Medway Local Plan (Regulation 18, 2024)
2.1 Vision
2.1.1 The Local Plan is closely aligned to the One Medway Council Plan, 2024 that sets an ambitious and caring vision for our communities, economy and environment.
Vision for Medway in 2041
The plan's vision is to strengthen Medway's position in the economy and culture of the region, connected to its surrounding coast and countryside, and its rich heritage; with a thriving economy, where residents enjoy a good quality of life and there is a clear strategy for addressing climate change and strengthening natural assets. Growth has been shaped by understanding the area's important historic environment, respecting identity and strengthening distinctiveness.
By 2041, Medway will have achieved a significant reduction in carbon emissions (well on its pathway to net zero by 2050) aided by developments which have adopted high sustainable buildings standards (not just in construction but re-use and refurbishment too) and are achieving ambitious net zero carbon targets. Alongside this, adaptation is an essential component of all development and Medway is well prepared for its long-term future adaptation needs. Medway is delivering against a strong local energy plan and communities are harnessing the results of their direct involvement in decision making on community owned, local energy infrastructure.
Medway has conserved and enhanced its intrinsic cultural and natural heritage and landscapes alongside high quality development to strengthen the area's distinctive character. Medway has achieved sustainable growth, development that has responded positively to tackling climate change, providing for healthier and more sustainable choices of homes, transport and workplaces, and reducing and mitigating the risks of flooding, overheating, drought and soil erosion. Natural assets will play an important role in carbon sequestration and adaptation and bring associated benefits of enhanced biodiversity, good air quality and improved public health. The countryside, coast and the urban open spaces are valued and benefit as joined up environmental assets in a resilient green and blue infrastructure network across land and water. Important wildlife and heritage assets are protected and enhanced, contributing to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Medway is defined by its river and estuaries. The urban waterfront is animated and accessible. Continuous riverside paths provide attractive and healthy connections, a draw for visitors and residents. The rural character of the Medway Valley and the Medway and Thames estuaries are valued landscapes and habitats are in good condition. There are new opportunities for river transport.
All sectors and ages of the community can find decent places to live. The quality of new development has enhanced Medway's profile and driven up environmental standards in construction. Property owners have felt sufficiently supported to retrofit older properties to make them more energy efficient and less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as overheating. Custom and self-build housing has provided new living opportunities for residents. Investment in new services and infrastructure, such as transport, schools, healthcare and open spaces, has supported housebuilding to provide a good quality of life for residents, including the retrofitting of accessible greenspaces to existing settlements.
Improved travel choices and infrastructure have reduced the use of the car across Medway, with people benefitting from better provision for pedestrians and cyclists, and a greater public transport offer. This has transformed how people move through the central urban areas, improved air quality and strengthened the connections with wider neighbourhoods and villages.
Medway is a healthy place in which to live and work. People can move around more easily, with good walking and cycling links and clean air. All sectors of the community can enjoy the outdoors, with spaces designed for play, leisure, access and rest. People have a choice of affordable and healthy food and can grow their own. Public spaces are inclusive, designed with care and imagination for all to share. People can meet most of their daily needs in their local area, such as schools, grocery shopping and places to socialise and exercise, reducing the need to travel, and benefitting from the co-location of services. Medway has responded to the needs of its growing and changing communities, as an inclusive and caring place, where people feel safe and are supported in their health and well-being. Communities are connected, and there is a good range of facilities and services to facilitate interaction and social activities, supporting a vibrant and diverse voluntary sector. There is clear progress in tackling inequalities and improving health and well-being. The ambitions of Child Friendly Medway are being delivered and children and young people have benefitted from better starts in their lives.
Our high streets and centres have developed new uses and attractions in response to changes in retail, leisure and work patterns. Heritage and culture are celebrated and contribute to the quality of new development and community wellbeing, raising pride in Medway and enriching the lives of residents and visitors. Development has sustained and enhanced Medway's historic environment and improved access to heritage and cultural opportunities. Medway benefits from a network of centres that reflect the distinct character of its different towns, neighbourhoods and villages, and which serve local communities and visitors. Our public spaces embrace culture and are animated and welcoming to all.
