Spatial Strategy

Redrow would strongly encourage Medway to prepare a Local Plan that seeks to deliver the homes required, as derived by the standard method. As indicated in the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan, the Government considers that this method is appropriate to meet its housebuilding ambitions to tackle pressures in the housing market and there is a housing crisis, particularly regarding affordability. There is an absolute need to deliver the homes required when and where they are needed to meet Medway’s growing needs and the requirements for those desperately needing a good quality home. The Local Plan must set out a strategy to achieve this. This requires a wide range of sustainable housing allocations at different scales and locations that can be delivered at different rates and times.
Redrow would agree that consideration should be given to potential impacts on the environment and strategic infrastructure needs. However, these should not simply be seen as a constraint to new housing growth as the focus should be to assess how negative impacts could be avoided, or mitigated, such as through the co-ordinated delivery of new services and enhancements to landscapes, heritage and biodiversity.

Urban sites will have an important role to play, but they are not always available and will often deliver the smaller homes (1 and 2 bed flats), with less affordable housing as demolition, conversion or land decontamination is often required and, as such, development of such sites tends to have higher costs for these reasons. As the Regulation 18 Plan recognises, this can affect viability and hence the type of development that can be delivered and when it is delivered.

On the other hand, suburban expansion sites are located in close proximity to the urban areas, are usually available and can deliver larger family homes with policy compliant affordable housing. There are potential environmental impacts but this can be mitigated through careful layout and design.

Redrow would agree that development on the green field sites in this category would be expected to be built quicker as the site constraints are more limited than brownfield sites. It is also recognised that development of large sites in this location, or smaller sites that are comprehensively planned, could provide opportunities to enhance sustainable travel options, making it easier and more attractive for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. New housing in these locations could support existing services and facilities and deliver more if required.

It is noted that development to the east of Rainham would erode the strategic gap between Rainham and Newington and add further to the congestion and pollution issues on the A2 and that larger scale development would not be appropriate to the south, around the Capstone Valley as this would potentially adjoin the development of the proposed ‘Lidsing Garden Community’ in Maidstone. As such, there should be more focus on the potential land to the north of Rainham, with detailed consideration given and discussions held with land owners to identify how potential impacts could be appropriately mitigated and integrated development secured.