Latest news with #SaveChathamDocks
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Medway draft local plan to be put to public scrutiny
The public are to be given their say on updated plans for Medway's draft local plan contains details of proposed sites for housing developments as well as infrastructure projects, including improving public transport. The document will be available to view from Monday for six weeks, both online and in a series of public events. Local plans typically last 15 years, but the last time the council approved one was 2003, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). The document contains proposals on how Medway Council intends to meet a government target of building 24,450 homes in the area by 2041, including 2,200 at Chatham Docks. The Chatham Waters residential-led development plan has been opposed by the Save Chatham Docks group, according to the Conservatives also criticised building at Chatham Docks, among other areas, accusing the Labour council of a U-turn. Councillor Phil Filmer said: "Medway Labour made promises to residents and workers whilst in opposition, Chatham Docks and Capstone Valley as two examples, and yet in power have broken these promises in the blink of an eye."Labour councillor Simon Curry said: "New developments are required to meet the housing target set by government. "We have carefully considered all feedback and the options available to determine where's best for the growth to go." Following six weeks of public scrutiny, the plan will go to central government for approval. If given the green light, the proposals will be put into action by December 2026, the council said. The first public event will be held at Rochester's Corn Exchange from 16:00 to 19:00 BST on Monday with Medway Council's planning team attending to answer questions.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Chatham Docks residential plan outlined in council's local plan
A controversial project to build 2,200 homes at Chatham Docks has been outlined in Medway Council's local draft document, published on Thursday, also details the council's intention to build 690 homes on enterprise zone Medway City Estate and over 1,000 homes on what previously was green belt land on the outskirts of Strood. The Chatham Waters residential-led development plan has been campaigned against by the group Save Chatham Docks since it was approved in November, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors will discuss the proposals at a special full council meeting on 26 June and vote on whether to put it out to the public to get their views. Chatham Docks is owned by Peel Waters, which has intentions for regeneration of the site through redevelopment, but this has faced major opposition from the Save Chatham Docks campaign, supported by former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst. Housing targets Medway City Estate will also see major changes as it is to become the Frindsbury Peninsula Opportunity Area (FPOA), meaning approximately 690 homes are to be draft Local Plan believes the high occupancy by businesses in the estate is only because there are a lack of alternative would mean an almost total change to the site since it began in the 1980s, when it was created as an enterprise zone. Elsewhere, the Capstone Valley is another location allocated for residential-led development across four sites, totalling up to 3,938 will also see changes to the green belt boundary, as the government's new 'grey belt' designation comes into to 1,280 would be allowed across three sites on the edge of Strood on what was previously green belt land, should this version of the Local Plan be approved. As part of national housing targets, Medway council is required to provide 1,636 homes a year until council's planning department budget increased by £320,000 to cover the anticipated cost for the preparation of the Local Plan and it received a £227,962.50 grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in March 2025.