Medway is a leading economic player in the region, supporting the growth of its business base and attracting new investment. It has capitalised on its cluster of higher and further education providers to raise skills levels across the workforce. Graduates and the wider workforce can develop their future careers in quality jobs in Medway. There is a broad portfolio of employment sites. Derelict sites at Grain and Kingsnorth on the Hoo Peninsula have been transformed into thriving economic hubs. Medway is known for its innovation and creativity, with businesses adapted to changes in the economy and the environment, and leading in green growth and technology, benefitting from excellent digital connectivity. High Streets are sought after locations for a range of businesses, providing space for start-ups and co-working facilities that reduce people's need to commute. Heritage and culture contribute to the distinct and attractive offer for businesses, community enterprises and voluntary organisations. Medway's farmland produces quality food and drink and is contributing to the management of natural resources. The contribution of Medway's rich environmental heritage and the economic benefit to the area is valued through eco-tourism.
Medway's economic mineral resources may be worked to meet needs and will be safeguarded from unnecessary sterilisation and for use by future generations. Wharves and rail depots continue to be utilised for the importation and distribution of minerals and will be safeguarded for this purpose. A positive legacy will be left by mineral supply development in Medway.
Waste is managed as far up the Waste Hierarchy as possible to achieve a more circular economy. A significant reduction in emissions from waste (including water) is achieved through provision of infrastructure and services which support people to reduce waste and reuse more. The circular economy is embedded into business models and applied to developments.
2.2 Strategic objectives
2.2.1 The role of the Local Plan is to plan positively for the development and infrastructure that the area needs, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment. The Council needs to clearly define what it wants to achieve from the new Plan – what are the issues to address, and what improvements and changes are sought. These are set out as strategic objectives for the Plan. The objectives will feed into the wording of policies and how sites and different locations are assessed for potential development. The objectives are presented around broad themes for the environment, communities, economy, and investment in infrastructure and design that is fit for the future. The Council consulted on these objectives in 2023 and has made updates in response to comments received. The proposed objectives for the Plan are:
Prepared for a sustainable and green future
- To deliver on the Council's commitment to addressing the Climate Emergency, providing resilience to temperature and climate change through seeking adaptations and mitigation measures, including opportunities to promote carbon reduction and support the transition to 'zero carbon', and reduce the risk of flooding; promoting the use of nature-based solutions to climate change; seeking to protect the most vulnerable groups from the impacts of climate change; and supporting major shifts in modes of transport used to reduce carbon impacts.
- To strengthen and develop transport networks providing safe and effective choices for sustainable travel, including improved opportunities for walking and cycling and enhanced public transport services, and management of the highways network, with associated improvements in air quality.
- To conserve and enhance assets of international and national importance for nature and landscape, including the KDNL and biodiversity designations, as part of a wider robust green and blue infrastructure network across land and water that protects and enhances the assets of the natural and historic environments in urban and rural Medway, providing resilience for nature through better connectivity and conditions; informing the design and sustainability of new development; and supporting healthier lifestyles.
- To ensure the effective management of natural resources, including water and soil, and improving air quality, providing for the sustainable supply of minerals and minimising the production of waste, enabling it to be managed as far up the Waste Hierarchy as possible.
Supporting people to lead healthy lives and strengthening our communities
- To provide for homes of varying types to meet demand in Medway and ensure a cohesive sustainable approach. To deliver high quality energy efficient homes that meet the housing needs of Medway's communities, reflecting the requirement for affordable housing and the range of sizes and types the area needs, including provision for specialist housing, such as for people with disabilities, gypsy and traveller accommodation, the elderly including those wanting to down size, students, first homes, and custom and self-build housing; and drive reductions in the carbon impacts of housing in new developments and securing opportunities for retro-fitting older properties.
