What are the most important issues for you in planning new developments?

For the RSPB, it is to ensure that the allocation of residential sites is well away from sensitive areas such as Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI, and sustainable locations close to existing transport links and community facilities are prioritised.

In addition to the important issues specific to Medway that we have raised in this response, the RSPB recommends that the following steps are taken from the RSPB’s Nature Friendly Design – the Essential Checklist document. This will help ensure that people and nature can thrive together These five steps are as follows, with key measures summarised:

1.Considering nature from the outset: Ensure that ecology and landscape design is reflected in proposed schemes from the very beginning, including playing a pivotal role in masterplanning and pre-application discussions.

2. Drainage and water management that works with nature: Schedule 3 of the Flood Water Management Act should be mandated to deliver better Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) design and adoption to better mitigate for extreme weather events, increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Sustainable Drainage Systems should prioritise above ground soft landscape rather than hard engineering solutions such as pipe to basin.

3. Planting for people and wildlife: development landscape schemes should be specifically required to provide greater climate resilience, public amenity, and biodiversity value and benefits.

4. Design features for target species: specific design elements should be required to be installed in new developments providing homes for target species and allow free passage through the urban environment. All new houses must include integral nest and roost provision for Swifts and bats, and garden boundaries must not act as a barrier to ground dwelling wildlife.

5. Ensuring long-term maintenance and stewardship: nature-friendly measures incorporated into design of new developments and their landscaping, together with monitoring of the delivery and success of Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Greening Factor measures post-development, must be suitably funded by the development.