Medway have indicated that the Local Plan would need to deliver 29,000 homes over the plan period plus an additional 2,000 homes to help meet Gravesham’s housing needs equating to a need to deliver 31,000 homes.

The Council contend that approximately 10,500 homes have been assessed as coming forward through the existing ‘pipeline’ of sites and an allowance for ‘windfall’ sites. The Reg.18 Plan states that there is an existing ‘pipeline’ of sites with planning permission which could contribute towards meeting the total need of the Plan, for approximately 7,500 homes. It is unclear at present which permissions the Council is relying on to deliver this existing ‘pipeline’ and therefore it is recommended that this is set out in the next iteration of the Plan to enable scrutiny and ensure the starting point for determine the housing allocations in the Plan is accurate and to avoid any double counting.
With respect to windfall sites, the Regulation 18 Plan states that an allowance of 3,000 homes will be provided over the Plan period which is a high allowance which is not currently evidenced in the Plan. ‘Windfall’ sites have formed an important component of housing land supply in Medway in recent years which have reflected the age of the current Local Plan. It is noted historically that the
Council has had larger sites come through as windfall. However,