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Kent and Medway Structure Plan 2006

Adopted PlanAnd

Explanatory Memorandum

Interim Pre-Print Version September 2006

NOTE

This is a pre-print version of the Adopted Kent & Medway StructurePlan which is being made available in the interim period followingits formal adoption in July 2006 until the final Plan is published. Itis possible, therefore, that there may be very minor editorialchanges to the explanatory text in the final published version of thePlan, although the policies themselves will not change at all.

If you have any queries, or require a word version of this document,please e-mail: [email protected].

FOREWORD

Both Kent and Medway are experiencing rapid change and face substantial challenges overthe next 20 years. The area has a distinctive, high quality but fragile environment whichneeds to be protected and enhanced. However there are demands and opportunities arisingfrom Kent and Medway's position close to London and as the ‘gateway’ between the UK andmainland Europe. Nationally and regionally Government is pursuing a ‘step change’ inhousing provision. Two of the four growth areas for the South East identified in theGovernment's Sustainable Communities Plan - Thames Gateway and Ashford - are withinthe Kent and Medway area.

The Kent and Medway Structure Plan provides fully for the area's contribution to newhousing in the South East and maintains generous provisions for new economicdevelopment. Kent and Medway's economic performance continues to lag behind that ofother parts of the South East. The need for housing to go hand in hand with businessgrowth, job creation and a widening range and quality of employment is an essentialrequirement for development. The Plan emphasises the importance of these relationships tobalanced and sustainable growth.

Development must not be viewed in isolation from its consequences and requirements. Theresults of the wide-ranging public consultation undertaken during the preparation of theStructure Plan clearly established the need for early improvements to the area’sinfrastructure, particularly transport, to serve existing communities and to achieve the growthenvisaged. Development must be accompanied by the funding and provision of essentialcommunity facilities and services that will support it.

The Structure Plan seeks development of the highest quality with new housing, associatedwith high quality neighbourhood facilities and open space, contributing to the creation ofattractive communities. Necessary development must be a positive force for change makingthe best use of land, reflecting a high quality of design and sensitivity to community needs.We place great weight on protecting our distinctive countryside and heritage, supporting theregeneration of our towns and town centres and building on local strengths and opportunitieswithin the economy of Kent and Medway. This Structure Plan provides robust policies onthese matters.

Kent and Medway have a strong track record in providing a sound and up to date strategicplanning framework for the county – this Plan maintains that. It builds on the aims of ourcommunity strategies in setting out our framework of policies and proposals forenvironmental protection, the major transport priorities, the scale and broad pattern of newhousing and economic development.

Preparing and taking forward the Structure Plan’s policies and proposals requires widepartnership and support. We would like to thank the many organisations and individualswhose valued contribution to the Structure Plan’s preparation has added so much to itsquality.

Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo

Paul CarterLeaderKent County Council

Graham GibbensCabinet Member forRegeneration &SupportingIndependenceKent County Council

John FullartonChairmanKent & MedwayJoint Structure PlanAdvisory Board

Rodney ChambersLeaderMedway Council

Jane ChittyCabinet Member forStrategic Planning &Economic GrowthMedway Council

Kent & Medway Structure Plan (Adopted July 2006): Interim Pre-Print Version September 2006 1

CONTENTS

Chapter

Foreword

Contents

Index of policies

Introduction

1 Our vision and guiding principles 2 The spatial strategy for Kent 3 Area policies 4 Protecting and enhancing our natural environment 5 Promoting quality of life in town and country 6 Employment and prosperity 7 Housing provision and distribution 8 Promoting quality, choice and accessibility in our transport network 9 Managing our natural resources: climate change - energy production - water

resources - flood risk 10 Managing our waste and mineral resources

11 Implementing the Kent and Medway Structure Plan and monitoring itseffectiveness

Appendix 1 Road hierarchy – criteria for classification

Appendix 2 Abbreviations and glossary of terms

Appendix 3 Kent and Medway Structure Plan supplementary planning guidance

Appendix 4 Kent and Medway Structure Plan working papers

Appendix 5 Bibliography

Appendix 6 References to national and regional planning policy guidance

Key Diagram


INDEX OF POLICIES

Chapter 1: Our vision and guiding principles

SP1 Conserving and enhancing Kent’s environment and ensuring a sustainablepattern of development

Chapter 2: The spatial strategy for Kent

SS1 Spatial priorities for development and investment in Kent and the role ofthe settlement hierarchy

SS2 Extent of the Metropolitan Green Belt in KentSS3 Strategic gapsSS4 Priority for previously developed land and a sequential approach to the

location of developmentSS5 Mixed use in town centres and inner urban areasSS6 Enhancing existing communitiesSS7 Development at Rural Service Centres and other rural settlementsSS8 Development in the countryside

Chapter 3: Area policies

DG1 Dartford and GraveshamME1 MedwaySW1 SwaleAS1 AshfordCA1 CanterburySH1 ShepwayDO1 DoverTH1 ThanetWK1 West KentMA1 MaidstoneTM1 Tonbridge and MallingSE1 SevenoaksTW1 Tunbridge Wells

Chapter 4: Protecting and enhancing our natural environment

EN1 Protecting Kent’s countrysideEN2 Protecting Kent's coast and estuariesEN3 Protecting and enhancing countryside characterEN4 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Heritage CoastEN5 Special Landscape AreasEN6 International and national wildlife designationsEN7 County and local wildlife designationsEN8 Protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversityEN9 Trees, woodland and hedgerowsEN10 Potential for community forests and woodlandsEN11 Planning and managing the urban fringeEN12 River corridorsEN13 Environmental enhancement of primary routesEN14 Rural lanes


Chapter 5: Promoting quality of life in town and country

QL1 Quality of development and designQL2 Priorities for the public realmQL3 Movement and accessibility in the public realmQL4 Maintaining the separation and identity of settlementsQL5 Mix of uses on sitesQL6 Conservation AreasQL7 Archaeological sitesQL8 Buildings of architectural or historic importanceQL9 Historic landscape featuresQL10 Heritage assets – enabling developmentQL11 Protecting and enhancing existing community servicesQL12 Provision for new community services and infrastructureQL13 Cultural development and the artsQL14 Provision for major sporting venuesQL15 Formal and informal recreation/sport facilitiesQL16 Water recreationQL17 Green-space networks and rights of wayQL18 Strategic green space initiatives

Chapter 6: Employment and prosperity

EP1 Land, workforce, education and skillsEP2 Employment land provisionEP3 Location of new or replacement employment landEP4 Locations of strategic importance for business, distribution or industrial usesEP5 Land for technology and knowledge clustersEP6 Premises for small firmsEP7 Development of employment uses in rural areasEP8 Farm diversificationEP9 Protecting agricultural landEP10 Sustainable tourism developmentEP11 Tourism development and regenerationEP12 Tourist accommodationEP13 Major tourism/visitor attractionsEP14 Development at the network of strategic centresEP15 Sequential consideration of sites for retail and leisure developmentEP16 Development for core comparison goods shoppingEP17 Development of large food storesEP18 Urban and Rural Service Centres

Chapter 7: Housing provision and distribution

HP1 Housing provision and distribution 2001 - 2016HP2 Housing provision: phasing, assessment and sequential Approach to

locationHP3 Contribution of previously-developed land and previously-used buildings to

housing provision 2001 - 2016HP4 Housing: quality and density of developmentHP5 Housing development in the countrysideHP6 Range and mix of housing provisionHP7 Affordable housing provision


HP8 Affordable housing on rural exception sitesHP9 Provision of permanent and transit Gypsy accommodation

Chapter 8: Promoting quality, choice and accessibility in our transport network

TP1 Integrated transport strategyTP2 Assessment criteria for transport proposalsTP3 Transport and the location of developmentTP4 Safeguarding programmed strategic transport schemesTP5 Support for strategic rail schemesTP6 Major transport corridorsTP7 Further Thames crossingTP8 Future strategic transport schemesTP9 Supporting public transportTP10 Supporting park and rideTP11 Facilities for pedestrians and cyclistsTP12 Development and access to the primary/secondary road networkTP13 Rail freight and handling facilitiesTP14 Safeguarding railway land for transport purposesTP15 Development traffic and heavy goods vehiclesTP16 Local transport strategiesTP17 Traffic and management of minor roadsTP18 Roadside servicesTP19 Vehicle parking standardsTP20 Gateway function of the portsTP21 Channel Tunnel capacity and second fixed linkTP22 Kent portsTP23 Major distribution and transhipment centresTP24 Kent International (Manston) AirportTP25 Lydd AirportTP26 Other airports and airfields

Chapter 9: Managing our natural resources

NR1 Development and the prudent use of natural resourcesNR2 Energy generationNR3 Renewable and sustainable energy productionNR4 Combined heat and power generationNR5 Pollution impactsNR6 Development sensitive to pollutionNR7 Air quality management areasNR8 Water qualityNR9 Water supply and wastewater treatmentNR10 Development and flood riskNR11 Flood protection

Chapter 10: Managing our waste and mineral resources

WM1 Integrated waste managementWM2 Assessment criteria for waste proposalsWM3 Securing waste reductionWM4 Planning for waste management capacityWM5 Waste disposal to land


WM6 Assessment of strategic waste management facilitiesWM7 Construction-related spoilMN1 Sources of minerals supplyMN2 Use of secondary/recycled materialsMN3 Assessment criteria for minerals proposalsMN4 Providing and safeguarding marine wharves and rail depotsMN5 Provision for construction aggregatesMN6 Limestone extraction in East KentMN7 Silica sandMN8 Building stoneMN9 BrickearthMN10 Chalk and clayMN11 Oil, gas and coalbed methaneMN12 Safeguarding strategically important minerals

Chapter 11: Implementing the Kent and Medway Structure Plan and monitoring itseffectiveness

IM1 Meeting the costs of community and other infrastructure needs generatedby new development


INTRODUCTION

In 1998 Kent County Council and Medway Council became jointly responsible for theStructure Plan and for producing the new Kent and Medway Structure Plan covering bothareas. The Structure Plan is the strategic ‘arm’ of the statutory development plan for Kentand Medway setting out the broad strategy for the development and use of land for newhomes, jobs, transport, shopping, recreation and services. Its purpose is to balance theserequirements with the need to protect Kent’s environment.

