Prepared for a sustainable and green future

We support the Local Plan initiatives in regard to tackling climate change and enhancing sustainability.

Development at the site, at High Halstow, would create a cohesive, integrated and highly sustainable extension to the village.

Sustainability is a core consideration of the proposed development at the site and by achieving rigorous energy standards and employing technologies such as air source heat pump technology, the proposals respond directly to the Climate Emergency declared by Medway Council in April 2019.

Development at the site would seek to maintain and enhance ecological habitats, including the retention of existing tree / hedge lines along all the boundaries of the site, to deliver at least 20% biodiversity net gain.

The council need to make bold decisions in relation to green policies and not those that give lip service so that boxes can be ticked. For an example cycle lanes have been provided in some areas, but most don't work and it is obvious that those planning & designing them have never used them.
There is also an issue with waste within council departments themselves. The public are encouraged to recycle, but very little is recycled within council buildings etc.
Communications relating to correct recycling are very poor, take a look at what people put out!

I am concerned about climate change. An improved bus network would really help, although I appreciate that since privatisation, that is not a simple fix for a local council. I use the bus when I can, and would support being able to use public transport or active travel a lot more, to save driving everywhere and causing more gridlock/pollution.

Development of the transport network specifically also needs to focus on roads. There has, and will continue to be, a significant volume of new build housing and to assume that everyone will walk, cycle or use public transport is naive. Many roads in Medway are already at capacity and the situation will get worse with more housing/people. Congestion creates pollution - any new development should only take place where road infrastructure can meet demand - areas at capacity should not be developed further.

Public transport in Medway is poorly run and is not integrated. The local roads have to many bottlenecks that cause major delays when they are closed. The is also the issue of the wider Road network and it’s capacity.

We endorse the above objective and the second of its four sub-sections in particular.

Every part of this and every other consultation makes play of increasing walking and cycling to address climate, environmental and health issues. Nearly every new development provides no new facilities (links to existing cycling and walking routes, new ones to schools etc. No new bus services)to aid this and instead bakes in further car use. Couiple this with the building of 4 bedroom properties, which always house more cars tthan the planners project and things get worse not better.

I'm not anti development but we desperatley need some new pathways for walking and cyclingg that link the places people live with the places they want and need to get to. More bus services essential too. Above all affordable homes for rent to address the real need in the housing sector and to leave people with enough disposable income to spend locally.

On Lower Rainham Road where I live there have been a number of new housing developments but the bus service has been cut to one service a day weekdays only. This "service" allows for an hour's visit to Rainham otherwise it's a walk home. No one believes the well meant promoises of green & sustainable development, new infrastructure, 15 minute neighbourghoods (which I support) , increased walking and cycling. What they expect is what has been served up for years : unpoular developments of very similar housing that fails utterly to address housing need and increases car use and congestion, the overloading of existing services and a progressive deterioartion in quality of life. We must do better and win people over with promises kept.

I agree with these objectives.

I agree with these objectives.

A specific target for independently audited, improved air quality should be made. This is an area which Medway us weak on and it needs measuring by own Council staff

You will not improve air quality if you build on the last of the green space!

