Approximately 60% of this part of Medway’s Green Belt is promoted for development for housing. In the adjacent Gravesend Borough Regulation 18 consultations land directly adjacent (Chapter Farm) is identified as possible allocation for development for housing of approximately 1,800 homes. Given the pressure that exists on the Western Boundary of Medway adjacent to Strood, any release of the Green Belt in this critical sector of the Green Belt could realistically produce the following unintended consequences.
• Create urban Sprawl westwards of the Medway Conurbation
• Put the remaining 40% of Green Belt in this area under extreme pressure for further development in this and subsequent Local Plans.
• Undermine the purpose of Green Belt in this area.
• Encourage Gravesend Borough Council to allocate chapter farm for housing in their local plan. Which in turn would:
• Add approx. an extra 2000 homes on the western boundary of Strood.
• Result in the loss of 165 Ha of Metropolitan Green Belt on its eastern Boundary (Dillywood farm, Dillywood garden centre and Chapter Farm combined)
• Increase the Urban sprawl of Medway by 165 Ha into Green Belt
• Place up to 2,900 homes on the western boundary of Stood.
• Increase pressure on existing services and transport networks with no extra funding to Medway via council tax (2/3 of which would go to GBC)
• Increase the use of private vehicles.
• Create significant addition traffic movements on M2 Junction 1 (already at capacity)
• increase air pollution within the AAQ on London Road
To allocate any land for development in this area would be contrary to the sustainable aspirations of the Medway Local Plan.