Preparation of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan has been subject to two main stages ofpublic consultation. In Spring 2002 consultation was undertaken on the pre-depositdocument, ‘Mapping out the Future’ focusing on the key areas of policy change and choice.Consultation on the ‘Deposit’ draft of the Plan took place in late 2003. Following anExamination in Public in 2004 and consultations on two sets of Proposed Modifications thePlan was adopted by Kent and Medway Councils on 6th July 2006.

The Kent and Medway Structure Plan 2006 replaces the 1996 Kent Structure Plan. It coversthe period 2001-2021 although its housing provisions relate to 2001-2016, consistent withthe time horizon of RPG9 (2001). The Plan will guide more detailed local planning, thepreparation of Local Development Documents and Local Transport Plans. It will also providestrategic development control guidance for Kent County Council, Medway Council and thedistrict councils in Kent.

As a result of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 this will be the last StructurePlan for Kent. In future, statutory strategic planning for the South East region and Kent willbe provided through the Regional Spatial Strategy (the ‘South East Plan’). However until thisis finalised the Structure Plan remains part of the development plan for the Kent andMedway area.

The formal Structure Plan comprises the policies adopted by the two Councils, shown inbold type (and, where appropriate, associated tables), together with the Key Diagram,indicating the geographical inter-relationship of the policies, and transport network hierarchydiagrams. The accompanying text (the ‘explanatory memorandum’) amplifies the policiesand provides the Councils’ advice on how the policies should be interpreted. An index of allthe policies is provided at the front of the Plan.

Throughout the Plan references to ‘Kent’ apply to the whole Structure Plan area unlessstated to be otherwise. Specific reference is made to Medway where this needs to bedistinguished.


CHAPTER 1: OUR VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1.1 The role of the Structure Plan is to provide the strategic planning framework that willguide decisions on development, transport and environmental matters in Kent over the next20 years. This Plan covers the period 2001-2021, although its housing provisions relate to2001-2016 to bring it into line with the time horizon of RPG9 (2001). This Structure Plancovers the administrative areas of Kent and Medway and has been jointly prepared by KentCounty Council and Medway Council.

1.2 The Structure Plan will shape the scale, location and form of private and publicinvestment in Kent over the Plan period, and in doing so must interpret national and regionalpolicies as they apply to Kent. These are currently aimed at fostering sustainablecommunities, promoting an ‘urban renaissance’ by regenerating the county’s towns and theircentres and revitalising rural communities. The Structure Plan’s role in shaping developmentis particularly crucial since two of the Government’s four growth areas for the South Eastidentified in Sustainable Communities: building for the future - Gateway and Ashford - arewithin Kent.

1.3 The need to accommodate major new growth in Kent of the highest quality and with allthe community services needed for health, education, recreation, transport and otherfunctions, while protecting Kent’s environment, represents a major challenge to publicservices and government. Not only should the new communities be well balanced in termsof development and services, but the investment they bring should help correct pastdeficiencies in existing towns and villages.

1.4 Under the Local Government Act 2000, Kent and Medway Councils have the power topromote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area. TheStructure Plan is an important tool in furthering these objectives and in enabling the peopleof Kent to enjoy the healthy and high quality lifestyle to which they are entitled. This meansbringing about healthier, safer, more prosperous communities with access to excellenteducation, jobs, transport, housing, health, leisure and cultural facilities. It also meansensuring that Kent’s environment is protected and enhanced for its own sake in the interestsof current and future generations.

1.5 Kent’s distinctive character is one of the significant features that this Structure Planseeks to retain and strengthen. Its distinctiveness is based on its size, peninsular position,and heritage as well as its long history as a single administrative unit which dates back atleast to the Saxon Kingdom of Kent. Its long-standing role as a gateway between the UKand the European mainland has also helped shape its character.

1.6 All places can claim to be unique, but in the case of Kent this uniqueness is based on itspopular reputation as the Garden of England - a character established through acombination of climate, geology and agricultural tradition and practice. The coastal towns ofEast Kent, those along the Thames in North Kent, the rural Weald and the county’s manyhistoric centres all share an important sense of ‘Kentishness’. This Plan seeks to retain andstrengthen the unique character of Kent’s countryside, biodiversity, built environment andheritage, both for their own sake and as a driver for inward investment, tourism andcommunity pride.

Kent and Medway: a distinctive ‘mosaic’

1.7 Kent has no single dominant urban area but consists of a number of medium-sizedtowns and smaller centres. Different communities across Kent exhibit significant differencesin their prosperity and in the quality of their built environment. There is a strong inter-


relationship between rural and urban areas. The future planning strategy for the countyneeds to respond to these differing needs and circumstances, protect the best of what thereis and revitalise those communities and areas in greatest need.

1.8 Kent has an outstanding wealth of historic towns, but the quality of the built environmentis variable. Many of the larger towns, that are home to almost three-quarters of Kent’spopulation, require environmental improvements in inner residential areas and town centres.Many also need measures to encourage better public transport and to provide better routesfor pedestrians. Some towns, especially in north and east Kent, have untapped potential tooffer better employment and housing opportunities for the disadvantaged communities withinthem. There is a need to improve the quality of building design and public space and tomake towns more attractive places in which to work and live.

1.9 Kent’s countryside is one of the county’s most important, but fragile, assets. It helpsmake Kent special, gives identity to its settlements and contributes an important part of itssense of place. At the same time it is under intense pressure from changes in agriculturalpractice and from built development. It must be nurtured for the benefit of present andfuture generations and given strong protection. Sensitive farm diversification, however, willbe encouraged as a way of managing the rural landscape and improving the vitality of therural economy.

1.10 More than a quarter of Kent’s population lives in its smaller market towns and ruralsettlements or the wider countryside. The economic health and vitality of some of thesesettlements needs to be improved to respond to local needs. Some larger rural settlementsprovide local retail and community facilities and employment and fulfil the role of rural servicecentres. They justify greater recognition as focal points for necessary development,including small-scale residential and economic development and community facilities andservices. Other rural settlements of a similar scale lack many basic services and this needsto be addressed. The emphasis for smaller villages and hamlets will be on maintaining theircharacter and protecting them from inappropriate development.

1.11 The Kent economy has shown significant improvement in the recent past, highlightedby a fall in unemployment and greater diversification within the economy. There are still,however, significant economic problems and disparities which need to be tackled, and someareas still rely on poorly-performing economic sectors. In terms of overall economicperformance, employment growth and representation of key business sectors, the area doesnot compare well with the rest of the South East. This gap needs to be narrowed.

1.12 As the principal gateway to the rest of Europe, Kent has significant opportunities foreconomic development and tourism. This gateway role, however, results in a high volume ofroad and rail traffic travelling through Kent to reach the ports and the Channel Tunnel. Thisimpacts on the local environment and on the transport network that must also serve localneeds. While Kent should play its full part in ensuring economic prosperity for the nation andfor the region, local interests must also be addressed.

1.13 The tendency in recent decades to separate different land uses has resulted inrelatively low development densities in suburban and commercial areas and a moredispersed pattern of development. This has led to longer journeys to work – contributing toair pollution - and a less ‘local’ pattern of services. The provision of community facilities andnew job opportunities has also frequently lagged behind the construction of new housing.

1.14 New development should provide for a better balance of homes, jobs and services,located in places where they can be easily reached. It should support the role of towncentres as focal points for local communities and make more effective use of urban land.Concentrating development at the major/principal urban areas offers the best chance of


ensuring that homes, jobs and services are well related to each other and served by a choiceof transport facilities.

1.15 Regional Planning Guidance RPG9 (2001) confirmed the Thames Gateway (whichincludes most of North Kent) as a nationally and regionally important area for economicregeneration and for redeveloping previously used land. RPG also highlighted the growthpotential of Ashford, long identified by Kent’s planning strategy as a growth point for bothhousing and jobs. RPG9 (2004) provides further guidance on the role of Ashford as aregional growth area. Ashford’s contribution will increase over the lifetime of this StructurePlan and beyond. The Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan, which seeks asignificant change in the supply of new housing in London and the South East, with majorgrowth focussed on four growth areas, will play an important part in the way Kent will evolveover the next 15 to 20 years and beyond, especially in the Kent Thames Gateway andAshford growth areas.

Sustainable Communities: building for the future (2003)

“In partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders, to provide for major growth inthe four growth areas identified in regional planning guidance for London and the rest of theSouth East in 2000 (RPG9):• Thames Gateway• Milton Keynes/South Midlands• Ashford• London - Stansted - Cambridge” “To bring together the best of design and planning to ensure that the built environment innew and expanded communities is of a high quality, and the surrounding countryside isprotected and enhanced”. “To address public services and infrastructure needs to enable the new communities tofunction…”.