The comments relating to the strategic objectives overlap in a number of areas with F D Attwood and Partners vision response at Question 1.
It is highlighted that the prospects of the vision being executed are increased if landowners, the community, the LPA and other stakeholders work collaboratively. F D Attwood and Partners firstly would welcome the chance to work collaboratively during the emerging local plan process rather than in an attritional way, which will give the best prospects of the vision and strategic objectives being delivered. This is even more important for the Capstone Corridor as important decisions on the masterplanning of Lidsing Garden Community (occupying 119ha of the southern portion of the corridor) will be taken in early 2024, led by the masterplanning team of the Attwood family and Maidstone Borough Council alongside community input.
The highlighted strategic objectives, each of which is supported by the landowner, will also best be delivered where comprehensive scale masterplanning opportunities are available, which ideally should be within single landownership control. This will allow a long-term strategy to be formulated to implement the vision and there is greater certainty of phased delivery providing long term certainty for all.
For the urban and suburban spatial options, the noted existing shortcomings of infrastructure provision, services, transport and open space connectivity in the surrounding area can benefit from new development, particularly of greater scale and where it is comprehensively planned. In the case of the Capstone corridor, the Capstone Country Park represents a “hub” that local communities could be better connected to for recreation and health objectives. These benefits of addressing existing inequality and infrastructure shortcomings will not be delivered by the new settlement spatial option, as explained further below.
In the case of the urban area extension of Capstone, another unique benefit is that development can capitalise on the development nucleus planned at the Lidsing Garden Community (in the adjoining Maidstone borough), comprising significant areas of open space, 2,000 dwellings, 14ha of employment and a new village centre. Medway Council has the opportunity to work alongside the landowner and Maidstone Council to progress the emerging masterplan framework for the southern portion of the Capstone corridor in early 2024. This has direct relevance to the consideration of Medway’s spatial options as the Lidsing Garden Community includes a large 14ha employment area close to the M2 Junction 4 and the Medway vision and strategic objectives focus on the need for out commuting to be reduced and the vision delivering mixed communities with jobs close to housing and services. Lidsing is therefore already a planned development platform in the southern portion of the corridor and it would represent a “missed opportunity” not to give this advantage some weight when considering the remainder of the corridor (which is possible because of the single family land ownership) to the north of Lidsing. This is a unique advantage of the Capstone Corridor falling within the suburban/edge of urban area spatial option.
The single ownership and partnership approach offered by F D Attwood and Partners, as landowners, is unique and for other reasons can best deliver the vision and strategic objectives. For instance, because of the single family land ownership control, viability work already undertaken for the landowners has “priced in” necessary infrastructure and services alongside the mix of development uses. These benefits, which will also impact on the existing urban areas surrounding the site, will be delivered without the need for public funding.
Lessons have been learnt from past suburban estate development and as the Medway vision suggests, the emerging local plan must look forward, not back. The Capstone Valley is today an arbitrary residual land corridor that is a legacy of piecemeal suburban growth in the 1980 and 1990’s where major road infrastructure (which should have accompanied housing growth), was not delivered alongside it causing congestion of the network. The remaining land within the corridor, by many (particularly local residents), has been regarded as a “battleground” where no further development should encroach. However, successive appeal decisions by Local Plan Inspector’s (Lidsing…2,000 dwellings) and Section 78 appeal Inspector’s, East Hill (800 dwellings) and Gibraltar Farm (450 dwellings), have disagreed with the past landscape value assessment that has derived from past political commitments made when the 2003 Medway Local Plan was adopted.
There is now an opportunity for the corridor to be reassessed in a new and positive context, to consider objectively how the outlined vision and strategic objectives can best be delivered. For the suburban option, there is the opportunity to knit the existing urban communities together with recreational public open space and wildlife corridors, linking up with the Capstone Country Park and the planned Lidsing Garden Community and delivering a more widely accessible north-south and east-west axis that will still maintain the separate identities of the existing urban sub areas and community identities.
In the past, strong views have been held that development in the Capstone corridor would exacerbate existing congestion. 3,250 dwellings within the control of the landowner are already planned along the corridor’s length, which individually demonstrate clear transport benefits. A fully comprehensively planned transport corridor, if supported by the local plan process, would deliver even greater transport benefits to add to the east-west transport links and rebalancing of M2-J4 and J3 as well as enhanced opportunities for non-car mode improvements that are already to be delivered by planned development in this corridor.
Message Summary:
• Local plan vision and the overlapping strategic objectives are fully supported.
• Comprehensive masterplanning of land within single family control will best create the framework for the vision and objectives to be delivered and there will be long term certainty for planning decision making.
• If the vision is delivered at the suburban edge where existing urban areas can be “knitted together”, these existing communities will also benefit from new infrastructure and the planned mix of uses including new services, open space and local jobs. This represents a “double benefit” of growth compared with a new settlement where the principal planning objective is to make a non-sustainable location “self-contained.”
• To allow real visioning and consideration of how the strategic objectives will best be achieved along side it, FD Attwood and Partner’s believe that historical strongly held and emotive views relating to growth in the Capstone Corridor should be reevaluated in the new positive and visioning context that is suggested will be adopted.

