Now is the chance to have your say on the Local Plan - a document that will help shape Medway for the next 15 years and beyond.
Public consultation on proposals for how Medway could change in coming years, including potential sites for future development, begins this week – from Monday, 15 July, and we want everyone who lives and works in Medway to have their say.
Everyone of all ages is encouraged to get involved because this is our best chance to create a sustainable future for Medway communities.
The plan will affect everyone – it will cover communities, the natural and historic environment, town centre revitalisation, housing, employment, improved facilities such as schools and local transport choices (walking, cycling and buses), health centres and shops as well as better access to green spaces including parks and play areas – so we want to hear from all residents in Medway about what's important to ensure sustainable growth in Medway up to 2041.
Three potential options
There are currently three broad options for development; option 1 focusing on urban regeneration; option 2 focusing on dispersed growth; and option 3, a blended strategy looking firstly at urban regeneration and brownfield sites but also at greenfield sites.
The Local Plan is not just about new homes and businesses; the Local Plan is about helping Medway to grow sustainably, together we can find a balance between the need for development of homes and jobs and protecting the best of Medway’s wonderful natural and historic environment.
The needs of our environment and climate change, our local economy and of our local community are central to Medway’s Local Plan, and are the driving principles to encourage sustainable growth.
Medway Council Leader, Cllr Vince Maple, said: “Please take this opportunity to have your input on the Local Plan. It’s important that the final plan is shaped by Medway residents, so that as many people as possible can help drive this vision of Medway.
“If you want to find out more about the Local Plan before you have your say on Medway’s future, the consultation events are a great opportunity to speak to and hear directly from our team. The plan will shape where we live for years and decades to come, and have an impact on all our lives, so we need it to be a blueprint of the future which we can all get behind.”
Cllr Simon Curry, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “This is an exciting moment for Medway, and a chance to improve quality of life for us and future generations. The environment we live in has a direct impact on health and wellbeing, and so it’s important we can help improve our environment as best we can. We look forward to meeting with as many people as possible at our consultation events around Medway, and hearing everyone’s ideas on how we can build the Medway of the future.”
Attend an information event
The council is holding 10 public information events across Medway.
- Tuesday, 16 July: at Medway Park, Gillingham, ME7 1HF between 5:30pm – 8:30pm
- Thursday, 18 July: at Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham, ME4 4HY (at the old Wilko unit) between 11am – 2 pm.
- Monday, 22 July: Halling Community Centre, ME2 1BS from 11am - 2pm,
- Tuesday, 23 July: Hundred of Hoo Secondary School (Main Hall), Hoo St Werburgh, ME3 9HH from 5:30pm – 8:30pm
- Tuesday, 6 August: Corn Exchange Princes Hall, Rochester, ME1 1LS from 4pm - 7pm
- Thursday, 8 August: St Margarets Church, Rainham, ME8 7JH from 5pm-8pm
- Tuesday, 13 August: St Nicholas Church, Strood, ME2 3HF from 3pm-6pm
- Thursday, 29 August: Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, outside M&S, ME7 3PD from 11am - 2pm
- Tuesday, 3 September: Village Hall, Allhallows ME3 9PG from 11am – 2pm,
- Wednesday, 4 September: Darwin Room, Innovation Centre Medway, Chatham, ME5 9FD, 4pm-7pm
Find out more about Medway’s Local Plan – Medway.gov.uk/LocalPlan