Medway Local Plan (Regulation 18, 2023)

Comment

Representation ID: 972

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

With Developer Highway Infrastructure income not being spent promptly the sustainability aspect needs an overhaul. Urban UTC should be extended to the periphery to help bus services, to monitor traffic flows and throttle when necessary. The Advance Electronic Digital Highway signa are also not being used. With food retail to local shopping parades suffering a more positive approach to change of use should be brought into policy. Business parks (out of town) that now have retail is also impacting upon the town centre. The centre is becoming a coffee shop. The parking in the old bus station is on hold.

Comment

Representation ID: 973

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

The current lack of EV chargers in car parks, in local streets, lack of UTC network to control the traffic coming into the town. Lack of air source heat pumps in new housing; Requirement for Planning permission for EV's on or off road parking delays their introduction. The change from traffic impacts of:-

Predict & provide to Decide and Provide requires a change in the production of any Transport related reports. Medway will have to provide a son of Cil report that addresses this change in Policy. The NPPF Sept 2023 has still to be changed to accord with this.

Comment

Representation ID: 974

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

This is more social services than planning. The Building regulations cover these aspects such as EV's, Air quality and ventilation/moisture. However local parade of shops need more diversification as per English Heritages report of a few years ago.
Shopping Parades Introductions to Heritage Assets (April 2016). The recent mass building of flats in Chatham and Rochester plus Command House, removes any amenity values and health benefits. This should be dealt with in more socially acceptable community hubs. They attract Londoners who already live in flats. Possibly more so than local families in rent.

Comment

Representation ID: 975

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

Since the closure of Chatham Docks, the skills base has flatlined. Although the University has provided some input, plus Rochester Horsted Business Park's extension there is a decline in major companies coming into the Medway Towns. Re Tourism, Rochester High Street is also suffering as many shops are now cafe's. Many are closed.

Comment

Representation ID: 976

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

These relate to the Building regulations that changed in June 2022. The flatted developments however provide less quality living standards compared to houses.

Comment

Representation ID: 977

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

All new Local Plan s by LPA's have digital policy maps. It should also include Footpath mapping listing their designation. The lack of new cycle linkages, bus lanes etc should also be included in the rout maps.

Comment

Representation ID: 978

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

The development out in Hoo affected by Nightingales and land covenants on the golf course, will need a Development Corporation or major increases in Planning Officers to support any such future development proposals. Managing Growth requires man/women/officer power not wonderful words. The latest Organogram on planning officers requires more officers to reach any such goals.

Comment

Representation ID: 979

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

Medway politicians at Committee have been reactive to development over the years. The housing numbers have revealed this to be the case. Officers recommendations have been thwarted many times at Committee only for Planning Inspectors to overturn objections and have given costs against Medway. A mentoring regime for new Members is required. The Government will change like the wind. However local plan policies needed to get it right in the first instance. Young families need homes.

Comment

Representation ID: 980

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

With new flats in Rochester and Chatham including Street End Road it encourages Londoners rather than local families to reside in them. With viability assessments reducing affordable homes from 30% to less than 10% say on Volume Housebuilders sites as an example some proactive part funding is required. It all comes down to finance. Son of CIL may be the only way forward.

Comment

Representation ID: 981

Received: 29/10/2023

Respondent: Mr Leslie Brown

The Local Plan needs to move forward (2003 is just not equitable) and need not wait for Government perambulations.