I’m extremely disappointed that these areas for proposed development are greenfield sites when there are so many unused brownfield sites that should be prioritised developing first. I understand that it’s more expensive and it’s easier to build multiple homes all in one site and on greenspace but once this land is built on, it will never be able to come back in this area. Medway doesn’t cope at peak times for traffic already - particularly getting in and out of Hempstead and through Rainham/ A2 and M2. More houses in this area shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

How when you are planning to build on existing countryside ? Surely it would be better to develop business parks and industrial areas that are no longer in use ? Keeping what we already have .

Medway council runs a good solar panel scheme with Kent County Council to bulk buy solar panels for homes in Medway. However, the current schemes have no provisions for an affordable loan. To deliver a 'Zero carbon' Medway, which is the indicated strategy in the Local Plan, current homes must be better insulated. It will also benefit Medway residents energy cost. The Council's commitment to address Climate Emergency needs a provision to use s106 / CIL from new developments to provide the seed money for a fund which can provide affordable loans for Medway residents.

As I said before public transportation for the old and infirm needs improving to help people to interact more and to attend events to bring them more joy. I see old people just sat in the same chair watching tv, every day. That is no life. Carers can take them to some events but a specialised transportation bus for their cared for would make a big difference to their wellbeing.

...through seeking a variety of adaptations and mitigation measures - variety will bring greater benefits.
...reduce the risk of flooding; combat/manage drought/water resources, promoting the use of nature-based solutions - to help address the water stress issue.
....secure a robust and accessible green and blue infrastructure network - useable for everyone.

In general, the Board would encourage an aspirational approach trying to seek significant betterment with schemes having multiple benefits e.g. a SuDS scheme not just considered against runoff, hydraulic performance and water quality but also against amenity and biodiversity objectives/goals.

I do not agree with this plan, by building on these areas, this is likely to assist with the Lidsing Garden development from Maidstone and would be catastrophic for the surrounding areas of Hempstead and local wildlife. Roads are already busy in and around Hempstead, the plans will destroy much of the green areas that Hempstead residents value greatly. Building on these areas on the plan will urbanise many of the villages, making it feel more like one large town. With more homes and the same amount of roads, there will be more congestion defeating the zero carbon objective

Paragraph 119 of the NPPF sets out that ‘planning policies and decisions should promote an effective use of land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions’.

It is set out in the current consultation that “The role of the Local Plan is to plan positively for the development and infrastructure that the area needs, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment”.

In order to deliver the Local Plan, it is proposing that the plan is set around strategic objectives. “The objectives will feed into the wording of policies and how sites and different locations are assessed for potential development. The objectives are presented around broad themes for the environment, communities, economy, and investment in infrastructure and design that is fit for the future”.

This representation supports the use of objectives to deliver the strategic aims of the plan, but wishes to raise the following comments regarding the individual objectives:

Objective: Prepared for a sustainable and green future
The objective to support action against climate change and a sustainable future for Medway is supported. This actively meets the aspirations of paragraph 153 of the NPPF which sets out that ‘Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change’.

This representation promotes the delivery of sites in the rural area to help deliver 14,736 homes, amongst others, as a way that could deliver a sustainable and green future for Medway.

Paragraph 5.41 of the Regulation 18 consultation sets out that “large scale development around Hoo St Werburgh and neighbouring villages could provide for planning growth, where new housing is supported by new and improved services and infrastructure. Such development could also help to meet the Council’s ambitions for greener growth, with higher environmental standards in construction, communities better connected for walking and cycling, and within easy reach of local services”.

This representation supports the rural development option, amongst others, including the suburban expansion option, as a way of delivering a sustainable and green future for Medway. They will bring forward opportunities to support sustainable communities and incorporate future sustainable transport network. It will also enable the wider and strategic aim of supporting a green and blue framework for better connectivity for wildlife and improve the quality of lives for residents within.

I agree with the objectives. Housing developments in the area seem at odds with the objectives. Recent housing developments in Medway do not address the climate emergency and have added to the backlog of sub standard buildings needing retro fitting. Im unaware of any plan that will prevent further addition to the back log

The plan must look beyond the climate emergency to the creation and long-term sustainment of Medway as a flourishing truly net zero/ green powerhouse. So, the ability to flex and adapt this plan is essenmtial as we learn, and fresh solutions are developed.

