We pride ourselves on being one of the most promising growth areas in the South East.
Medway:
- is home to over 14,000 business
- has a population of about 280,000 people
- has an economy worth £5.9 billion
- is growing and changing all the time.
Our new Local Plan 2040 affects everyone including:
- Grace from Gillingham
- Billy from Rainham
- Sangita and Sonny from Rochester
- Shaun and Asha from Chatham
- David from Hoo
- Doreen from Strood.
We've created these example profiles to represent demographics across Medway.
Grace from Gillingham
Grace is:
- 13 years old
- studying at secondary school
- living near the high street with her mum, dad and sister.
To Grace, the Local Plan could mean:
- providing good leisure facilities
- accessible parks and green spaces
- having local youth clubs nearby
- more cycle paths, to allow me to commute safely to school
- more businesses opening up to provide more job opportunities when I turn 16 years old.
Billy from Rainham
Billy is:
- 19 years old
- studying at MidKent College
- living with his mum, dad, gran and 2 brothers.
To Billy, the Local Plan could mean:
- excellent transport links to allow him to travel to college
- more businesses expanding and coming to Medway to provide opportunities for his first job
- more affordable, quality apartments in Medway so he can find his first home
- improved sports centre facilities
- more shops and restaurants opening in our town centres.
Sangita and Sonny from Rochester
Sangita and Sonny are:
- aged 28 and 32 years old with their first child on the way
- looking for their first home
- currently living with Sonny's parents
- both commuting to other parts of Kent and London for work.
To Sangita and Sonny, the Local Plan could mean:
- more high-quality housing allowing them to find a home and stay in Medway
- more employers in Medway, allowing them to work locally
- good locally accessible health services
- better access to parks and children's entertainment facilities
- providing high quality local nurseries and schools
- better transport services including local buses to allow them to travel around Medway.
Shaun and Asha from Chatham
Shaun and Asha are:
- aged 49 and 52 years old
- parents to 2 children who have recently moved out to study at university
- living in Chatham and have done all their life
- working locally
- wanting to explore other housing options, such as being closer to Chatham town centre to access the train station.
To Shaun and Asha, the Local Plan could mean:
- excellent quality homes near the waterfront with wheelchair accessibility to enjoy riverside living
- more businesses to allow their children to stay in Medway and find jobs in their chosen field
- improving local air quality and have measures in place for the town centre
- better accessibility around the town centre so Shaun can move around town safely
- more access to green spaces including riverside walks.
David from Hoo
David is:
- 62 years old
- looking to retire soon
- lives with his partner
- swimming at his local sports centre
- looking to downside to a smaller property.
To David, the Local Plan could mean:
- new community facilities providing social clubs and activities
- improved and updated sports facilities in Hoo
- improved transport services for better access around the Peninsula and into other areas in Medway
- maintaining the local heritage of the Peninsula, including creating access to green spaces for walking and cycling
- more options for high-quality houses on the Peninsula.
Doreen from Strood
Doreen is:
- 82 years old and widowed
- visiting her daughter using the train to Gillingham
- shopping at Strood High Street.
To Doreen, the Local Plan could mean:
- more health and wellbeing services to prevent isolation and loneliness
- better access to local clubs and community groups
- improved health care facilities, including pharmacies and GP services
- better bus services to give more travel options to see her daughter
- having a good range of shops and services in the town centre that are easy to reach.