Details of £63million for two key elements of the Government's strategy for the growth in the wider South-East of England, were announced today by Jeff Rooker, Minister for Regional Development and Regeneration.

The plans reveal a first wave of new regional country parks around major growth locations and new bridges and roads to access sites for 6,850 homes that would otherwise be blocked.

The package includes a new vision on accessible green spaces for Thames Gateway, and £3m to regenerate the historic Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes.

£11.5million has been allocated to environmental projects in Ashford, Milton Keynes/South Midlands, and London/Stanstead/Cambridge to kick-start the Government's long-term vision for green spaces. They will improve landscapes, country footpaths and valuable habitats in those areas. Over £50million has been awarded to 18 other projects to provide key transport and economic infrastructure.

The Government's vision for a network of publicly accessible green spaces across the Thames Gateway growth area, was also published today in 'Greening the Gateway'. It aims to ensure heritage landscape is both protected, and made available to local people for their recreational use.

The grants are part of a £164m package announced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2003 to ensure that new and expanding communities have access to the services and open spaces they need.

Speaking at Coton Countryside Park and Reserve, west of Cambridge, Jeff Rooker said:

"We need major growth in the wider south east to tackle long-term housing shortage and that's why we have designated four major areas for growth.”

"But we also intend to ensure that development is matched by a better environment with new regional country parks to give a high quality, large-scale green asset for new communities. This will also ensure good separation between urban centres."

He continued: "That is why I am announcing £63m to ensure that new housing is set in an attractive environment.”

“We are avoiding the suburban sprawl of the past. There will be a new regional country park for Nene Valley in Northamptonshire and a major extension to the Forest of Marston Vale regional park.”

"Improvements to the Business Park at Corby will create 850 jobs and a new road and bridge scheme for Bedford and Wellingborough will release 6,850 new homes, which would otherwise be blocked."

The flagship schemes announced today include the following green developments:

• A completely new country park to be created on farmland at Coton, west of Cambridge, improving the quality of the green belt and providing a green buffer between Cambridge and the village of Coton.
• A £1.5 million kickstart to the new River Nene Regional Park in Northamptonshire.
• Three new areas of woodland and a new cycle path through the Forest of Marston Vale, improving poor quality land and providing green buffers between the growing towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes.
• Protecting and improving valuable habitats, including chalk downland at Dunstable Downs, and fenland at Wicken, north of Cambridge.
• New footpaths and bridges to improve access to the Lee Valley Regional Park in north-east London.

Key improvements to infrastructure include:

• £9.5m for the London-Stansted-Cambridge growth area, bringing the total to over £20m. New projects will provide access to new housing sites on Cambridge's southern fringe, and will fund design and preparation work for the Cambridge to Huntingdon guided bus, recently awarded £65m by the Department of Transport.
• Over £35m for the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area. Flagship schemes include £10.6m for the construction of a new access road and bridge to enable early delivery of 3,400 new homes in Wellingborough and a new road at Bedford enabling 3,450 to be provided which would not otherwise go ahead.
• £2.8m for schemes to support job creation and improve the urban environment in Corby, £1.7m to improve the town centre in Aylesbury and £3m regenerate the historic Bletchley Park complex.
• An additional £4.5m to kick start the regeneration of Ashford town centre, on top of the £9m announced in July 2003

Welcoming the announcement, Chris Corrigan, RSPB Regional Director for London and the South East said, “The RSPB supports the Government’s determination to integrate economic growth with environmental enhancement. The recognition of the role of a healthy and attractive environment in achieving sustainable development is highly commendable."