- To reduce inequalities in health and deliver better outcomes for residents, by promoting opportunities for increasing physical activity and mental wellbeing, providing access to nature locally, through attractive and safe green infrastructure and public realm design for walking, cycling, parks and other recreation facilities, and improving access to healthy food choices; and to reduce social isolation by supporting retention and development of businesses and local services close to where people live, and connected and inclusive environments that are accessible by all groups in society, including people with disabilities, a range of ages, incomes and identities. To support our diverse communities to realise their potential and to be proud to live in Medway.
- To strengthen the role of Medway's urban, neighbourhood and village centres, responding with a positive strategy to changes in retail; supporting independent retail and start-ups, encouraging new business uses into the High Street; securing a range of accessible services and facilities for local communities close to where they live; and realising opportunities for homes and jobs, with the main town and larger village centres providing a focus for new retail and community facilities and cultural activities, within the context of the distinct towns, neighbourhoods and villages that make up Medway.
Securing jobs and developing skills for a competitive economy
- To strengthen Medway's regional economic role through boosting the performance of the local economy by supporting local businesses to grow and innovate; and attracting inward investment and re-locations, through the provision of a portfolio of good quality employment land that meets the needs of businesses; and to secure and extend higher value employment opportunities; and reduce out-commuting.
- Build on existing strengths and expertise, such as engineering, energy and creative industries, and raise the profile of key sectors, including environmental and land-based industries, to attract and develop the jobs of the future.
- To significantly improve the skills of the local workforce and capitalise upon the benefits to local businesses; and improve graduate retention.
- To gain wide recognition of Medway as a centre for learning and its student base; and realise economic and place-making opportunities associated with the cluster of universities and colleges in Medway.
- To deliver the infrastructure needed for business growth, to provide accessible employment locations, and excellent high speed broadband services.
- To maximise the opportunities to support growth in tourism, cultural and creative industries, providing workspace, venues and facilities, extending the offer to include green tourism, maritime and city breaks, including realising opportunities in the domestic tourism market, further contributing to the diversity of Medway's economy.
Boost pride in Medway through quality and resilient development
- To ensure that development is supported by the timely provision of good quality effective infrastructure, so that the needs of Medway's growing and changing communities are well served.
- To respect the distinct identities, heritage and characteristics of Medway's diverse towns and villages as Medway grows.
- To deliver sustainable development, meeting the needs of Medway's communities, conserving a high quality natural and historic environment, and directing growth to the most suitable locations that can enhance Medway's economic, social and environmental characteristics.
- To secure the ongoing benefits of Medway's regeneration, making the best use of brownfield land, including bringing forward the transformation of the waterfront and town centre sites for high-quality mixed-use development, and a focus for cultural activities.
- To lift the standards of sustainability and quality in all new development; respond positively to the character and variation of local places across Medway; seeking opportunities for greener construction, to provide for more energy efficient buildings which drives down their carbon impact; demonstrate distinctiveness; and improve the accessibility and design of the public realm that will help people to live healthier lives and open up travel choices, reducing car dependency, and improving connectivity for nature.
2.3 Spatial development strategy
Spatial Development Strategy
The Council will support the implementation of a spatial strategy to deliver sustainable development in Medway up to 2041. Subject to the outcomes of this Regulation 18 consultation and further evidence base work that will inform the proposed strategy in the Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Draft Plan, the Council seeks to make provision for Medway's development needs. Development is supported where it demonstrates that it contributes to the conservation and enhancement of the natural and built environment, and the Council's ambitions for sustainable growth, set out in the strategic objectives in the plan.
The spatial development strategy supports the Council's commitment to achieve a net zero carbon Medway and to tackle the negative impacts of climate change through adaptation. These include reducing reliance on cars, reducing the need to travel and providing for sustainable travel choices, and strengthening blue and green infrastructure networks across Medway.
