Aylesbury hosts major conference on economic growth
Archived press release
Date Published: 05/11/08
Aylesbury Vale makes an important contribution to the housing and employment targets set for the region
How to deliver high quality and sustainable housing in challenging economic circumstances? These were all themes of ‘success in a cold climate’, a major conference hosted at the Aylesbury Civic Centre on 30 October.
The event marked the third annual conference for the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Region (MKSM), which includes Aylesbury Vale. Over 200 key decision makers from public and private sectors attended. AVDC’s Leader, Councillor John Cartwright, Chief Executive, Andrew Grant and Aylesbury Vale Advantage, Chairman, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, shared centre stage to open the conference, outlining the story of Aylesbury Vale’s success to date as an economic location and the plans in place to continue that success into the future.
Speaking at the conference, Housing Minister and Chair of the MKSM Inter Regional Board Iain Wright said: “We are in a tough economic climate, and the government is committed to a financial stability programme to rebuild trust and confidence in the banks. But housing also plays a vital role in the country’s stability. With a growing, ageing population the long term housing demand will remain strong. That’s why we will continue to invest in our long-term growth programmes – we have to be realistic, but we have to remain ambitious too.
“Milton Keynes South Midlands can be proud of successes so far – like the Bedford Western Bypass and the flood mitigation works at Upton – but it will also play a vital part in delivering the housing and infrastructure to support future developments, and I look forward to continuing our work together.”
The MKSM Sub-Region covers 16 local authorities. All of those in Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire, Aylesbury Vale, Milton Keynes and Luton. Aylesbury Vale makes an important
contribution to the housing and employment targets set for the region – 224,000 homes by 2021 and 192,000 jobs within the same period, so the conference was an opportunity to highlight some of the innovative schemes the district council and its partners are involved with. Examples shared with the audience included the forward investment for the pits and paddocks at Silverstone, the funding of the new theatre, the Aylesbury Innovation Centre due to open later this year, and the Community Chest fund which is making £500,000 available in grants for the next ten years to help community groups.
Andrew Grant commented: “It was a major coup for Aylesbury to be able to host this conference and an golden opportunity to highlight direct to the Minister what we are already doing but also the vital support we need from the government in the form of funding for infrastructure if we are going to build on the economic success of the Vale and meet both the housing and jobs targets.
“I think he was impressed with what he saw and heard. We will ensure Mr Wright remembers his trip to Aylesbury Vale when we bid for more government funds he suggested may be released to help growth areas succeed, especially in these tough economic times. In the meantime, we hope that the Minister will look favourably on the growth area funding bids we are currently awaiting a decision on which total over £41m.”
Other speakers at the conference included Pete Winkelman Chairman of MK Dons, Richard Ellis, Chairman of the East of England Development Agency and Peter Hetherington, Academy for Sustainable Communities Board member and former Guardian journalist.