1.16 This Plan maintains the commitment to regeneration and economic diversification in thecoastal towns of East Kent and the former East Kent Coalfield contained in the 1996 KentStructure Plan. These areas are identified as regionally significant Priority Areas forEconomic Regeneration (PAER) in RPG9. The Structure Plan has also taken account ofregional strategies in relation to transport, tourism, energy, waste and minerals. 1.17 The manner of population change, including an increase in the number of smallerhouseholds and a more mobile labour force, means that Kent will require significant newdevelopment to meet the needs of existing residents and to ensure that Kent maintains orimproves its economic competitiveness. 1.18 Kent will be affected by climate change, and the county must consider the impact of thischange when planning the location of development, particularly in river corridors and coastalareas. Kent must also play its part in using natural resources such as water prudently and inpromoting renewable energy and alternative forms of transport. Sustainable community strategies 1.19 The Local Government Act 2000 placed a statutory duty on Kent and Medway Councilsto produce community strategies, developing them in partnership with a wide range ofstakeholders and partners. Government envisages that community strategies will beexplicitly developed as ‘sustainable community strategies’ setting out shared objectives and


priorities for the well-being of Kent’s communities with a focus on sustainable communitiesas places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They also embody theprinciples of sustainable development such as integrating economic, social andenvironmental interests and meeting the needs of existing generations without compromisingthe ability of future generations to meet their needs. These evolving strategies haveinformed the themes and core principles within this Structure Plan. In turn the Structure Planwill play a key role in delivering the aspirations set out in Kent and Medway’s sustainablecommunity strategies. The Kent Partnership’s Vision for Kent strategy (revised in 2006) sets out a number ofaspirational goals for Kent* identified by key partners. It sets a vision for Kent to be: “Acounty…• where a vibrant and successful economy and targeted regeneration are delivered and

sustained• where learning is stimulated and supported for everyone – for life, for employment and

for enjoyment• where people lead healthier lives and enjoy high quality services that meet their needs

for health, care and well-being• where a high quality environment and countryside are protected and enhanced for

current and future generations• where communities are stronger, safer and confident in the face of change• where residents and visitors enjoy life through an enhanced and accessible range of

recreational, sporting, artistic and cultural opportunities• where jobs and services are easily accessible for all sections of the community and

congestion and pollution are reduced• where housing needs are met and decent, high quality homes help create attractive, safe

and friendly communities.” * Kent County Council area Source: Vision for Kent 2006 The Medway Local Strategic Partnership’s Community Strategy (More to Medway)envisages Medway as “a healthy, safe and exciting place with a good environment and majorcultural attractions, yet its communities will be recognised for their care, fairness andvibrancy, where people work together to realise their needs and ambitions”. Its goalsembrace:• a community involved and informed• a safe and secure Medway• increased health, life expectancy and improvement in the quality of life• learning for life – aspiring, achieving and being ambitious for more• development of a vibrant local economy with strong connections to the broader

economies of Kent, the South East and Europe as central to the development ofimproved standards of living for the people of Medway

• transport as the key to transforming Medway, attracting business, visitors and enablingresidents to work, learn and take part in activities; a safer and sustainable transportsystem will also help develop an evening economy

• a sustainable scale and form to new development with development decisions striking asensitive balance between the need to protect the natural environment and meeting theneeds of the local community

• the importance of young people in realising the vision for Medway and planning forservices.

Source: More to Medway: Medway’s Community Plan 2004-2007


Key themes and core principles for the Structure Plan KEY THEME 1: Nurturing Kent’s environment and resources Our principles include: • protecting the countryside, minimising greenfield development and making the most of

opportunities for re-using previously developed land and previously used buildings,especially within existing towns and other substantial communities

• anticipating and reducing the impact of future climate change, including strongerprotection and management of areas of potential flood risk, reducing demand for energyand moving towards renewable energy sources

• protecting and enhancing Kent’s land, air and water environments• ensuring that development does not create unacceptable levels of pollution and that

development that would be sensitive to pollution is protected from it• protecting high quality agricultural land• conserving and enhancing Kent’s natural habitats and biodiversity• promoting sensitive and comprehensive approaches to the assessment and protection of

the countryside that reflect its character and biodiversity as well as its natural beauty• conserving and enhancing Kent’s historic environment• using and managing water and other natural resources wisely, including safeguarding

viable mineral reserves from sterilisation• reducing disposable waste to a minimum and disposing of it in a way that achieves

maximum benefits from recycling and reduces harmful impacts on the environment• taking care in the way the natural environment is used to provide leisure, recreational,

cultural and educational opportunities for local communities. KEY THEME 2: Fostering prosperity Our principles include: • increasing economic opportunity and reducing economic disparities within Kent by

working towards regeneration and improved economic performance in North Kent, thecoastal towns of East Kent and the former East Kent Coalfield

• pursuing targeted economic development, including support for high value addedactivities and skills development, business clusters and knowledge-based industries toboost the competitiveness of the Kent economy and existing businesses

• securing employment-led growth and development, especially within the areas in Northand East Kent that require regeneration

• helping existing businesses to grow and provide new jobs• providing for sustainable growth in the economically successful parts of Kent while

addressing the pockets of deprivation that occur within them• sustaining and improving the economic health and vitality of Kent’s rural communities

and helping the rural economy to diversify• making the most of the role of Thames Gateway as a national and regional priority for

economic growth, regeneration and infrastructure investment and recognising in thisrespect the pivotal role of the main urban areas of North Kent and Medway

• promoting Ashford as a regional growth point whilst ensuring that the economy of EastKent in particular also benefits


• Promoting sustainable tourism that capitalises on Kent’s assets. KEY THEME 3: Securing quality, investment and infrastructure for regeneration and development Our principles include: • providing attractive new communities that are safe, secure and convenient places for

people to live and work and which encourage a sense of place and local distinctiveness• regenerating and revitalising Kent’s major/principal urban areas through neighbourhood

renewal and redevelopment and by improving key inner urban locations• balancing the provision of homes, jobs, infrastructure and community services and

making sure they are provided at the right time• ensuring development brings with it improvements in services and infrastructure• promoting and investing in efficient transport that will serve future needs, tackle

congestion, avoid unacceptable damage to the environment and make best use of theexisting road and rail infrastructure

• insisting on high quality design that uses land, water, energy and other resources moreefficiently and provides for changing lifestyles and preferences

• maintaining the character and separation of settlements by retaining the Green Belt anddefining ‘strategic gaps’.

KEY THEME 4: Enhancing choice, opportunity and accessibility Our principles include: • ensuring that planning policies and practice in Kent promote social independence and

take into account the needs of all sections of the community• providing sufficient housing of a suitable range, quality and diversity for the people of

Kent• concentrating development at the major/principal urban areas that are the main focal

points for jobs, public services and transport facilities• promoting more mixed use developments of the right pattern and density that use land

efficiently, increase accessibility, reduce the need to travel, particularly by car, and areplanned to meet social, cultural and economic needs

• ensuring that decisions on development and transport make it easy for people to reachlocal services and jobs and provide a choice of transport for people and goods

• ensuring that access to all buildings, transport and services is improved for everyonewhile avoiding undue impact on buildings of important heritage value

Achieving sustainable development 1.20 The Structure Plan’s prime contribution to improving economic, social andenvironmental well-being is through the promotion of a more integrated, better designed andmore sustainable pattern and form of development. Strategic Policy SP1 gives effect to thisby defining the key elements that the local authorities, other public and private sectoragencies, the development industry and others will need to address. In carrying out theirroles in development control and development plan preparation, and in making decisionsabout the future pattern of development, the local authorities and other regulatory agencieswill need to assess proposals in the light of the criteria in Policy SP1. The expectation is that


developers, landowners and other agencies in the private and public sectors will work topursue the objectives of this policy. Policy SP1: Conserving and Enhancing Kent’s Environment and Ensuring aSustainable Pattern of Development The primary purpose of Kent’s development and environmental strategy will be toprotect and enhance the environment and achieve a sustainable pattern and form ofdevelopment. This will be done principally by: • protecting the Kent countryside and its wildlife for future generations• reducing reliance on greenfield sites to accommodate all forms of built

development• using and re-using land and buildings for development more efficiently;• protecting and enhancing features of importance in the natural and built

environment• reducing the need to travel, encouraging the availability of a choice of transport,

reducing growth in dependence on the road network and fostering goodaccessibility to jobs and services for all sections of the community

• encouraging high quality development and innovative design that reflects Kent’sidentity and local distinctiveness and promoting healthy, safe and secure livingand working environments

• fostering balanced and timely provision of housing, employment, infrastructureand community services to meet the social needs of the community and to helpmaintain and develop well functioning settlements

• supporting the retention and growth of Kent’s employment and investment in amanner that contributes to a sustainable pattern of development

• fostering a prosperous rural economy which respects the character of thecountryside and rural settlements

• responding to the implications of long term climate change by:- advancing the conservation and prudent use of energy, water and other natural

resources- minimising pollution and assisting the control of greenhouse gas emissions- safeguarding areas of potential flood risk from development.