This must impact all areas of our diverse community and how we live, work, and enjoy our town. It must embrace how we move around, our spaces and places and deliver the new layers of infrastructure, some of which we have not yet identified.

So we also need a business plan for Medway to deliver this.

We encourage the inclusion of green infrastructure as part of essential infrastructure and connectivity and urge a landscape-scale approach to maximise the benefits for nature and people. Design guidance should incorporate the protection and extension of green infrastructure including support for SuDS in all new developments, and encouragement of green links, such as tree lines and hedgerows, to frame residential areas and connect existing habitats.

In addition, trees and hedgerows help mitigate the impacts of climate change, delivering natural cooling in urban heat islands through transpiration as well as providing shelter and shade, and contributing to sustainable urban drainage systems. They also make a valuable contribution to the quality of the public realm, helping reduce air, noise and light pollution and improve people’s mental health.

We recommend including specific policy in support of new tree planting, hedgerows and urban woodland creation. We recommend setting a target for tree canopy cover, ideally of 30 per cent and of at least 20 per cent, to be pursued through the retention of important trees, greater than 1:1 replacement of trees lost through development, ageing or disease and by new planting to support green infrastructure.

We encourage the integration of tree planting into new walking and cycling routes, to provide shelter and shade and to maximise the potential of these new green corridors for habitat connectivity.

Overall, CCE support the vision and strategic objectives set out in the consultation document. In particular ‘to provide for high quality energy efficient homes that meet the housing needs of Medway’s communities reflecting the range of sizes, types and affordability the area needs’ alongside ‘the provision of a portfolio of good quality employment land’. The objectives also, importantly, recognise development should be of high quality, resilient and supported by the timely provision of infrastructure to facilitate a sustainable and green future. CCE support the intention to deliver sustainable development, meeting the needs of Medway’s communities whilst respecting the natural and historic environment and directing growth to the most suitable locations.

Paragraph 119 of the NPPF sets out that ‘planning policies and decisions should promote an effective use of land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions’.

It is set out in the current consultation that “The role of the Local Plan is to plan positively for the development and infrastructure that the area needs, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment”.

In order to deliver the Local Plan, it is proposed that the plan is set around strategic objectives. “The objectives will feed into the wording of policies and how sites and different locations are assessed for potential development. The objectives are presented around broad themes for the environment, communities, economy, and investment in infrastructure and design that is fit for the future”. This representation supports the use of objectives to deliver the strategic aims of the plan, but wishes to raise the following comments regarding the individual objectives:

Objective: Prepared for a sustainable and green future

The objective to support action against climate change and a sustainable future for Medway is supported. This actively meets the aspirations of paragraph 153 of the NPPF which sets out that ‘Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change’.

This representation promotes the delivery of a site in the rural area to help deliver 14,736 homes as a way, amongst others, that could deliver a sustainable and green future for Medway.

Paragraph 5.41 of the Regulations 18 consultation, sets out that “large scale development around Hoo St Werburgh and neighbouring villages could provide for planned growth, where new housing is supported by new and improved services and infrastructure. Such development could also help to meet the Council's ambitions for greener growth, with higher environmental standards in construction, communities better connected for walking and cycling, and within easy reach of local services”.

This statement is supported and the site provides an opportunity to deliver this strategy.

Strategic Objectives

As stated above, Redrow support the objective to strengthen and develop transport networks to provide safe and effective choices for sustainable travel, including improved opportunities for walking and cycling and enhanced public transport services, and management of the highways network, with associated improvements in air quality. This is seen as key to unlocking development potential at sites where, historically, highway capacity has been seen as a constraint.

Further, Redrow recognise the need to secure a robust green and blue infrastructure network across land and water that protects and enhances the assets of the natural and historic environments in urban and rural Medway; providing resilience for nature through better connectivity and conditions; informing the design and sustainability of new development; and supporting healthier lifestyles.
These can readily be incorporated into development proposals and it is considered that these can best be planned in co-ordination with a growth strategy to deliver the new homes required at the appropriate location. The Local Plan could set out a clear strategy for achieving these objectives within individual site allocations but also across a wider area, such as suburban expansion at Rainham, through masterplanning and co-ordination of development proposals (a Framework).

