Medway Local Plan (Regulation 19, 2025)
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. Comment
Vision for Medway in 2041 Comment
The plan's vision is to strengthen Medway's position in the economy and culture of the region, benefitting from regeneration and inward investment, connected to its surrounding coast and countryside, and displaying 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. Housing and economic development needs have been met in full, supported by appropriately phased infrastructure. 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 business hubs and contributing to low carbon economy. 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 feed into the wording of policies and how sites and different locations have been 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. Comment
Prepared for a sustainable and green future Comment
- 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 secure our high-quality natural and historic environment for future generations, to conserve and enhance Medway's rich environmental assets, including those 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 Comment
- 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 Comment
- 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, and the economic role of the river, 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 Comment
- To ensure housing and economic development needs have been met in full, supported by appropriately phased grey, green and blue 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.
