Local plan could see 28,000 new homes in Medway by 2040

KentOnline / KMTV

Today the unitary authority has announced a consultation for the Medway Local plan, the document would provide guidance for future development in the area until 2040.

Transcript

00:00 Medway's population growing. Currently more than a quarter of a million people live in

00:05 Medway. There's a need for more homes in line with government quotas. That's around 28,000

00:11 more homes by 2040 according to Medway Council.

00:15 "That's why the consultation is so important because we have to bring together the evidence

00:20 to say how many homes we think we can cope with and where they're going to be. And we

00:24 depend on landowners, on developers, on ordinary people who've got ideas about this to come

00:30 forward. And if we find that we're not going to be able to deliver that target, then we

00:34 have to have a strong evidence base to take to the planning inspector to say why."

00:41 Medway Labour took control of the council in May. They're now looking to bring the first

00:45 local plan since 2003. The previous Conservative-run administration tried to bring one in, but

00:52 their members were divided over certain issues, such as a dockyard development.

00:57 "A lot of us, like myself, felt that whilst the jobs in the docks are important, there

01:04 are bigger factors to play. And unfortunately coastal shipping is a demise. If we'd been

01:11 stood by this river 20 or 30 years ago, it would have been full of coastal vessels. That

01:16 trade has almost died up."

01:18 Peter's lived in Chatham for more than 70 years. He says he's now starting to feel priced

01:24 out.

01:25 "I've got a small one-bedroom flat. I'm a 70-year-old and I'm £700 a month. I have to

01:29 put £200 of that out of my pension because the council can't afford to pay all that either.

01:36 So that's a bit sad. They need to stop these rents going up. It's full up. People coming

01:42 from London, people coming from everywhere. It's only a small town."

01:46 But some would argue further development would reduce demand, possibly slowing rental rises.

01:52 "The local plan will also look at retail regeneration. Here on Chatham High Street, there are a number

01:58 of empty premises. Locals here tell me they are concerned that that number is only rising."

02:04 Also exploring communities, environment and employment, with a consultation due to open

02:10 in mid-September, closing at the end of the next month. With a draft plan expected for

02:16 spring next year. From there on it is speculation that a plan might be in place by 2025.

02:24 But what we do know, if the local plan goes ahead, it might give the green light for further

02:29 greenfield development. Which is a contentious issue.

02:33 Gabriel Morris for KMTV in Medway.

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