Medway Local Plan (Regulation 18, 2024)

As an environmental consultant, I feel that this preferred spatial growth option would be significantly damaging to the local wildlife in addition to the wellbeing of the people in the area. There is a very clear link to wellbeing and access to green spaces and in turn it would go against the climate action incentives outlined earlier in the document. There needs to be an emphasis on retrofitting old properties, looking at sites which won't impact on the local environment or the biodiversity of the area. I am shocked to think that as a council that has declared a climate emergency the preferred option is one where only half would be on brownfield sites. These greenfield sites are not only important as habitats, but should be considered a key part of Medway's placemaking strategy. They should be protected at all costs, and seen as a health & wellbeing priority for the local community.