CHAPTER 2: THE SPATIAL STRATEGY FOR KENT Introduction 2.1 Kent is characterised by its pattern of large and medium sized towns and cities togetherwith a ‘peopled countryside’ of historic market towns, villages and hamlets. Thesesettlements are set in the midst of a rich and diverse natural environment. The role of theStructure Plan is to preserve this distinctiveness while responding to the specific needs ofdifferent parts of Kent, establishing priorities for development and investment and setting outthe broad distribution of new housing and economic development. Key spatial issues • An imbalance of development pressures, wealth and investment across Kent• The impact of London on housing markets, local economies and patterns of

movement• Fulfilling Kent’s role within, and contribution to, the South East region• Managing Kent’s gateway role in relation to Europe• Accommodating growth pressures in a sustainable way• Supporting the vitality of urban areas and their regeneration• Underpinning the role of town centres• Responding to the decline in rural services• Resisting development pressures on the countryside Kent: external relationships 2.2 While its coastline forms the greater part of Kent’s boundary, the future of Kent will besignificantly influenced by its relationship with surrounding areas, particularly London,neighbouring counties and the European mainland. London 2.3 The prosperity of Kent is closely linked with that of London. A significant proportion ofthe capital’s working population commutes from Kent into central and outer London. Almost100,000 of the Kent and Medway workforce (13.5%) commute to London with the proportionas high as 39% (16,700) in Dartford and 33% (17,400) in Sevenoaks. 2.4 It is important for the social and economic vitality of Kent’s communities that the numberof commuters leaving the county each day to work elsewhere should not become too large.More commuting would also place further pressure on Kent’s transport system, particularlythe rail service, which is already stretched. The proximity of London creates particularpressures of housing demand and cost in West and North Kent. It is difficult to provide anadequate range of housing, particularly affordable housing and accommodation for keypublic and private sector workers. A sufficient range and quality of job opportunitiesprovided locally can lessen the need for people to commute to work and help to counter anytrend towards dormitory settlements. Balancing the provision of jobs and housing in Londonis an essential contribution to managing pressures in Kent. 2.5 Kent has reasonable but slow access to London by rail. Long rail journey times fromEast Kent to London are a particular issue. Road links are poor and congested. Accessfrom the west of London to the centre is very much better than from the east and thisdisadvantage needs to be tackled. London can have the effect of ‘blocking’ Kent from therest of the country, particularly the Midlands, the North and Eastern England, thus


heightening the effect of the county’s peninsular location. It is important to improve transportlinks with the rest of the UK to allow the county’s businesses and European traffic to reachwider markets more easily. 2.6 Kent receives both direct and indirect economic benefits from its proximity to London.Some businesses relocate to Kent or expand into the county from London and continue torequire access to the capital. Kent also provides services for residents of London (such asretailing at Bluewater and other centres). Kent’s attractions and service providers alsobenefit from the custom of visitors and tourists travelling through Kent en route to the capital. 2.7 Kent’s relationship with London is important in delivering key national and regionalpolicies, such as the Thames Gateway initiative. Environmental issues such as air pollution,estuary management, habitat and open space networks need an integrated approach fromthe strategic authorities involved, including the Greater London Authority. Kent has, in thepast, dealt with a proportion of London’s domestic waste by providing landfill facilities, but amove towards greater self-sufficiency in waste management means both areas will need tomanage the majority of their waste locally. Neighbouring areas 2.8 Kent’s relationship with neighbouring counties is less strong than with London, althoughcross-boundary traffic movement and commuting have increased in recent years. With theexception of Tunbridge Wells/East Sussex and Dartford/South Essex, cross-border jobmarkets are weak. Retailing within parts of Kent, particularly Bluewater (in Dartford) and to alesser extent Tunbridge Wells, does exert wider influence on neighbouring counties. 2.9 Common issues shared with neighbouring authorities include housing demands andpressure on transport infrastructure as a consequence of commuting to London. There arealso common transport issues such as the management of orbital transport movementaround London, including prospective additional crossings of the Thames to the east ofLondon and movement along the south coast. Europe 2.10 Kent is at the heart of the most economically successful and densely-populated part ofEurope, giving businesses ready access to large markets. The European Union hasencouraged Kent and the Nord-Pas de Calais region to share issues of common concernthrough successive rounds of the Interreg programme. There is scope to increase co-operation between Kent and the rest of Europe. 2.11 Kent is the UK’s main gateway to Europe. Since the opening of the Channel Tunnel inthe 1990s, the volume of international freight transport passing through the county has risengreatly, and further growth is expected. Most of this freight travels on the county’s two east–west motorways, which results in significant environmental pollution, particularly noise andpoor air quality, as well as considerable congestion. The gateway role does, though, providesignificant benefits for tourism and commerce. Promoting alternative routes outside Kent,together with a shift to less environmentally-damaging methods of transport within the county- such as rail - would help to relieve the pressure on the county’s trunk roads andcommunities. Spatial strategy 2.12 This Plan carries forward the aims of the Thames Gateway Planning FrameworkRPG9a (1995) and the previous Kent Structure Plan (1996) to:


• upgrade the environmental quality of the Thames Gateway• enhance its economic base by promoting major new, high quality, commercial

development• improve transport and other infrastructure• increase the supply and range of housing, leisure and community facilities. RPG9 (2001) confirmed the Thames Gateway as a national and regional priority forregeneration and growth. The Structure Plan also takes forward regional policy for theAshford Growth Area RPG9 (2004) and accelerates its development role within the overallspatial strategy for the county. The growth area role of Thames Gateway and Ashford hasbeen reinforced by the Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan (2003). Governmentexpects the growth areas to be drivers of change and increased prosperity for the wholeregion. 2.13 This Plan’s spatial strategy also takes forward the priority attached to investment intransport infrastructure and economic development in the main East Kent coastal towns andthe East Kent Coalfield settlements, reflecting the Government’s intentions for Priority Areasfor Economic Regeneration. 2.14 Realising these development opportunities and regeneration needs will require keyimprovements in transport and accessibility, as well as investment in other essentialinfrastructure: • Improved road and rail links both within and to the Thames Gateway plus major

sustainable transport measures in Kent Thameside and Medway are needed to realisethe scale of growth required. Domestic services on the CTRL serving North Kent havean important role to play.

• The Ashford Growth Area will be a hub for frequent domestic services on the CTRL, withlinks to East Kent. Alongside this, Ashford needs better connections with centres in EastKent and beyond, along with M20 motorway junction improvements and strategicinvestment in sustainable transport measures. Large-scale investment to augment thewater supply and increase the capacity of wastewater treatment is also required.

• Improving overall accessibility to, and within, East Kent remains important if theregeneration potential of the area is to be realised. CTRL domestic rail services servingcentres in East Kent again have an important role to play. Improved access to supportregeneration and economic activity in north east Kent and the role of the internationalgateway at the Port of Dover are a priorities.

Concentration of development at the urban areas 2.15 Urban areas are home to almost three-quarters of Kent’s population. The county hasfour relatively large urban areas – Medway Towns, Dartford with Gravesend/Northfleet (KentThameside), Maidstone, (together with the urban areas within the Medway Gap and KingsHill) and the Thanet Towns. In addition, the Ashford urban area is the focus for developmentof the Ashford regional growth area. These urban areas offer the best prospects forsuccessful public transport and greater self-sufficiency for jobs and services, reducing theneed for longer journeys. They will provide the majority of development opportunities in Kentwithin the time scale of this Plan. 2.16 Twelve other principal urban areas have similar but less pronounced advantages. Inorder to take advantage of the facilities in these towns, and to reduce pressure fordevelopment in the countryside, new development should also be focused on these urbanareas, although generally on a smaller scale. There are numerous small to medium-sized


towns in Kent. They provide services for the rural community as well as for their ownresidents but many are too small to support a full range of specialised services. 2.17 Within the area-based spatial priorities established through Policy SS1 and theassociated district-based development provisions of the Structure Plan, the spatial strategyseeks to concentrate development in the 5 Major Urban Areas or 12 Other Principal UrbanAreas listed in Table SS1 and identified on the Key Diagram. The re-use of previouslydeveloped land will be a priority, particularly within the central parts of our towns and throughmany of the Strategic Development Locations identified by this Plan. Developments shouldaim to encourage a mix of uses, with new housing provided at a higher density andsupported by public transport facilities. New releases of greenfield land will be kept to aminimum, although there will be a continuing need for some additional greenfield land (e.g.to support the growth of Ashford). Overall, the strategy will serve to resist pressure on theurban fringe and avoid suburbanisation of the countryside. 2.18 Other than at the major/principal urban areas and the Strategic Development Locationsidentified by this Plan (Area Policies, Chapter 3), any significant development will beconcentrated at the Rural Service Centres (identified on the Key Diagram and in Table SS2).These centres have been identified on the basis not only of their size but of the range of day-to-day services and facilities that they support. Proposals to support the local rural economyor address local housing needs at other, smaller rural settlements capable of supporting asustainable pattern of development will be identified through Local Development Documents. 2.19 The Area Policies in Chapter 3 identify those Strategic Development Locations that areimportant to the delivery of the growth area agenda and the county’s development strategy.Strategic Development Locations are major development sites that provide opportunities formainly residential, employment or mixed-use development. They include all the strategicemployment locations (Chapter 6, Policy EP4) and are shown on the Key Diagram. Spatial strategy • Prioritising development and investment in Kent Thames Gateway, at Ashford and in the

Priority Areas for Regeneration in East Kent• Across Kent, concentrating development at the Principal Urban Areas, particularly the

Major Urban Areas of Kent Thameside, the Medway Towns, Thanet, Ashford andMaidstone/Medway Gap

• Locating major development at the Strategic Development Locations identified on theKey Diagram

• Concentrating necessary rural development at Rural Service Centres• Adopting a sequential approach to the location of development by first using previously-

developed land and previously-used buildings• Conserving and protecting the countryside• Maintaining the Metropolitan Green Belt• Maintaining and defining ‘strategic gaps’ to maintain the separation of major settlements. Policy SS1: Spatial Priorities for Development and Investment in Kent and the Role ofthe Settlement Hierarchy The main priorities for development and investment in Kent, particularly publicfunding, will be focused upon:

(i) The regional growth areas:• Kent Thames Gateway within North Kent• At Ashford; and


(ii) In East Kent at the coastal towns in the Priority Areas for EconomicRegeneration

In these and the other areas of Kent:

(a) the scale, nature and timing of development will be determined as appropriateby:• improvements in transport and accessibility (Chapter 8)• investment in other essential infrastructure• the area based policies of this Plan (Chapter 3)• the district based policy quantities for employment land and housing (EP2

and HP1 respectively).

