Richborough are promoting a Rural Development Site for a mixed use residential-led development of around 800-900 dwellings, a local centre and new primary school. The Site is Land off Lower Rochester Road and has been given the Site Reference SR17 in the Land Availability Assessment (LAA). The Site is shown on Map 3 – overview of potential sites for Rural Development. However, it should be noted that the Stage 1 Land Availability Assessment proforma for Site SR17 classifies it in the ‘Suburban’ Group.
Richborough submitted the site to Medway Council as part of the Call for Sites consultation in 2023, and included a Vision Document with the submission which presented a technical assessment of the site, a review of constraints and opportunities and also an Emerging Concept Plan.
The Site comprises approximately 48.3ha of land to the north of Wainscott and predominantly comprises agricultural land. Blacklands Farm lies in the south eastern corner with a residential dwelling and six farm buildings. There are Polytunnel structures situated in the eastern extent of the Site. Agricultural buildings and hardstanding associated with Sole Street Farm lie within the south western corner of the Site.
The Site is bound to the:
• North west entirely by Dillywood Lane
• North east and east by Higham Road/ Bunters Hill Road and rear gardens of properties along Higham Road
• South by the A289 Hasted Road, residential properties and a tree belt
• West by the B2000 Lower Rochester Road, residential properties (Springfield Cottages) and agricultural land
Beyond the A289 Hasted Road to the south is the settlement of Wainscott, whilst to the north, east and west is agricultural land with scattered residential dwellings and farms. The Site lies close to the boundary with Gravesham Borough Council. The boundary with Gravesham also forms the Green Belt boundary to the north, with a small section of Green Belt within the Medway Council authority area, to the west of the Site.
There are existing amenities and services nearby which can be reached on foot, bike or public transport, although the scale of the proposed development ensures the Site is relatively self-sufficient with provision made for a local centre and school.
The Site is also located close to existing public transport links to Wainscott, Chatham and Strood, although there is an opportunity to introduce a bus service through the development; this will most likely take the form of a circular service connecting the Site with Wainscott, Strood Railway Station and Strood Town Centre, with a 30-minute frequency considered to be viable.
There are two railway stations close to the site, Higham and Strood, both stations have regular services to London St Pancras, Luton Airport, Gravesend, Ebbsfleet Maidstone and Chatham. The Site is clearly sustainably located.
The Consultation Document highlights that much of the Hoo peninsula is the subject of statutory designations and highlights its national importance in respect of ecology. The Site promoted by Richborough is not affected by any statutory ecological designations such as SSSI’s, SPA’s or Ramsar sites.