Development Plan

The need for a masterplan

Medway Council has commissioned a masterplan to provide a long-term vision for future development and regeneration of Strood town centre. Strood has changed greatly in recent decades, with significant decline in manufacturing industry and growth in retailing accompanied by a general perception that the town centre environment is in decline.

Medway has more recently been the focus of regeneration plans within the context of the Thames Gateway, forming a key component of the Kent Thames Gateway sub-regional plans for urban regeneration and growth. Within this context, and the Medway Waterfront Regeneration Strategy, a number of major development opportunities in Strood town centre have also been identified and progressed through area masterplanning and the adoption of supplementary planning guidance.

Technical studies have also been undertaken to examine how the road infrastructure and public realm in Strood could be improved. However, there remains a lack of a clear vision for how these major development opportunities relate to the heart of the town centre and can contribute towards achieving wider improvements.

The masterplan therefore draws together and builds upon the broad range of spatial planning work undertaken to date in Strood. It seeks to clarify the relationship between major development sites and the rest of the town centre, and the opportunities that arise for improvement of the environment through both development and streetscape improvements.

The masterplan will inform the preparation of an area specific policy for Strood town centre within the Medway Core Strategy DPD, providing a clear spatial planning framework for investment and decision-making.

Methodology and public consultation

The masterplan brief set out a structure for the preparation of the study based upon the following key stages:

• Stage 1: Data collection, review and analysis
• Stage 2: Draft masterplan and site options
• Stage 3: Stakeholder and community engagement
• Stage 4: Revisions and finalise masterplan
• Stage 5: Publication and dissemination

A stage 2 Draft Masterplan was presented to members on 7 July 2009 to seek endorsement for the analysis of issues and opportunities, and the emerging masterplan, for the purposes of undertaking public consultation.

The Draft Masterplan was then subject to a period of public consultation between 1-31 October 2009, consisting of:

• masterplan leaflets posted to every home and business within the town centre;
• an unstaffed exhibition at Strood Library for the full consultation period;
• four day-long staffed exhibitions in town centre locations, spread through the consultation period.

The consultation events were publicised in the local press and on local radio, as well as by posters placed in local shops and other public buildings. These events were well attended and a range of responses were received by email and via the feedback forms provided.

Following analysis of the consultation responses and appropriate changes and clarifications to the masterplan, this final summary report has been prepared: Strood Town Centre Masterplan Final Report (pdf 26,094KB).

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