Medway has a high proportion of land designated of national or international importance for wildlife and landscape. These areas have the highest degree of protection from development, and the policies in this plan require their conservation and enhancement. A wider network of green and blue infrastructure across Medway seeks to connect countryside, parks and open spaces, and water bodies, to provide resilience for nature, secure landscape character, support health and wellbeing, and protect environmental resources. This green network informs the spatial strategy, separating urban Medway from the Hoo Peninsula and Kent Downs, and providing strategic green corridors in the urban and suburban areas. The Council will seek opportunities for development to address areas of poor environmental amenity, delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), improving air quality, and contributing to more attractive places, that are accessible to our communities to enjoy.
The development strategy for Medway prioritises regeneration, making the best use of previously developed land and directing investment to urban waterfront and centre opportunity areas. This promotes Medway's ambitions to lift pride in the area, delivering quality development that respects our heritage, supports health and well-being and a resilient and attractive environment. The urban waterfront regeneration programme from Strood to north Gillingham will link to renewed centres. and places. Development will be required to support improvements to active travel and green infrastructure, such as cycle paths, increasing canopy cover and sustainable urban drainage to deliver on the aims for Medway's communities and environment.
Chatham is an important focus for much of the urban regeneration, with development proposed in the centre of Chatham; and on waterfront sites, and in adjacent areas to the centre, such as Chatham Intra and the station gateway. The strategy is informed by the Chatham Design Code and the Chatham Intra Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) development framework to provide for new homes, workspaces, retail, leisure and community facilities. Chatham will provide the primary centre function for Medway, benefitting from its sustainable transport links and additional investment in cultural and community infrastructure.
Strood also provides for significant new opportunities for redevelopment alongside the riverside and central areas. The completion of Rochester Riverside forms an important component of the wider waterfront regeneration programme. Redevelopment to the north of Gillingham will consolidate the links between St Mary's Island and Gillingham town centre, and support the further development of the learning cluster of Universities and Colleges, and strengthen the town centre. There are opportunities for further mixed-use urban neighbourhoods with the potential for redevelopment at Medway City Estate.
The spatial strategy provides for a range of development needs, Growth in different parts of the urban, suburban and rural areas will reflect their distinctive character and identity, the potential for a mix of development, and the need for upgrades in infrastructure and services.
Outside of the urban regeneration areas, the Council will support the expansion of identified suburban neighbourhoods and villages, where the principles of sustainable development can be met, and where unacceptable impacts on infrastructure and the environment can be avoided. Large scale growth in these areas will require strategic masterplans to manage and phase the delivery of housing, employment, transport and wider infrastructure, and environmental measures. On such greenfield sites, the Council will require a high standard of design quality and environmental sustainability to contribute to net zero carbon aims, reducing the need to travel and achieving a modal shift from car-based travel. Development will respond positively to the environmental context and realise opportunities to boost biodiversity and resilience.
The function and extent of the metropolitan Green Belt in Medway will be retained, and the Council will ensure that substantial weight is given to the potential for any harm when considering development proposals in the Green Belt.
Development will be required to demonstrate sensitivity to the rich and diverse built and natural heritage of Medway, to provide for quality growth and strengthen the distinctiveness and functions of local towns, neighbourhoods and villages.
The strategy provides for sustained economic growth, through providing a mixed portfolio of employment sites, supporting business growth and capitalising upon a skilled workforce, benefitting from the local Universities and Colleges. This portfolio includes strategic development sites on the Hoo Peninsula that have unique opportunities to support new and developing sectors, as the economy develops responses to environmental and industrial policies. The Innovation Park Medway provides for technology and other high value industries. Further employment sites will contribute to meeting the needs of businesses in Medway.
The strategy provides for the coordination of infrastructure delivery to support wider growth. Land is safeguarded for the delivery of a passenger rail service connecting the Hoo Peninsula to the North Kent services, and a sustainable travel link connecting Chatham Docks with Gillingham town centre. Development will be required to mitigate the impacts of its growth in line with the Council's policy on infrastructure contributions.
