Richborough acknowledges the reference to the requirement for new development to be sensitive to the designated historic features in the urban area of Chatham. It is critical to the protection of the local historic character that new development is of a high quality and sensitively designed to complement the historic features in situ. The holistic development of the urban area will be critical to achieving this and will inevitably impact on the lead in times and delivery rates of new dwellings within this area.
Richborough notes that the urban area is also affected by the Marine Conservation Zone and includes the historically politically sensitive Chatham Waterfront. It is critical that the emerging Local Plan rigorously assesses the suitability of sites in this area and whether they can be developed sustainably and viably, as well as deliver the typology of housing for which there is a need.