In response to Q1

CPRE Kent is keen to ensure that before setting local standards for development are considered that an appropriate spatial strategy is developed which is truly sustainable and places the environment at the heart of Medway's future as a means of addressing climate change.

Blindly developing a spatial strategy purely in response to (greenfield) sites being promoted by developers - as set out in our comments under 2.1 (the Council’s vision), 2.3 (Strategic Objectives), 2.3 Spatial Development Strategy and 3.2 (Preferred Spatial Growth Option) - does not make a good strategy.

In the interests of climate change, the Council’s strategy needs to be right from the outset, rather than policy seeking to retrofit poor strategy decisions. Such a strategy needs to be based on evidence-based planning which prioritise the environment and identifies the positive qualities and placemaking benefits of so called environmental 'constraints'.