5.32

Comment

Representation ID: 364

Received: 26/09/2023

Respondent: Mrs Jill Lovell

I note that some farmland is not in active use. Will the local plan pay attention to the need for food security eg space for something like Thanet Earth?

Comment

Representation ID: 461

Received: 16/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Robert French

The area to the south of Medway is already built up to the boundaries with the exception of Capstone valley and the land out towards Lidsing. It provides a valuable recreation space by way of public rights of way through open countryside to the Kent Downs. Along with Capstone Country Park, Darland Banks it provides an area for wildlife to exist to an extent not possible elsewhere in the south of Medway. This is too valuable an asset to be lost to development.

Comment

Representation ID: 644

Received: 25/10/2023

Respondent: Kent Downs AONB Unit

Green belt land to the south lies within the AONB, rather than its setting. We consider the AONB should be included as a constraint to strategic scale development.

Comment

Representation ID: 756

Received: 26/10/2023

Respondent: Denise Harris

The areas identified on the plan around Rainham are implausible! As mentioned these are areas which give an important 'green lung' to an otherwise extensively built up area, plus having the added benefit of being versatile farmland - it would be absolutely crazy to concrete over this to build houses.
Not to mention that the proposed location falls between 2 notoriously congested roads (A2 and Lower Rainham Road) the latter not being suitable for the level of development planned. There is also no ability to make improvements to the road network due to existing housing.

Comment

Representation ID: 763

Received: 26/10/2023

Respondent: Miss Maria Lawrence

We should be proud of our beautiful areas of outstanding natural beauty for the mental health of the area and the wildlife that thrive in these areas like rare cricket chorus that I hear on summer nights in Darland.

Comment

Representation ID: 791

Received: 27/10/2023

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

Paragraph 5.32 identifies that “Much of the land around the north and east of Rainham is the best and most versatile farmland”. As set out in previous submissions, in order to deliver the appropriate development required in this area, “less weight will obviously need to be placed upon the value of agricultural land in the context of other matters and wider benefits delivered from possible development on site". It will be important to assess sites not within nationally designated areas, such as the AONB at the first
opportunity.

Comment

Representation ID: 883

Received: 28/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Keith Harrison

And these must remain undeveloped.

Comment

Representation ID: 1096

Received: 30/10/2023

Respondent: Medway Green Party

Fortunately, very little development is needed in these areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 1250

Received: 30/10/2023

Respondent: Ms Jane Cook

The land identified in Rainham north for potential suburban expansion is in active agricultural use, apple orchards. I don't think the land to the north of Rainham should be included in the LAA or in this consultation and I have concerns about its inclusion. An application (MC/19/1566) submitted in 2019 for major scale development was refused by Medway Council and the appeal was dismissed by the Secretary of State in 2021. Development of this area will cause significant harm as detailed in the Secretary of State's decision. I think this is an important point to include in the issues element.

Comment

Representation ID: 1378

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Wakely Brothers (Rainham) Kent

Agent: Finns

Site ID 288
This land is not in active agricultural use and is not ‘best and most versatile’ farmland, given its former use as a tip. The tip was closed pre-1990 by Cleanaway with gas and groundwater monitoring. The site is not within the AONB. The land is privately owned with no public access and screened around all boundaries by established hedging, making the site attractive to development within the first 5 years of the Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 1386

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Wakely Brothers (Rainham) Kent

Agent: Finns

Site ID 291
This land is not in active agricultural use and is not ‘best and most versatile’ farmland, given its former use as a tip. The tip was closed pre-1990 by Cleanaway with gas and groundwater monitoring. The site is not within the AONB. The land is privately owned with no public access and screened from Seymour Road and Canterbury Lane by established hedging, making the site attractive to development within the first 5 years of the Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 1498

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Richborough

Agent: Pinnacle Planning

The ability to deliver significant levels of residential development sustainably alongside the ecological designations to the east and south of the district will need to be evidenced. Richborough is of the view that the second stage of the LAA will need to evidence how the residential development of each site can viably protect against the erosion of these features. Richborough is also of the view that Medway Council should look to develop a site selection methodology which prioritises sites which minimise impact on these key ecological designations.

Comment

Representation ID: 1592

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: RSPB England

The RSPB considers that any increase in development, especially residential, close to the Special Protection Areas/Ramsar/SSSI must show that the corresponding increase in recreational disturbance pressures on the site and its waterbird assemblage and designated features must be fully assessed and mitigated, and this may not necessarily be possible simply through RAMS contributions.

Comment

Representation ID: 1602

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Martin Hardy

The area to the south currently comprises active arable farmland - precious local food-producing land that is not possible to replace once built upon. A responsible council will prioritise brownfield site over destruction of land suitable for food production.

Comment

Representation ID: 1629

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Martin Hardy

The Darland and Capstone valleys contain both ancient woodland and south facing sunny scrubland which makes it a very important habitat for wildlife. The topography of the region supports important wildlife corridors for birdlife and mammals including bats. Development of the zones in these valleys would do irreversible harm to wildlife and permanently change the natural beauty and the general feel of the area.

Comment

Representation ID: 1726

Received: 31/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Rupert Turpin

Is it actually the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? Your description sounds vague as if you are trying to get around it?