Academy for Social Justice Commissioning overview
Tuesday, 17 April, 2018
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Published 16 March 2018
Reacting to the release of the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:
I urge the international community to continue to support the Government of Bangladesh to find the best solutions to protect Rohingya victims of ethnic cleansing who are in dire need. The UK has led the way to help alleviate suffering and meet humanitarian needs in Cox’s Bazar, and will continue to be a leading donor.
The sprawling camps have provided safety for those who have fled cruel violence, but this place of refuge is becoming unsustainable with over-crowding compounding the risks of the coming monsoon and cyclone season. Rohingya families and host communities urgently require smaller and more manageable facilities for the future, and planning for the medium term.
At the same time we must remember that the origins of and solution to this crisis lie in Burma. The UK will continue to maintain international pressure on Burma to create the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns overseen by the UN.
This crisis has not left the minds of the British public and I would like to thank them for their remarkable generosity in raising millions of pounds for lifesaving food, water and shelter which is making a real difference.
The land that Homes England has bought from Somerston Capital lies near junction 11 of the M20, between Lympne and the Lympne Industrial Estate. It was always included in the area within which the plans for Otterpool Park are being drawn up.
Otterpool Park is a proposed garden town of up to 12,000 homes near Folkestone. It is being put forward by Shepway District Council and Cozumel Estates Ltd the owners of the former racecourse at Westenhanger. This investment is further evidence of government support for a new generation of garden towns to help deliver the high quality homes the country needs.
When the government announced the formation of Homes England it said it would play a major role in securing land in areas where people want to live to help deliver an average of 300,000 homes a year by the mid 2020s.
Paul Kitson, General Manager for the South East for Homes England, said:
Buying this land shows how Homes England is determined to use our finance and expertise to expand the delivery of affordable new homes and connect ambitious partners.
We have been very impressed by the ambition shown by the Council and landowners to deliver Otterpool Park – a garden town for the 21st century. Owning this land will give us a voice in delivering a community that will meet the local need for homes in a place that is truly environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
David Monk, Leader of Shepway District Council welcomed the news:
I am delighted that Homes England has co-invested with the Council to deliver Otterpool Park. It shows the government has faith in our plans for this garden town.
This investment will help us deliver an even better place so that our children and grandchildren can have the homes they need in a community that will also meet their needs for jobs, access to the countryside, transport links, schools, health centres and a great quality of life.
Homes England is the new housing delivery organisation that has been created to adopt a more commercial approach to respond to the long term housing challenges facing this country. The new, expanded agency will play a far bigger role in investing in supply and intervening in the market to help deliver 300,000 homes a year by the middle of the next decade.
Homes England will act differently from its predecessor, bringing together money, land, expertise and planning and compulsory purchase powers to accelerate the supply of new homes and address affordability issues in areas of highest demand.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
This afternoon the Prime Minister discussed the Salisbury attack with Prime Minister Gentiloni of Italy.
The Prime Minister reiterated that this was not just an act against the UK but a clear breach of chemical weapons convention.
Prime Minister Gentiloni affirmed Italy’s full support and solidarity with the UK and the leaders agreed on the need for continued international co-operation to maintain pressure on Russia.
They looked forward to meeting and holding further discussions at next week’s European Council.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
This afternoon the Prime Minister discussed the Salisbury attack with Prime Minister Gentiloni of Italy.
The Prime Minister reiterated that this was not just an act against the UK but a clear breach of chemical weapons convention.
Prime Minister Gentiloni affirmed Italy’s full support and solidarity with the UK and the leaders agreed on the need for continued international co-operation to maintain pressure on Russia.
They looked forward to meeting and holding further discussions at next week’s European Council.