(b) the majority of new development will be concentrated at the Major UrbanAreas, as shown on the Key Diagram:• in Kent Thames Gateway at Kent Thameside (within Dartford and

Gravesham Boroughs) and the Medway Towns• at the Thanet Towns• at Ashford as a regional growth point• at Maidstone and the urban areas of the Medway Gap and Kings Hill.

(c) in districts with no Major Urban Areas, provision for development will beconcentrated at the Principal Urban Areas as shown on the Key Diagram.

(d) development at rural settlements should be concentrated at the Rural Service

Centres identified on the Key Diagram. Proposals for development at otherrural settlements, identified in Local Development Documents, shoulddemonstrate that such development would be sustainable.

The strategic development requirements of this Plan should be met in a manner thatprovides for balanced and timely residential, employment, retail and leisuredevelopment, and brings forward community facilities and infrastructure when theyare needed, while at the same time conserving and enhancing the quality of Kent'senvironment.

Table SS1: Major and Principal Urban Areas in Kent

DISTRICT MAJOR URBAN AREAS OTHER PRINCIPALURBAN AREAS

Ashford AshfordCanterbury Canterbury

Herne Bay and WhitstableDartford/Gravesham Kent Thameside

(Dartford/Stone/Greenhithe/Swanscombe)(Gravesend/Northfleet)

Dover DoverDeal

Maidstone/Tonbridge and Malling

Maidstone/Medway Gap* andKings Hill

Tonbridge

Sevenoaks SevenoaksSwanley


DISTRICT MAJOR URBAN AREAS OTHER PRINCIPALURBAN AREAS

Shepway Folkestone/HytheSwale Sittingbourne

Sheerness/Queenborough/Minster/HalfwayFaversham

Thanet Thanet Towns(Margate/Ramsgate,Broadstairs, Birchington,Westgate)

Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells/Southborough

Medway Medway Towns

* including Aylesford, Ditton, Larkfield, New Hythe, Snodland and Leybourne

Table SS2: Rural Service Centres

Borough Green New RomneyCranbrook Paddock WoodEdenbridge SandwichHawkhurst StaplehurstHeadcorn TenterdenHoo St Werburgh WesterhamLydd West Malling

Metropolitan Green Belt

2.20 The Metropolitan Green Belt in Kent has a major role to play in:• preserving open country between the edge of Greater London and the urban areas of

Medway, the Medway Gap and Tunbridge Wells• near London, curbing the outward growth of Dartford and Swanley and the settlements in

the Darent Valley and preserving their separate identities• maintaining the separation between Gravesend and the Medway Towns• restricting the expansion of settlements south of the A2 to prevent further

suburbanisation and preserve their identity• restraining expansion between and around Tunbridge Wells, Southborough and

Tonbridge• containing the western edge of the Medway Gap urban area and limiting development in

the transport corridor towards London• preventing Sevenoaks and settlements in the Weald from expanding outwards. 2.21 No significant changes to the Green Belt are proposed in this Plan. The extent of theapproved Green Belt lies some 12 to 15 miles from the built-up edge of Greater London, asshown on the Key Diagram and defined in Policy SS2. Detailed boundaries are defined inLocal Plans/Local Development Documents. The Dartford Borough Local Plan Reviewapplied Policy MGB2 of the 1996 Kent Structure Plan, including changes to the boundary ofthe Green Belt to exclude Eastern Quarry and, as a consequence, St Clement’s Valley. Thiswill now be taken forward in the Dartford Local Development Framework. 2.22 Appropriate uses within the Green Belt are well established through national policyguidance (PPG2) and case law. Mineral extraction need not be incompatible with the Green


Belt provided that high environmental standards are maintained and sites are well restored.The location of waste management facilities within the Green Belt may also be appropriatewhere consistent with the ‘proximity principle’ for locating waste management capacity closeto its source, and where facilities could contribute to increased recycling/recovery of waste(for example small scale composting – see Policy WM2). Disposal of waste on land, wherethis follows the principles of the Best Practicable Environmental Option (see Chapter 10)need not be inappropriate development if it maintains openness and does not conflict withthe purposes of including land within the Green Belt. 2.23 The Green Belt can play a positive role in providing for increased access to thecountryside and for outdoor leisure and recreation. Uses should also help to protectlandscape and wildlife interest, keep land in agricultural and forestry use and improvederelict or damaged land near towns. Policy SS2: Extent of the Metropolitan Green Belt in Kent The Metropolitan Green Belt will extend about 15 miles from the edge of the built-uparea of Greater London, i.e. to the east of Gravesend, to the west of Rochester andWest Malling, and to the east of Wateringbury and Nettlestead. It will also extend tothe west of Paddock Wood and east of Tunbridge Wells. The detailed boundaries areestablished through Local Plans/Local Development Documents. The boundary of the Green Belt at Dartford on the north side of the A2 is amended toexclude Eastern Quarry and St Clement’s Valley from the Green Belt. New boundariesare being defined through the Dartford Local Development Framework. Within the Green Belt there is a general presumption against inappropriatedevelopment. New building should accord with the provisions of PPG2 and Annex Bof PPG3. Strategic Gaps 2.24 In view of the pressure for new development resulting from the growth areas withinKent Thames Gateway, it is important to keep separate the major urban areas of Maidstone,the Medway Gap, the Medway Towns and Sittingbourne by designating Strategic Gaps.These designations are to be reviewed periodically, in regional and sub-regional spatialstrategies and Local Development Documents, according to the progress and impact ofdevelopment in the growth areas and elsewhere. The overall character and identity ofindividual settlements throughout Kent is separately protected by the provisions of PolicyQL4. 2.25 There are two designated Strategic Gaps in Kent which in turn keep separate:• the urban areas of Maidstone, the Medway Gap and the Medway Towns – the Mid Kent

Strategic Gap• the urban areas of the Medway Towns and Sittingbourne north of the M2 – the Medway

Towns-Sittingbourne Strategic Gap.

2.26 The specific purpose of the Mid Kent Strategic Gap is to separate:• the Medway Towns urban area from north Maidstone• the Medway Gap urban area from the Medway Towns• the Medway Gap urban area (at Aylesford and Ditton) from the north western edge of

Maidstone.


Its role is also to:• prevent existing settlements joining together. On the west bank of the Medway this

includes separating Snodland from Larkfield and New Hythe to the south and fromHalling to the north

• prevent new development areas merging with existing settlements and to ensure thatdevelopment on the east bank of the Medway remains within areas already allocated inLocal Plans.

2.27 The specific purpose of the Medway Towns-Sittingbourne Strategic Gap is to maintainseparation between the urban areas of the Medway Towns and Sittingbourne. Its role is also to:• restrict expansion to the east of Gillingham and Rainham• restrict the westward expansion of the Sittingbourne urban area• curtail development in the A2 transport corridor between Sittingbourne and Rainham• separate Sittingbourne and settlements in the A249 transport corridor. This includes

separating Iwade from the Sittingbourne urban area and from Ridham/Kemsley. 2.28 The detailed boundaries of these Strategic Gaps will be defined through the LocalDevelopment Documents for Maidstone, Medway, Swale and Tonbridge and Malling, takingaccount of the role of Strategic Development Locations in these areas identified in this Plan. Policy SS3: Strategic Gaps Strategic Gaps are designated to maintain the separation of:• the Maidstone and Medway Gap urban areas from the Medway Towns and from

each other• settlements on the east and west sides of the River Medway• the Medway Towns and Sittingbourne urban areas, including the separation of

Iwade from Sittingbourne and from Ridham and Kemsley. Within these gaps any development proposals which would significantly extendsettlements beyond their existing built confines or the areas identified fordevelopment in this Plan or current Local Plan allocations, will not be permitted.Detailed boundaries of the Strategic Gaps will be identified or revised through LocalPlans/Local Development Documents. A sequential approach and prioritising use of previously developed land 2.29 This Structure Plan endorses the aim of using sustainably located, previouslydeveloped land and buildings before developing greenfield sites. This will be a keyingredient in bringing new life to urban areas, particularly in town centres and inner urbanareas. Regional Planning Guidance suggests that at least 60% of all new developmentoutside London should be on previously developed land or provided by converting or re-using existing buildings. The scale and character of Kent’s urban areas and the prospectsfor the use of previously developed or damaged land have played an important part inarriving at the strategic distribution of development requirements within Kent. Theapplication of the search sequence for the location of specific types of development isaddressed through a number of other policies of the Plan e.g. EP3, EP11, EP12, EP15 andHP2. A Kent-wide policy target for the use of previously developed land for housing iscontained in Policy HP3. The release of new greenfield land will be kept to a minimum andwill be phased so that it does not undermine the successful development of previouslydeveloped land in each area.