New housing growth in selected areas can also achieve the objective to reduce inequalities in health by delivering better outcomes for residents, by promoting opportunities for increasing physical activity and mental wellbeing, through green infrastructure and public realm design for walking, cycling, parks and other recreation facilities.

Well designed and co-ordinated new housing growth at the right suburban locations could reduce social isolation by supporting retention and enhancement of local services close to where people live, and inclusive environments that are accessible by all groups in society. It could also strengthen the role of Medway’s existing urban, neighbourhood and village centres, responding with a positive strategy to changes in retail; supporting independent retail and start-ups, encouraging new business uses into the High Street. It would help to secure a range of accessible services and facilities for local communities close to where they live.

As set out above, Redrow support the objective to boost pride in Medway through quality and resilient development, and this could be achieved with development that is supported by and co-ordinated with the timely provision of good quality effective infrastructure, so that the needs of Medway’s growing and changing communities are well served. As such, it is critical to deliver sustainable development, meeting the needs of Medway’s communities, respecting the natural and historic environment, and directing growth to the most accessible locations, which should include suburban extensions, to best enhance Medway’s existing economic, social and environmental characteristics.

Paragraph 119 of the NPPF sets out that ‘planning policies and decisions should promote an effective use of land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions’.

It is set out in the current consultation that “The role of the Local Plan is to plan positively for the development and infrastructure that the area needs, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment”.

In order to deliver the Local Plan, it is proposed that the plan is set around strategic objectives. “The objectives will feed into the wording of policies and how sites and different locations are assessed for potential development. The objectives are presented around broad themes for the environment, communities, economy, and investment in infrastructure and design that is fit for the future”. This representation supports the use of objectives to deliver the strategic aims of the plan, but wishes to raise the following comments regarding the individual objectives:

Objective: Prepared for a sustainable and green future
The objective to support action against climate change and a sustainable future for Medway is supported. This actively meets the aspirations of paragraph 153 of the NPPF which sets out that ‘Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change’.

This representation promotes the delivery of a site in the rural area to help deliver 14,736 homes as a way, amongst others, that could deliver a sustainable and green future for Medway.

Paragraph 5.41 of the Regulations 18 consultation, sets out that “development around Hoo St Werburgh and neighbouring villages could provide for planned growth, where new housing is supported by new and improved services and infrastructure. Such development could also help to meet the Council's ambitions for greener growth, with higher environmental standards in construction, communities better connected for walking and cycling, and within easy reach of local services”.

This statement is supported and the site known as land at 1 Ropers Cottage (HHH30) provides an opportunity to deliver this strategy.

For a greener, sustainable future, all new builds should have solar panels and be fully insulated (no shortcuts).

Chapter 4 – Strategic objectives

‘Prepared for a sustainable and green future’
9. Catesby Estates supports the need to plan for a sustainable and green future, however, this must be done in a way which is viable so that development is not stifled and the associated benefits realised more quickly. In order to ensure transparency, it is vital that Government policies and agendas are built into the Plan, rather than bespoke strategies which may be harder to implement and/or govern.

10. Catesby Estates is also supportive of the Council’s aspirations for green growth, particularly in terms of securing ‘a robust green and blue infrastructure network’, and considers that this should be inclusive of delivering the new homes required, rather than seen as competing issues. By way of example, expanding Allhallows will allow the sensitive delivery of homes where they are needed, whilst investing in the protection and enhancement of valued environmental assets. This should be embraced and incorporated within well designed development, rather than seen as a constraint to development at locations where sustainable development is possible. ‘The Concept’ shown on page 6 of the accompanying Vision Document demonstrates how this might be possible with the Site.

The Climate Crisis cannot be addressed by building housing development on farm land. The destruction of green infrastructure to build high carbon housing is unwise in the extreme.

We must defend our green spaces and agricultural land and sssi's and aonb