Policy T27: Reducing Health Inequalities and Supporting Health and Wellbeing

Object

Representation ID: 4342

Received: 04/07/2025

Respondent: Mr Paul Hawkins

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

All the extra housing and the increase in population is not supported by new Hospitals, schools and surgery's.

Support

Representation ID: 4442

Received: 29/07/2025

Respondent: Sports England

Sport England welcomes the inclusion of its Active Design Guidance in Policy T27 and we would be happy to work with Medway on schemes as they come forward.

Support

Representation ID: 4531

Received: 05/08/2025

Respondent: Ms Georgina Kosanovic

I agree with the plans to prioritise healthy choices and well-being. However, I would add two things: 1) the promotion of vaping is just as bad as the promotion of shisha or other types of smoking, and should be similarly discouraged, and 2) I am concerned that there are no plans for an additional hospital in the area if over 24,000 new homes are being added to Medway.

Object

Representation ID: 4555

Received: 05/08/2025

Respondent: Blueberry Homes

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Whilst our client supports the general approach of Policy T27, it is considered that the policy is aspirational but not likely deliverable. The Policy states that the location of specific types of development will be carefully managed to avoid possible adverse impacts on health and wellbeing, one of those being an off-licence. We object to the Policy on this basis as small scale convenience stores typically providing for the needs of the local community will often include an off-licence, so such stores should be excluded from the policy.

Object

Representation ID: 4855

Received: 10/08/2025

Respondent: Mrs Gillian Mulloy

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy Overreach Without Deliverability
Policy T27 is commendable in intent but fails to be effective. It sets ambitious objectives for health infrastructure, green space, access to care, and active travel. However, there is no linked Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) or funding mechanism to guarantee delivery. The commitment is rhetorical unless backed by enforceable mechanisms like developer contributions, phasing triggers, and formal agreements with health bodies

Object

Representation ID: 4864

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Mrs Gillian Mulloy

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

T27 remains a narrative commitment without binding delivery mechanisms or quantifiable health outcome targets. There is no published Statement of Common Ground with NHS Kent & Medway ICB, although they are a statutory consultee with an explicit expectation of health infrastructure contributions. The policy lacks measurable metrics and a transparent equality or impact assessment.
Amend T27 to include protection, adaptive reuse, and business rate or planning relief for venues that demonstrably contribute to community health and circular economic activity, ensuring they remain viable over the Plan period.

Support

Representation ID: 5029

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: Mr Lincoln Ritchie

Many of these goals should be converted into measurable conditions that can be evaluated by those that will be affected by them (e.g., % of homes within 400m of a ≥10-min bus, x-distance of new cyclelanes delivered). It directly improves cost-of-living, access to opportunity, and accountability.