Spatial Development Strategy

Support

Representation ID: 4599

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

As site promoters, we support and welcome the recognition that the Hoo Peninsula could actively contribute to a well-planned and strategic community. The site at Flanders Farm actively supports this intention and provides a strategically well positioned site, which provides the opportunity to deliver several development options as part of a mixed-use development with a retail focus.

Object

Representation ID: 4632

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Kent

Agent: Mr Richard Thompson

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The spatial strategy such be given a strategic policy reference number.
The Council’s spatial development strategy should focus on optimising the recycling of land that has already been used for buildings by adopting a truly ‘brownfield first’ strategy.
Targeted brownfield call for site should be undertaken.
Loss of BMV should be minimised.
Loss of green belt should be restricted.
Impact on wildlife/internationally and nationally designated areas.
Object to car-dependent development – provision of alternative transport infrastructure is not clear.
Site yields should be optimised to reduce need for development on greenfield sites.

Object

Representation ID: 4672

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: Mr Kevin Smith

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The reclassification of land to the west of Strood to Grey Belt is not valid.

Support

Representation ID: 4762

Received: 10/08/2025

Respondent: Kent Downs AONB Unit

Support acknowledgement of the high level of internationally and nationally Protected Landscapes in Medway, including the Kent Downs National Landscape.

Object

Representation ID: 4812

Received: 10/08/2025

Respondent: Mrs Gillian Mulloy

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

There is insufficient evidence that the Plan’s spatial strategy is underpinned by meaningful community engagement, particularly in respect of impacts on local services, housing affordability, and social cohesion. This absence compromises the Plan’s justification and raises questions on whether it adequately reflects local needs and preferences, as required by the NPPF (para 16).

Given Medway’s designated environmental sites, the Plan’s support for greenfield development must be fully backed by comprehensive HRA and EIA. The lack of transparent, publicly accessible evidence of such assessments undermines confidence in the Plan’s compliance with environmental protection legislation, exposing it to potential legal challenge.

Support

Representation ID: 4898

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Kitesfield Estates Limited

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

As site promoters, we support and welcome the recognition that the Hoo Peninsula could actively contribute to a well-planned and strategic community. Site HHH41 would actively supports this intention and provides a smaller site that would help to support the residential requirements of the district and can be delivered quickly.
Paragraph 73 of the National Planning Policy Framework often sets out that “Small and medium sized sites can make an important contribution to meeting the housing requirement of an area, are essential for Small and Medium Enterprise housebuilders to deliver new homes, and are often built-out relatively quickly”.

Support

Representation ID: 4922

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Tonbrigde and Malling Borough Council

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council supports the spatial strategy included at pages 25-27 of the Local Plan. We consider that the spatial strategy complies with paragraph 36 of the NPPF 2024 in all aspects, being positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

Support

Representation ID: 4929

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Lucy Morris

BDW supports the inclusion of the draft allocation of Land West of Strood (Policy SA6) in delivering sustainable development.
Please refer to the attached submission for further details.

Support

Representation ID: 5021

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Mr Lincoln Ritchie

As a Medway-born soon-to-be grad at the University of Kent, who wants to live and work locally, I strongly support the safeguarding of land for the delivery of passenger rail growth. This initiative not only allows for connections to the peninsula and the North Kent Services, and cross-river sustainable links, but also contributes to a healthier environment. This is 100% the kind of long-term thinking and public transport spine that lets young professionals want to stay in Medway without defaulting to commuting to London or leaving Medway altogether.