Housing minister to attend Bristol summit

Release Date:  17-Jun-2008

Housing Minister Iain Wright MP and a representative from the Homes and Communities Agency will meet Leaders from England's Core Cities at a high-profile summit in Bristol on June 20th.

They will discuss the challenges England's eight Core Cities face in delivering sustainable communities in the face of growing international financial pressures. A particular focus will be on how councils can work with government to provide new affordable housing whilst also delivering the necessary infrastructure, transport connections and local facilities needed for communities to thrive.

The Core Cities are Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

During the event, Mr Wright and city leaders will be shown how Bristol is developing new shopping, leisure, housing and job opportunities as it continues to build on its reputation as the UK's most successful city economy outside London. This will include visits to the site of Bristol's £500 million Cabot Circus development and to regeneration schemes and sites in South Bristol. The Minister will also tour Bristol's new state-of-the-art Compass Centre for homeless adults.

Leader of Bristol City Council Cllr Helen Holland said: “Bristol is proud to host this summit of Core Cities leaders. We particularly welcome the Minister and the Homes and Communities Agency and look forward to constructive discussions on the important role that the biggest, most dynamic cities outside of London can play in delivering new sustainable communities and strengthening the UK economy.

“The Core Cities welcome housing growth, believing this key to delivering truly sustainable communities where we need to have the right infrastructure, transport links and community facilities in place and offer jobs and training opportunities for all. We will work with government and the Homes and Communities Agency to deliver it.

“This summit will give the city leaders and the Minister a real opportunity to discuss how we can work together to achieve the kind of growth our eight cities all need if we are to remain the economic drivers in our regions, delivering sustainable growth, better neighbourhoods and tackling persistent deprivation.

Chris Murray, Director of the Core Cities Group, said: "The Core Cities have established important working relationships with government and its agencies as delivery partners in creating sustainable communities.  This is something that will result in benefits and gains for all our residents and communities. 

“The Core Cities' city regions are home to some 16 million people, a third of the country's population, and together we have a combined economy that is bigger than London, but we also experience some of the worst deprivation in England. The Core Cities are committed to working together to tackle this deprivation by creating high-quality, sustainable communities which provide opportunities for all.”

Author:   Matt Smith, 0117 922 3332

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