The South East England Regional Assembly is to hold a referendum of the 4.5 million householders in the region to find out how many extra homes they want.

The assembly, a mixture of development agencies, councils and other stakeholders, last week refused to say how much extra housing it would tolerate.

Every householder will be presented with three choices about the level of growth they would support. These will be:

  • 29,500 a year, or 590,000 homes in 20 years
  • 32,000 a year, or 640,000 homes in 20 years
  • 36,000 a year, or 720,000 homes in 20 years.
The assembly has been advised by its own planner that 720,000 more houses are required, but the body is understood to be reluctant to agree to this on the grounds that it would lead to a steep rise in housing in a heavily built-up area.

One observer queried the motives of the Tory majority on the assembly for calling what is in effect a referendum. The source said: 鈥淭hey [the Conservative majority] are campaigning loudly against an increase in housing but it鈥檚 all highly politicised with the general election so close by.鈥�

The source added that the government could respond by shelving the issue until after the election in order to take the heat out of it. There is a great deal of opposition to building more houses in areas such as Kent.

The move by the assembly follows a decision by the East of England Regional Assembly to refuse to accept the government鈥檚 request for 18,000 extra houses. This prompted regeneration minister Lord Rooker to send a letter to the chairman of its planning board saying that the government would have to defer a decision over the matter.

黑洞社区 has obtained a copy of this letter, in which Rooker says: 鈥淵ou will understand that at this stage I cannot commit the government to a position on the draft regional spatial strategy proposals or the outcome.鈥