Medway Developer Contributions and Obligations Guide

15.1 Background

15.1.1 Contributions will be pro-rata where suitable on-site provision is made in accordance with Fields in Trust standards and local standards established in the appropriate evidence base and strategies, including ‘Playing Pitch & Outdoor Facilities Study (December 2012), Playing Pitch Strategy, 2019 (under review), and Open Space PPG17 Study (June 2012). The Medway evidence base is currently being updated in line with Sport England best practice, and will be published later in 2026. . This excludes athletics tracks, civic spaces, churchyards and green corridors. Contributions will be requested on all developments even where on-site provision is made. Comment

15.1.2 Quality and quantity of open space provision varies across Medway. All development will result in the need for additional open spaces, and this contribution will be utilised to best meet local need arising from development in the area either through provision of new facilities or improvements to existing facilities and sites to create additional capacity for new residents. Comment

15.1.3 Medway’s open space typology standards are shown as follows. This is a guide only and the service will assess each site based on the information provided within the planning application. Comment

Table 10: Comment

(based on Fields in Trust standards)

15.1.4 Requests will not be made on sheltered housing and special needs housing for the elderly developments. Retirement flats/housing will be expected to contribute and will be tailored to address senior parks and dementia access in nearby greenspaces. Comment

15.1.5 The Great Lines Heritage Park is an asset for the whole of Medway, and demands on its upkeep and maintenance increase proportionately with population. A tariff will apply to all developments of more than 10 units and will equate to 5% of the overall S106 contribution. For developments within 700 metres of the Great Lines Heritage Park this standard tariff will be doubled to 10%. Comment

15.2 Additional notes

15.2.1 The provision of open space on Employment Areas and implication on existing open space will be considered on a case-by-case basis having regard to the likely scale of the workforce that will be employed within the development. Comment

15.2.2 Greenspace Services will not usually accept the transfer of any land to Medway Council (playgrounds, allotments, parks, informal open space, sports pitches) which would create additional landscape maintenance responsibilities and costs to the Council. Developers should therefore ensure they make their own arrangements for the management and maintenance of landscaping associated with a development to be agreed with Greenspace Services. If the Council accepts transfer, a charge adequate to cover 15 years maintenance with annual indexation will be levied. Comment

15.2.3 Payment of S106 contributions will be sought at the earliest possible stage of the development to enable the funding of project work associated with that development. Accordingly, the trigger for payment of the contribution will be on commencement of civil engineering works, or in exceptional circumstances on the 1st occupation. Where developments are subject to significant phasing it is acknowledged that payment of S106 contributions could be phased in accordance with progress of that development. Comment

Charge: £3,506.75 per dwelling Comment

15.3 Policy/Evidence Base

• Outdoor Sports Facility Study, 2012
• Playing Pitch Strategy, 2019 (being updated in 2025/26)
• Built Facilities Plan, 2025 (currently in progress)
• Local Football Facilities Plan, 2025
• Open Space PPG17 Study, 2012
• Open Space Assessment, 2024
• Fields in Trust guidance