A twenty year vision to deliver new houses, tackle climate change, encourage economic growth and regeneration of the Yorkshire and Humber region has been published by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews.

The Yorkshire and Humber Plan, revised Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), will deliver a long term vision for renewal and growth to all communities in the region in a planned and sustainable way over the next two decades.

Publication of the final Plan follows a thorough public consultation and independent examination process that started back in 2004. It will deliver the sustainable economic and housing growth the region needs to tackle its genuine affordability problems. The Plan also responds to environmental and transport issues affecting the region.

More new houses have started to be built in recent years but the latest statistical projections show that new households are expected to grow in the region by over 23,000 a year up to 2026 which means housing provision needs to accelerate to keep up with demand. The RSS sets out a plan to deliver 400,680 more homes (22,260 a year) and economic growth could deliver almost 300,000 new jobs (29,000 a year).

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Some of the region is vulnerable to the affects of climate change such as coastal erosion, flooding, and air pollution. The Plan sets out a robust approach to managing existing and future risks. It sets a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 20%-25% by 2016 with further reductions thereafter. All new development will need to be designed to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use.

Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews, said: "Yorkshire & Humber needs a long term vision for delivering much needed sustainable growth that addresses its housing shortages, tackles climate change and strengthens the region's economy.

"Beyond the short term squeeze of the credit crunch the population is still ageing with more people choosing to live alone which means new households are growing faster than new homes. If more homes are not built now in Yorkshire and Humber the housing ladder will get even further out of reach leaving the next generation with nowhere to live.

"This plan represents a key milestone in tackling housing pressures for the people of Yorkshire and Humber. It will deliver the affordable housing, better transport networks, stronger environmental protections and new jobs that the region needs."

Responding to the publication of the Yorkshire and Humberside Plan, Sharon Oakley, Shelter's Regional Campaign Officer for Yorkshire and Humberside said: "Shelter has long campaigned for the need to build more social homes in the region, particularly family sized homes, so it is encouraging that the Yorkshire and Humber Plan puts housing firmly at the top of the agenda.

"With one in seven children in bad housing across Yorkshire and Humberside, it's vital that local authorities, developers and housing associations now champion social house building across the region. It is also crucial that new development is supported with sound infrastructure so that local people will be able to access these much-needed new homes. The question is not whether we build these new homes, but when, where and how quickly."

(CD/JM)