Developing a Spatial Strategy – Rural Development Sites
Hoo Peninsula – Hoo Rural Town

CCE recognise that, in meeting the identified housing requirement, the Council should look to bring forward urban sites and previously developed land. However, it is also noted that such sites are often costly to bring forward and can take time to become available to deliver the required housing. Urban sites are also often more suited to flatted developments delivering smaller units which only caters to a small element of housing need locally. These considerations, coupled with Medway’s significant housing need will require the identification and release of less constrained greenfield sites.

To achieve its vision, CCE consider that the Local Plan needs to be ambitious, yet fully deliverable. It needs to ensure that the housing and employment needs of the Borough can be delivered with clear guidance as to the most appropriate and sustainable sites to accommodate the required housing and employment. In doing so, the Council will need to take a pragmatic approach to a range of development options. In this regard, CCE fully supports the proposals in the draft Hoo Development Framework (2022) for significant growth at Hoo St Werburgh and subsequently, the Council identifying this land as a potential broad location for development in the consultation document (Map 3).

The Hoo Rural Town offers the opportunity to provide a sustainable new community in its own right, with high quality supporting infrastructure. The expansion of Hoo St Werburgh and the surrounding villages offers new opportunities and many potential benefits to the area and Medway as a whole. There is potential for the area to grow by c. 10,000 homes over the next thirty years. New development would be planned to improve travel choice and reduce the need to drive with an attractive and comprehensive cycling and pedestrian network. People will be able to use an expanded range of local services and facilities close to home. There will be new schools and health facilities, shops, businesses, leisure and community services. It would provide growth that meets people’s needs for homes, jobs and services, whilst respecting the natural and historic environment.

The support for these proposals is clearly set out in the submission by Stantec prepared for the Consortium, including CCE. As noted above, these representations will not repeat or seek to reiterate the commentary prepared by Stantec on behalf of the Consortium in relation to the land at Hoo St Werburgh.

CCE own land east (call for sites submission ID 299, SHLAA ref. HHH31) and west (call for sites submission ID 300, SHLAA ref HHH22) of Ropers Lane which could accommodate around 3,500 new homes alongside supporting social infrastructure. The site presents an opportunity for a sustainable extension to the east of the existing settlement of Hoo St Werburgh and should be considered as part of the wider Hoo St Werburgh Rural Town, which provides the opportunity to deliver a highly sustainable community securing significant housing growth supported by infrastructure; employment opportunities; services and facilities as well as environmental enhancements. It also provides new links and connections to the proposed and existing employment areas at Kingsnorth.

This representation therefore confirms that land within CCE’s ownership at the Hoo Peninsula should be identified to assist in meeting the housing requirements and development needs of the Borough.

In this context, and as set out in the February 2023 call for sites submissions, CCE have commissioned the following initial surveys: Ecological Assessment, prepared by Ecology Solutions (January 2023); Agricultural Land Classification report, prepared by Strutt and Parker, January 2023; Heritage Assessment (above and below ground), prepared by Terrance O Rourke, (January 2023); Landscape and Visual Appraisal, prepared by Terrance O Rourke (March 2023); and, Utilities consultation note, prepared by Pell Frischmann (September 2020). Pell Frischmann are also appointed to provide technical advice to CCE on Highways and Flooding. The surveys confirm that there would be no overriding constraints to the development of land within CCE’s ownership at the Hoo Peninsula. Further technical assessment as required would be instructed by CCE as part of any future planning application, to inform future development proposals.