Policy SS4: Priority for Previously Developed Land and a Sequential Approach to theLocation of Development In the preparation of Local Plans or Local Development Documents, developmentrequirements which are not met by sites with existing planning permission should beprovided through the consideration of, firstly, previously developed land or previouslyused buildings and then greenfield land. Assessment of development locations willfollow, as appropriate, the sequential consideration of sites set out in Policies HP2,EP3 and EP15 of this Plan. Town centres and inner urban areas 2.30 Town centres should be lively and prosperous. The central parts of our urban areasneed upgrading to make them better places in which to live, work and enjoy leisure time.Town centres and inner urban areas, which have a choice of transport and good access toservices and jobs, are ideal locations for mixed-use development at relatively high densities. 2.31 Within these areas, retail, leisure, and housing uses may compete for available sites.Retail and leisure development should have priority in the core of town centres, which shouldbe defined in Local Development Documents. These uses require convenient access from awide area, benefit from being close to one another and add to the attractiveness of centres. 2.32 Local Development Documents should also establish a pattern of mixed use thatprotects and improves residential amenity and public safety. Existing non-conformingindustrial or service uses can make it more difficult to use land effectively or to plan formixed use development in inner urban areas, particularly if they do not sit happily alongsideresidential development. Provision should be made for such non-conforming uses to berelocated elsewhere. Policy SS5: Mixed Use in Town Centres and Inner Urban Areas Development which assists Kent's town centres to be prosperous, safe, vibrant andwith high standards of design and maintenance will be supported. Within the core of town centres first priority should attach to retail, service andleisure uses. Office, community, cultural and residential uses should also beprovided, where practicable, as part of mixed use developments. Elsewhere within town centres and edge of town centre locations a diversity of landuses will be encouraged including residential development providing for a mix ofdwelling type and size. Alternative locations should be identified for the relocation of non-conforming useswhich cause serious environmental disruption for residential use. Suburban communities 2.33 The legacy of under-investment in some of our communities, often in suburban areas,can be seen in degraded environments and an absence of facilities. Piecemealdevelopment can add to their disjointed appearance. Developers, local authorities andpublic service providers should seek to improve the way in which such areas function byimproving connectivity and traffic management and enhancing the built and naturalenvironment. This may be funded through a range of local initiatives e.g. national lottery,environmental and regeneration programmes or developer contributions. Protecting and


enhancing existing community services is addressed by Policy QL11, while Policy QL12focuses on the provision of new community services and infrastructure. Policy SS6: Enhancing Existing Communities Measures will be taken to improve the built and natural environment, functioning andappearance of the suburbs of the Major/Principal Urban Areas. This will includelandscaping, traffic management, improvements to connectivity to, and within, theseareas and the provision of services and facilities that serve local needs. Rural communities 2.34 Rural communities need concerted action to bring about their revitalisation. Planningpolicies can help to create more balanced and self-contained rural communities and reducethe need for travel, but they need to reflect the diversity within Kent’s rural areas.Accessibility to the jobs and services in the county’s network of urban areas is an importantinfluence. Within rural communities, the main issues are access to housing, retail andcommunity services and public transport. Key trends within Kent’s rural areas • Jobs in traditional rural industries continue to decline and rural services have to

compete - often unsuccessfully - with larger towns.• People living in rural areas travel to urban areas and London for work.• House prices have risen beyond the means of many local people and there is very

limited social housing.• Some sections of the rural community suffer deprivation, and the problems of

isolation are made worse where public transport is poor.

2.35 It is important that local people are fully involved in planning for local quality of life.Processes such as health checks for small towns and the creation of Parish Plans in bothurban and rural areas enable local people to identify issues of importance to them anddevelop an action programme for improving quality of life in their areas.

2.36 Rural Service Centres are distinctive, in comparison with other settlements in apredominantly rural area, through a combination of their population size, range of communityfacilities1 and employment opportunities. As such, they have an important role to play inreducing the need to travel to urban areas. They are, or could be, a focus for publictransport. Fourteen Rural Service Centres have been identified (see Table SS2 and the KeyDiagram). Other settlements may also be capable of fulfilling this role, especially thosewhich have good public transport. These should be identified in partnership with districtcouncils through the preparation of Local Development Documents. By applying thesequential approach provided for under Policies SS4 and HP2, small scale housing, retail,employment and the development of community facilities may be appropriate in thesesettlements if it would provide greater local choice and support local services.

2.37 Other larger rural settlements have grown as commuter or industrial areas but withoutstrong local services. The priority in these settlements should be to improve local services tosupport a more sustainable pattern of living. Their specific requirements should beestablished through an assessment against rural service needs and should be identified inLocal Development Documents.

1 as defined in conjunction with Policies QL11 and QL12.


2.38 At a small number of rural settlements, a greater scale of housing and employmentmay, in exceptional circumstances, be justified in order to improve local services andinfrastructure, improve the environment or help revitalise communities that have lost theiroriginal economic role. These include Aylesham and Hawkinge, identified as StrategicDevelopment Locations in this Plan (Area Policies, Chapter 3).

Policy SS7: Development at Rural Service Centres and Other Rural Settlements

(a) Rural Service Centres, as identified on the Key Diagram, will be the focus forcommunity services, improved public transport and small scale housing andemployment serving the area.

(b) Smaller rural settlements may be identified in Local Development Documents assuitable for small scale development if they meet the following criteria:• good road and public transport access and connectivity, and• an existing core of employment and community services.

(c) For larger rural settlements which lack services, a rural services standardsassessment should be undertaken. The need for, and provision for serviceimprovements should be identified in community strategies and LocalDevelopment Documents.

Other than at Strategic Development Locations identified by this Plan, developmentat, but outside the built confines of rural settlements, should be small scale and:• identified in a Local Development Document; or• be supported by a special local justification which may include the provision of

affordable housing, community facilities or the expansion of an establishedbusiness.

2.39 Beyond the Rural Service Centres, many smaller rural settlements offer a limited rangeof facilities and services. The emphasis here will continue to be on restraint beyond thelimits of existing built development. Small scale development may, in exceptional cases, bejustified if it provides affordable housing to meet an identified need within an individualcommunity, and/or improves community infrastructure, allows a farm business to diversify orsupports an appropriate expansion of an established rural enterprise (see Chapters onEmployment and Prosperity and Housing Provision and Distribution). Within the Green Belt,provision for such uses will be governed by Policy SS2.

Policy SS8: Development in the Countryside

Housing development in the countryside will be subject to Policy HP5.

Non-residential development in rural Kent other than at rural settlements should:(i) be demonstrated to be necessary to agriculture, forestry, the winning of

minerals or other land uses for which a rural location is essential; or(ii) be the re-use, adaptation or redevelopment of an existing rural building or

institution, where the change is acceptable on environmental, traffic and otherplanning grounds; or

(iii) provide a public facility for which a rural location is justified; or(iv) allow for business development in accordance with Policy EP7(ii) or the

business diversification of an existing farm in accordance with Policy EP8.


CHAPTER 3: AREA POLICIES

3.1 There are certain key elements of the planning and transport strategy that need to be putin place across the whole county if living standards are to be improved and the environmentenhanced. These include carefully considered investment in roads, including cross-countyroutes, major improvements to the coastal rail network, provision of Channel Tunnel RailLink (CTRL) domestic train services and tackling the issues of housing and employment on aKent-wide basis. There are some issues that need a specific strategic focus directed atindividual parts of Kent. For this reason this chapter sets out specific locational policiesgrouped on the basis of three sub areas:

• North Kent (Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, Swale)• East Kent (Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway, Thanet)• Mid and West Kent (Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells)

North Kent

3.2 North Kent comprises the districts of Dartford, Gravesham, Swale and Medway UnitaryAuthority. Its mix of town and countryside presents many opportunities for improving thelocal environment and economy. Although this part of Kent contains some areas ofdeprivation and poor quality urban environment, there are also many attractive residentialareas, historic city and town centres, picturesque rural settlements and large areas ofattractive countryside. There are extensive marshes of international ecological importancealong the Swale, Medway and Thames estuaries. The Metropolitan Green Belt lies to thesouth of Dartford and Gravesend and extends to the western fringes of the Medway Towns.

3.3 In the 1980s and 1990s there were fundamental changes in the local economy, includingthe closure of Chatham Dockyard and the decline of much manufacturing and port-basedindustry. In recent years there has been an increasing shift towards the education,pharmaceutical, high tech and financial and service sectors.

3.4 The Thames Gateway initiative, begun by Kent County Council, the North Kent districtcouncils and east London boroughs in the 1980s, has turned the area into a priority fornational and regional regeneration policy and a nationally-recognised growth area under theGovernment‘s Sustainable Communities Plan (2003). This represents a major opportunity toimprove both the image and condition of the area. There is a considerable amount of newdevelopment in place, with prestige projects including the Darent Valley Hospital, Bluewaterand Ingress Park in Dartford and Chatham Maritime in Medway. The majority ofdevelopment has taken place on previously used land, although in certain parts of NorthKent, where brownfield development opportunities are more limited, settlements such asSittingbourne and Iwade have expanded through the development of strategic greenfieldsites.

