Medway residents can have their say on the draft masterplan for the sustainable growth of communities on the Hoo Peninsula over the coming decades.
The Hoo Development Framework provides a high-level strategic overview of potential development on the peninsula for the next 30 years, including education, healthcare, arts, leisure and sports facilities.
The nine-week programme of consultation, starting today, Friday, 23 September, was given the green light at Medway Council’s Full Council meeting on 15 September, giving residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to provide their views on the document.
Comprehensive long-term vision of a sustainable future
Cllr Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, said: “The Hoo Development Framework is a comprehensive long-term vision of a sustainable future for the peninsula with the infrastructure to support vibrant communities and protect and enhance the area’s green spaces.
“The Government currently requires us to build 28,475 homes in Medway over the next 17 years, which I know is a concern. However, I hope this blueprint will help allay worries and demonstrate our commitment to creating high quality, sustainable communities.
“We have adopted a landscape-led approach to development, and are confident this will ensure that communities on the peninsula are connected, vibrant and sustainable, with attractive built environment.”
The Hoo Development Framework focuses on how the area could potentially grow and change and what the future of the peninsula could look like.
It sets out how Hoo St Werburgh would become a sustainable rural town that is sensitively integrated into the landscape and heritage of the peninsula. Chattenden and High Halstow would also see new neighbourhoods, each with a wide range of houses, enhanced centres with new community facilities and benefitting from improved public transport links and roads.
The Hoo Development Framework has benefitted from detailed work undertaken by Medway Council into where critically important investments in education, healthcare, arts, leisure and sports facilities need to be made across the peninsula, alongside new residential communities.
The proposals also include the enhanced education facilities on the peninsula, including two new two-form entry primary schools and a new 8-form entry secondary school, together with the possible relocation and expansion by one-form entry of Chattenden Primary School, as well as expanding High Halstow Primary School by one-form entry.
In addition, the expansion of the primary element of Hundred of Hoo Academy by one-form entry is under way, and a one-form expansion at Hoo St Werburgh Primary School will also be considered.
Have your say
Cllr Jarrett added: “We very keen to shape the Framework with the full input of all Medway residents and want everyone to have their say during this consultation period. There are plenty of ways people can get involved from coming along to some of our drop-in events to reading and commenting on our helpful online brochure.”
The public consultation on the Hoo Development Framework will run until Friday, 25 November, with the public exhibitions being undertaken on:
- High Halstow – Wednesday, 2 November – 2.30pm to 6.30pm, High Halstow Memorial Hall
- Hoo - Saturday, 5 November – 9am to 12pm, Hundred of Hoo Secondary School
- Chattenden – Wednesday, 9 November – 3pm to 8pm, Chattenden Community Centre