We support this policy, but would like the following points considered. Housing across Medway is losing it vernacular image, and we are concerned that a cut and past house design is creating a new repetitive narrative that does not align to the history of the areas and has a long-term negative impact to the area (just another housing estate). This approach does not help developments build communities which we believe is essential to addressing local resilience and support networks, if people don't speech, they don't engage, if we don't engage we cannot support each other, meaning we rely on the council to do so. We wish this to be considered in the design of housing and developments.
We would also like to see, renewable energy integrated into development designs, battery and EV chargers as standard across all new developments, with rainwater harvesting and a wider understanding of soils ability to absorb water undertaken in developments to reduce water runoff and developments impacts of flooding.
In wider areas of place marking and low speed roads, we would like to see more green / blue infrastructure, reduction in asphalt and hard materials that absorb heat, to reduce localised heat islands, and enable use of community areas on hot weather periods.