3.5 Substantial improvements in infrastructure have included the M2 widening andimprovements to the A249, including a second Swale crossing. More is planned, includingcompletion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and the Ebbsfleet domestic andinternational station, an enhanced public transport network (Fastrack) and widening of theA2. It is important for Kent to secure the fullest possible use of the CTRL for domestic railservices in North (and East) Kent. These recent and planned investments will providesubstantial support for an accelerated pace of development. Transport will continue to posemajor challenges, including dependence on the motorway system. Better use of the rivers ispossible but can conflict with urban regeneration initiatives.


3.6 There has been concern that investment in community and social infrastructure haslagged behind development. There are communities in North Kent that have not benefitedfrom the investment that has taken place in the area. A key challenge is to ensure that allsections of the community benefit from economic development and social change. Majorinvestment will be needed in community facilities and services. Affordable and key workerhousing will be required to support local economic growth and to respond to a stronghousing market with good and improving access to London.

3.7 The scale of development proposed in North Kent offers unparalleled opportunities topromote high quality, innovative and sustainable forms of development strongly concentratedon previously used land. The economic, social and environmental benefits of developmentcan be integrated and self-reinforcing. This might include projects that provide a landmarkfor design quality, large scale community facilities (such as major green space initiatives),the integrated delivery of public services/facilities, mixed use developments based aroundnew transport interchanges and major leisure, sporting and tourist attractions. There isscope to pursue innovative forms of development that reflect the principles of sustainabledesign and construction.

3.8 Strategic policy seeks to ensure that regeneration benefits existing communities,particularly marginalised ones, creating job opportunities and providing new communityfacilities and services. This will require sustained backing from Government and itsagencies and a comprehensive investment programme which brings together both publicand private sectors. DCLG funding for the four Sustainable Communities Plan growth areaswhich supports community infrastructure and regeneration projects, together with theDCLG’s Community Infrastructure Fund which largely supports transport infrastructure, are astarting point.

3.9 The provision of good quality and accessible green space is central to the delivery ofsustainable communities in Kent Thames Gateway. The strategic significance of this hasbeen recognised by Government in Greening the Gateway. As part of a comprehensivegreenspace strategy for Kent Thames Gateway, a network of multi-purpose open land andgreen spaces (“green grid”) will be provided. This will link major areas of open space withthe Thames and Medway, link existing and new communities, connect existing and newwildlife habitats with the wider countryside and provide recreation opportunities, countrysideaccess and opportunities for landscape improvements.

Dartford and Gravesham

3.10 Situated within Dartford and Gravesham Boroughs, Kent Thameside - comprisingDartford, Gravesend and a number of smaller, linked settlements to the north of the A2 - isone of the two principal focal points for development identified in RPG9a for the whole of theThames Gateway. This will be focused upon major areas of previously used or damagedland. Achieving development of the right form and quality here will be one of the keys toensuring the success of regeneration across the wider Thames Gateway. The scale andclose proximity of these locations provide a unique opportunity to introduce a pattern ofdevelopment that provides for higher density, improves the environment and makes gooduse of public transport. Optimising the potential of these areas will depend upon theprovision of an enhanced public transport network and a major upgrade of infrastructure,community facilities and services. This includes Fastrack, which will form the basis of anetwork of high quality and frequent bus services linking Dartford and Gravesend towncentres, the Bluewater regional shopping centre, major development sites and existingcommunities. Fastrack will help complete the links and services at Ebbsfleet to reflect itsrole as a designated regional transport hub. There are also opportunities to promoteappropriate new development and regeneration within and around Dartford and Gravesendtown centres based on their functions as public transport nodes. Beyond the Kent


Thameside urban area the Metropolitan Green Belt and the open countryside to the south ofthe A2 and to the east of Gravesend will be protected.

3.11 The level of traffic on the existing motorway and trunk road network means that airquality in parts of Kent Thameside is, at times, already poor. To avoid further deterioration,or to bring about improvements in air quality, a range of air quality and transport measuresproposed under Policy DG1 must be brought forward and appropriately phased to serve thenew level of development proposed. Certain sites are also close to, or within, areas of floodrisk. Development proposals will need to demonstrate that they meet the provisions ofpolicies in this Plan in respect of air quality and avoiding unacceptable flood risk.

3.12 The provision for new housing in Kent Thameside is substantially above demographicand household growth trends. This reflects the strategic role of Kent Thameside within theKent Thames Gateway growth area, its economic development and employment potentialand the concentration of development and regeneration opportunities, particularly within theDartford area.

3.13 Housing provisions (Policy HP1) reflect the large-scale development opportunitiesassociated with brownfield land, including the mixed-use developments identified in PolicyDG1. The planned capacity of these sites already takes into account higher densitydevelopment associated with good accessibility to improved public transport.

3.14 Beyond these opportunities, further releases of land for housing on a strategic scalewould conflict with the careful and phased implementation of the long-term programme ofregeneration for the area. It would also impact upon the protection of greenfield land andthe maintenance of Metropolitan Green Belt boundaries.

3.15 In Dartford and Gravesham, the level and phasing of housing provision is firmly linkedto progress with the chain of large-scale Strategic Development Locations identified in thisPlan and the new urban form they will support. It also recognises that some sites are solarge that their development will continue beyond 2016. This is particularly the case withEastern Quarry within Dartford, which has a total envisaged capacity of more than 7,000homes.

3.16 The area accounts for a significant share of Kent’s overall housing provision because ofthe amount of previously developed and otherwise damaged land it has available fordevelopment. This provision will underpin substantial population growth that will helpsupport the area’s potential for creating new jobs.

Policy DG1: Dartford and Gravesham

At, and between, the principal urban areas of Dartford and Gravesend/Northfleet majormixed use developments based on previously developed or other damaged land willbe comprehensively planned, including appropriate measures to integrate newdevelopment with existing communities, and phased in conjunction with the provisionof new highway and public transport infrastructure, community services and facilities,air quality management initiatives, flood defences, and water resources andwastewater treatment infrastructure.

Provision will be made for a high quality bus-based public transport network(Fastrack) linking Dartford and Gravesend town centres, Bluewater and the mainStrategic Development Locations identified by this Plan.


Opportunities for enhancing the economic, leisure, amenity and transport potential ofthe River Thames will be identified, including safeguarding of deep-water facilitiesand associated land at Northfleet Riverside.

As part of a comprehensive greenspace strategy, provision will be made for a networkof open land and green spaces ('Green Grid') which will link major areas of openspace with the Thames and with existing and new communities.

Proposals for the main Strategic Development Locations should contribute toenhancing the quality of the built, open and natural environment, including provisionof elements of the Green Grid, and support a pattern, form and density ofdevelopment that reflects accessibility to existing and planned public transportprovision.

Strategic Development Locations will include those at:

(a) Ebbsfleet as the location for development of a combined domestic andinternational passenger station on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, a newbusiness centre, major residential development and community facilities.Development should reflect a high standard of civic design and landscapingand be integrated with new and improved transport networks includingFastrack and Crossrail

(b) Eastern Quarry for a series of linked and integrated communities with anemphasis on housing provision, together with social and community facilitiesand business development to be developed in accordance with a Master Planand integrated with a new and improved public transport network (Fastrack)

(c) North Dartford, to the west of the A282, for business, housing, leisure andrecreation uses

(d) Crossways Business Park, to the east of the A282, for continued mixedcommercial development involving office, industrial and distribution uses

(e) Swanscombe Peninsula (East and West) for a new mixed use community,predominantly for housing, taking full account of the area's relationship withthe River Thames, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, other physical constraints todevelopment including ground conditions and flood risk and integrated with anew and improved public transport network

(f) Gravesend/Northfleet Riverside and North East Gravesend involving the reuseof previously used land and premises and in the case of North East Gravesend,provision of the Denton Relief Road.

Medway

3.17 Urban renaissance will be accelerated particularly through the regeneration of MedwayWaterfront and the renewal of poor quality housing. Medway Waterfront is a series of large-scale inter-linked brownfield development sites along the River Medway. It includesChatham Centre and Waterfront and the adjacent Rochester Riverside and ChathamMaritime, Chatham, a designated regional transport hub, with its outstanding river frontageand historic location, should become Medway’s new city centre and cultural heart. This willrequire support for major new public transport provision, employment and cultural, tourismand service uses. The aim is to turn Chatham Centre and Waterfront into a thriving citycentre devoted to living, working, learning, shopping, leisure and culture.

3.18 The urban area will be the focus for the majority of Medway’s development needs andthere should be no outward growth that conflicts with strategic restraint policies. The role of


substantial areas of potentially surplus land within the boundary of the defence site atChattenden/Lodge Hill has been identified in Supplementary Regional Planning Guidance(RPG9a) as having potential for development. The Structure Plan gives priority to thedevelopment of previously developed land within the boundary of this site to provide a new,village scale mixed use community in this area in the period to 2016 and beyond once theMinistry of Defence has departed. This is the only substantial area of previously developedland outside the urban area of Medway that could support development on such a scale.Alternative land may be identified, however, if the defence land fails to come forward whennecessary to provide for the planned employment or housing provision for Medway.

