Medway Local Plan (Regulation 19, 2025)

Support

Representation ID: 4594

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

We are writing on behalf of our client, AC Goatham and Son, in respect of the Medway Council’s Local Plan – Regulation 19 Consultation.

This representation supports the inclusion of Flanders Farm within the Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan, where it has been included under the site reference HHH19 under Policy SA14 Employment Sites and Policy SA08 Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden as a site suitable for employment and retail.

Support

Representation ID: 4597

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

The inclusion of the site is supported, but it seems that having the aspirations for the site split across two policies could cause confusion as there is no single defined policy for the site.
The Local Plan needs to create certainty and without the Hoo Development Framework to progress, and without a single policy there could be unwarranted delays in site delivery.
The current position of quoting a document that is not yet available (the HDF) could potentially be an unsound position for the Local Plan and creates a level of risk for our client and future investment.

Support

Representation ID: 4599

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

As site promoters, we support and welcome the recognition that the Hoo Peninsula could actively contribute to a well-planned and strategic community. The site at Flanders Farm actively supports this intention and provides a strategically well positioned site, which provides the opportunity to deliver several development options as part of a mixed-use development with a retail focus.

Support

Representation ID: 4600

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

5.1. The vision for Medway’s rural economy is to secure sustainable growth and service provision in rural communities. The policy goes on to state that “Proposals for new employment development or growth and expansion of existing farms and businesses in the countryside will be supported subject to certain criteria”. This policy is supported.
5.2. However, it is important that the criteria do not stifle future change within the agricultural sector and the development needs that may arise from this in order to allow for suitable growth or diversification as may be appropriate.

Support

Representation ID: 4601

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

6.1. Paragraph 8.12.2 identifies that there is currently a shortfall in retail provision in the Hoo Peninsula. The provision of a 25,000 sqf CIA supermarket to meet this need is considered as a positive opportunity to help deliver this shortfall.
6.2. However, comments are raised relating to the E use class mix, which have been responded to under policy SA8.

Object

Representation ID: 4605

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Yes

Duty to co-operate? Yes

It is considered that the plan could be improved by providing a single policy to cover the Flanders Farm site, that would allow for a retail-led, mixed-use scheme.
This policy should allow for flexibility to enable the best use of the site. The spatial layout of the site should be determined by market conditions, rather than being spatially determined at plan-making stage.
The client is keen to explore a mixed-use scheme, and the policy should not repress the potential for housing development to form part of this, should it be considered a more suitable use later in the plan period.

Support

Representation ID: 4608

Received: 08/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

This representation supports the inclusion of Pump Farm and Bloors Farm (RN9) within the Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan, where it is proposed that Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) housebuilders will deliver Rainham Parkside Village under policy reference SA10 ‘Lower Rainham’.

However, we wish to provide comment setting out how the policy could be improved. These are set out in the full text of the submissions

Object

Representation ID: 4908

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Yes

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Any future policy should allow for flexibility to enable the best use of this strategically important and well-located site on the edge of the Rainham urban settlement, which is seen as an opportunity to deliver an important and new strategically planned community.

The site owners are keen to work with the Council and the community to help deliver the aspirations for the site.

Support

Representation ID: 4909

Received: 11/08/2025

Respondent: AC Goatham & Son

Agent: Bloomfields Ltd

Policy SA14 sets out that HHH19 should provide 14,000 sqm of B2 floorspace, it seems that this is in addition to the retail provision planned at the front of the site. However, it is difficult to ascertain if this is the intention as the HDF does not seem to exist.
The site should be masterplanned to ensure that any mixed-use would work together in a sustainable way, Flanders Farm is a strategically well positioned, which provided the opportunity to deliver several development options. Should the B2 or retail uses not come forward, alternative uses, such as housing, should be considered.