Long term growth in the South East could be at risk due to a disconnect between housing delivery and infrastructure provision, Kent County Council has said.

Last week the council and consultant AECOM published a document which identifies a gap of £2Bn between secured and expected funding and the infrastructure required to support new homes in Kent and Medway to 2031.

The Kent and Medway Growth and Infrastructure Framework (GIF) urges a revised, more joined up approach to growth across the region, with new housing built in line with infrastructure investment and development.

“The growth challenge we face in Kent and Medway is significant,” explained Kent County Council leader Paul Carter. “To deliver the approximately 160,000 homes and over 135,000 jobs that local authorities are planning across the area to 2031, there is a £6.74Bn bill for infrastructure, of which £2Bn is unfunded.

“The resulting infrastructure challenge is one that we face collectively across local authorities, the development industry, our communities and national government.”

The document adds that cross-county collaboration to create a ‘region-wide vision’ would enable the South East outside London to become a functional economic region – a model similar to the Northern Powerhouse. Furthermore it says greater collaboration between district authorities would enable counties to understand where investment in infrastructure could have the greatest impact.

AECOM’s director of design, planning & economics Tom Venables added: “Publication of the GIF is an important first step towards realising the county’s growth and economic potential.”

Photo courtesy of the Homes & Communities Agency