responses to the consultation before publishing, in March 2010, a detailed plan for how many new homes are needed up to 2031.

“Although there may be changes to the planning system in the years ahead, the evidence gathered will be valuable for the continuing need to plan for new jobs and homes.”

The consultation is part of a wider review of the East of England Plan which covers important issues such as transport, the environment, energy and waste as well as new homes.

The revised East of England Plan will not be completed until 2011 and the public will have further opportunities to have their say. It is the responsibility of local councils to determine the exact locations of where new homes should be built through their local development frameworks.

Fifteen consultation events are being held across the region beginning at the Forum in Norwich at 7.15pm today (2 September). A place can be booked online at: http://events.eera.gov.uk/conferences/ or contact Jayne Cole, Conference Organiser, EERA, 01284 729405, jayne.cole@eera.gov.uk

The events are being held at 7pm (unless stated otherwise) as follows:

September
2nd The Forum, Norwich, (7.15pm)
3rd Essex Records Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford
8th Central Bedfordshire Council Chamber, Priory House, Chicksands
9th Robinson House, Hertfordshire Development Centre, Six Hills Way, Stevenage
10th Robinson College, Grange Road, Cambridge
14th Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough
16th Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich
17th The Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn
22nd Luton Borough Council, George Street, Luton
23rd The Council Chamber, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea
24th The Council Chamber, Thurrock Civic Centre, New Road, Grays
29th Harpur Suite, Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford
30th Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire

October
2nd The Maltings, Ely, East Cambridgeshire (6pm)

EERA has also organised a regional consultation event focusing on the whole of the East of England between 2-4pm on 10th September at Robinson College, Cambridge. This event will be of particular interest to a professional stakeholder audience.

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Notes to Editors:

An information pack including local housing numbers for each scenario is available at: www.eera.gov.uk/News/public-information-packs

The consultation document is available at:
www.eera.gov.uk/What-we-do/developing-regional-strategies/east-of-england-plan/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031/

For further information or to arrange an interview with an EERA spokesperson, please contact:

Stephen Hinchley, Tel: 01284 729430, Mob: 07710 312237, Email: stephen.hinchley@eera.gov.uk

Claire Sefton, Tel: 01284 729427 Mob: 07920257940 Email: Claire.sefton@eera.gov.uk
East of England Plan
The long-term planning framework for the sustainable development of the region is provided by the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy). The East of England Plan provides the basis for local authorities to prepare their local development plans and for other organisations to plan their investment e.g. NHS, Highways Agency, water companies etc.

The current East of England Plan[1] sets out regional planning policy to 2021 but many councils are already preparing local plans stretching to 2026 and beyond. A focused review of the East of England Plan is therefore needed to set out regional planning policy from 2011 to 2031. It will plan for the region’s growth and prosperity, housing needs and respond to issues such as climate change.

The review of the East of England Plan will be completed in 2011. There will be public consultation at key stages of the process to enable members of the public and others to contribute. The review will consider:
· jobs and homes targets for 2011-2031 including affordable homes;
· broad locations for new development;
· regional infrastructure needs e.g. transport;
· targets to reduce the use of natural resources (energy, water) and greenhouse gas emissions;
· priorities for the environment such as the countryside and biodiversity protection.

In undertaking the East of England Plan 2031, the Assembly will be working closely with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East).
East of England Regional Assembly
1. The East of England Regional Assembly is independent of Government and is not a Government agency or quango. It represents the regional interests of people living and working in the East of England.

2. The Assembly has 96 members of which two thirds are elected councillors (from the 52 local authorities in the region) and one third are stakeholder representatives. Its meetings are open to the media and general public.

3. The Assembly is the designated Regional Planning Body for the East of England until March 2010 when it will cease to exist.

4. During 2008/09 EERA’s work included:
£1 billion bid for investment in public transport and roads across the region including final stretch of A11 dualling
Campaigned against a second runway at Stansted Airport
Held EEDA to account at six Economic Summits
Influenced European funding programmes worth £500 million to support employment, skills, climate change and low carbon economic growth
Delivery of 328 training courses to develop thousands of local authority employees and councillors in the region
For more information on EERA, see the website at www.eera.gov.uk

East of England Regional Planning Panel
Cllr Derrick Ashley (Chairman of RPP), Conservative, 01992 556571
Cllr Alan Crystall (Panel Group Leader), Liberal Democrat, 01702 474047
Cllr Roy Davis (Panel Group Leader), Labour, 01582 730939
Corrine Meakins (Panel Group Leader), Community Stakeholder, 07960 189994