South Hampshire is the largest urban area in the South of England outside London. It is home to over 1 million people and has some outstanding natural, physical and human assets. These include world class higher education institutions and excellent transport links by air, road, rail and sea. Historically it has been England's sea gateway to the continent, the Americas and beyond and it still plays this role today. Portsmouth's continuing role as a major Naval Base is complemented by Southampton's commercial role as a container port and cruise terminal. South Hampshire has an enviable environment, with easy access to rural hinterlands and miles of beautiful coastline. It is bordered to the east by the South Downs and to the west by the New Forest National Park. It contains wildlife sites and habitats of international importance, particularly the Solent Specially Protected Area.

South Hampshire's economic performance has, however, lagged behind the South East average. The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), started as a voluntary partnership of eleven local authorities but now a formally constituted Joint Committee, came together to collaborate on raising the economic performance of the sub-region. PUSH's sub-regional strategy for sustainable, economic-led growth has been incorporated as the South Hampshire chapter of the draft South East Plan.

Membership

PUSH comprises six authorities wholly within South Hampshire (the unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton and the borough councils of Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport and Havant), and four authorities part of whose area is in South Hampshire (East Hampshire Borough Council, the district councils of New Forest and Test Valley and Winchester City Council). The eleventh partner is Hampshire County Council.

Aims

PUSH's vision is to raise prosperity and make South Hampshire a better place for everyone who lives, works and spends leisure time in the sub-region. Its objectives are to work together and with other partners to:

• Provide a buoyant and diverse economy
• Reduce inequalities and develop skills
• Secure sustainable communities
• Safeguard a quality environment
• Provide quality housing for all
• Improve accessibility
• Provide quality cultural, recreational and leisure facilities
• Improve health
• Enhance identity and sense of place

Work plan

PUSH's ambitions include:

Raising annual GVA growth to 3.5% by 2026 by improving productivity and growing 59,000 new jobs particularly in the knowledge economy, building on existing strengths in business services, advanced manufacturing, logistics, marine, aviation and creative industries;
Raising skill levels in the resident workforce and tackling economic inactivity;
A programme of regeneration focused on the two cities and adjoining urban areas, including redevelopment of a number of significant brownfield sites
Planning for the provision of 2 million square metres of new employment floor space
Planning for 80,000 new homes over the period up to 2026 of which half will be provided by 2016
Providing critical infrastructure to address current deficits as well as newly arising needs
A Strategic Employment Area at Eastleigh close to Southampton Airport
Two new Strategic Development Areas, one linked to Southampton (near Hedge End) and the other linked to Portsmouth (north of Fareham)

Current initiatives:

A Sub-Regional Housing Strategy
Common principles on affordable housing, sustainability and design
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to inform locations of growth
Integrated Water Management Plan to ensure that supply needs and water quality impacts are managed and adequate infrastructure provided
Green Infrastructure Strategy to enhance the natural environment and to provide positive opportunities for recreation
Assessment of the transport infrastructure and system improvements needed to support growth
Preparation of a business plan that incorporates a new economic development strategy, skills strategy and development programme to deliver economic-led growth.

Contacts and Links

Chairman: Councillor Seán D T Woodward (Leader, Fareham BC)
PUSH Executive Director: Anne-Marie Mountifield
PUSH Working Group Chairman: Brad Roynon (Chief Executive, Southampton CC)
Web: www.push.gov.uk