3.19 The development of Chattenden/Lodge Hill as a Strategic Development Location shouldtake place alongside the major urban regeneration sites and, in view of its scale, delivery isanticipated to extend beyond 2016. Chattenden and the larger sites within the urban areawill need to be provided with job opportunities, social and community facilities andappropriate infrastructure within a comprehensive development. Providing new jobs will alsohelp to meet Medway’s strategic objective of reducing its dependency on commuting out ofthe area.

3.20 Housing provision for Medway (Policy HP1) takes account of the large element oflocally-generated household growth, together with the likely timescale for the delivery of allthe major regeneration sites in the Medway urban area and at Chattenden/Lodge Hill. GivenMedway’s contribution to the Kent Thames Gateway growth area, a higher rate of housingprovision, based on an accelerated rate of development at these strategic sites, will beconsidered, where this is shown to be feasible, as indicated by Policy HP1.

3.21 Transport priorities for Medway include completing improvements to the A228 andproviding rail access to the regionally-significant deep water port of Thamesport. Suchimprovements are important to take forward strategic scale industrial and commercial landallocations involving previously developed land at Grain and Kingsnorth and the way they linkwith the Medway urban area and Chattenden/Lodge Hill. The site at Grain is also nationallyimportant for the energy sector, including for liquid gas storage.

3.22 Although Medway has the largest labour force In Kent, many of its residents commuteto London for work. There is a continuing need to support local economic development andthe growth of higher value added economic activity. The development of the technology andknowledge sectors will be encouraged at Chatham Maritime, Chattenden/Lodge Hill and atthe commercial area adjacent to Rochester Airfield.

3.23 Growth of the higher and further education sectors will be promoted, including supportfor a full-scale university campus in Medway. The Universities at Medway partnership willbring 6,000 additional higher education places to Medway, broadening the range ofopportunities available for local people and bringing associated benefits to the economy.

Policy ME1: Medway

Proposals to regenerate Medway should focus upon the Medway Waterfront includingcentral Chatham, Rochester Riverside and at Strood.

Expansion beyond the Medway urban area to meet development requirements shouldbe concentrated at a new, mixed-use community at Chattenden/Lodge Hill onpreviously developed land or such alternative land as may be identified in LocalDevelopment Documents in the event that the former defence land fails to comeforward when necessary to provide for the planned employment or housing provisionfor Medway.


Development for the Higher and Further Education sectors including a full-scaleuniversity campus, will be supported. Provision will be made for the technology andknowledge sectors adjacent to Rochester Airfield, at Chatham Maritime andChattenden/Lodge Hill.

Completion of improvements to the A228 together with rail access improvements tosupport growth of Thamesport and industrial and commercial development at Grainand Kingsnorth will be promoted.

Major new town centre investment at Chatham on a scale appropriate to one of theregion’s principal urban centres will be supported, particularly in relation to newpublic transport capacity, employment provision, retail, cultural, tourism and leisurefacilities.

As part of a comprehensive greenspaces strategy, provision will be made for anetwork of open land (‘Green Grid’) which will link major areas of open space with theThames and Medway and with existing and new communities.

Swale

3.24 Swale has a significant role to play in the regeneration of Kent Thames Gateway. Tothis end the Structure Plan provides for a strong focus on development and improvements inSittingbourne and Sheerness/Queenborough. Most new housing in Swale should beprovided at the principal urban areas of Sittingbourne and to a lesser degreeSheerness/Queenborough/Minster/Halfway. The second Swale Crossing is critical to theregeneration of Sheppey. At Faversham, situated between the eastern end of the ThamesGateway and the coastal towns of East Kent, strategic policy is to conserve its historicenvironment and contain peripheral growth. Improving local job opportunities, greater self-sufficiency for the town and meeting housing needs in a manner commensurate with theurban housing capacity of the area are prime considerations, although the scale of landcommitted for employment use and reliant upon greenfield land has been substantial andwarrants review.

3.25 Although much of Swale (the Sittingbourne area and Sheppey) is within ThamesGateway, housing supply has historically relied heavily on greenfield development aroundSittingbourne and parts of Sheppey (Minster). The level and phasing of housing provisionfor Swale in this Plan:

• reflects more closely the distribution of previously developed land across Kent ThamesGateway and Kent as a whole

• supports a strong focus on regeneration and on urban renaissance and integratedhousing, economic development and transport and accessibility improvements at theprincipal urban areas of Sittingbourne and Sheerness/Queenborough/Minster/Halfway.

3.26 Notwithstanding this approach, there will be a continuing and significant reliance ongreenfield land. This stems from the nature and scale of existing strategic sites and relianceupon more efficient use of land within them in accordance with other policies of this Plan.

3.27 The housing provision for Swale (Policy HP1), especially beyond 2006, is well aboveprojected locally generated household growth and significantly above average rates ofdevelopment achieved in the pre-2001 period. This Plan maintains the commitment toStrategic Development Locations at North East Sittingbourne and Iwade confirmed throughthe Kent Structure Plan 1996 and identifies two new Strategic Development Locations atMilton Creek, Sittingbourne and Queenborough/Rushenden (Isle of Sheppey). This is


consistent with the primary emphasis of the strategy for Kent Thames Gateway onregeneration and efficient re-use of land.

3.28 The means of accommodating the district level housing provision in Policy HP1 is amatter for the Swale Local Plan/Local Development Framework. It will, however, need totake account of that area of the borough that lies within the Kent Thames Gateway growtharea, the urban concentration strategy of this Plan and the provisions within Policy SW1.The Sittingbourne area and the Isle of Sheppey should account for the large majority ofSwale’s development provision.

Policy SW1: Swale

Within the Thames Gateway part of Swale measures to support economicregeneration and diversification at Sittingbourne and Sheerness/Queenborough willbe pursued. Provision of the A249 Second Swale Crossing and the SittingbourneNorthern Relief Road (linking the A249 with the A2 to the east) are prime requirementsfor this. Other Strategic Development Locations include:

(a) opportunities for mixed business, industrial and distribution and residentialdevelopment already identified at Ridham/Kemsley

(b) expansion of the port of Sheerness in accordance with Policy TP22(c) completion of the strategic expansion of Iwade for c.1200 dwellings (including the

initial phase previously allocated through the Swale Borough Local Plan).Provision for development should ensure no infringement upon areas of wildlifeimportance or on high quality agricultural land and maintain separation betweenIwade and Sittingbourne

(d) mixed-use urban expansion at North East Sittingbourne (including land currentlyallocated through the Swale Borough Local Plan) in conjunction with the definitionand phased provision of the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road from its link withthe A249. Provision for development should avoid infringement upon areas ofwildlife importance and minimise the call upon high quality agricultural land

(e) mixed use regeneration involving development around Milton Creek,Sittingbourne for housing, business, retail and leisure development, communityfacilities and environmental enhancement, and providing good links with the towncentre. Development should be phased in conjunction with the SittingbourneNorthern Relief Road

(f) regeneration involving mixed use development at Queenborough and Rushendenon the Isle of Sheppey for housing, employment, and community facilities inconjunction with environmental improvements and transport measures includingthe Rushenden Link Road to the A249

(g) expansion of Kent Science Park as an innovation hub and technology andknowledge based cluster subject to the provision of improved accessarrangements.

At Faversham conservation of the historic environment remains the primeconsideration.

Peripheral growth of Faversham for residential development is not envisaged.Improvement of local employment opportunities will be pursued but shouldincorporate a review of the scale and location of previous commitments which remainunimplemented with a view to rationalisation, consideration of alternative siteprovision and husbanding of land in established employment uses.


Within this framework full and effective use should be made of development capacitywithin the town providing for a balance of business, commercial and residentialdevelopment with particular attention paid to meeting locally based needs forhousing.

East Kent

3.29 East Kent comprises the districts of Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet.This is an area of generally very high quality landscape. It encompasses the greater part ofthe Kent coast, including stretches of Heritage Coast between Folkestone and Deal. Itsmajor settlements include the historic city of Canterbury, the historic town of Sandwich andthe principal urban areas of Ashford, the Thanet towns, Dover, Deal, Herne Bay/Whitstableand Folkestone/Hythe.

3.30 Ashford has long been identified for significant growth within successive Kent StructurePlans, and the town is now one of the regional growth areas identified by Government in itsSustainable Communities Plan (2003). Implementing the RPG9 provisions for the AshfordGrowth Area will have significant sub-regional implications, and the strategy for this must notprejudice other regional and strategic priorities for economic regeneration elsewhere withinEast Kent.

3.31 There is a continuing need to capitalise on the economic opportunities afforded bygrowth at Ashford along with the area’s gateway role associated with the M20, M2/A2, theports and the Channel Tunnel, including the prospect of international and domestic serviceson the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL). All parts of the community, including thosecurrently suffering deprivation, should benefit. If the area is to fulfil its national role as agateway while securing essential community development and economic change,accessibility improvements will be needed on the M20 at Ashford, on the A2 near Canterburyand Dover and in the A256 and A253 corridors in north east Kent. There is also a need toremove constraints such as those caused by Operation Stack. Sustainable transport linkswill also be needed, particularly to deal with the level of growth envisaged for Ashford.

3.32 Social deprivation is an issue across significant parts of the area. Some areas havepersistently high levels of unemployment that reflect structural changes to the economyfollowing job losses in the ports and the former coalfield, and the decline of traditionalseaside tourism. There are significant disparities in average earnings between this area andWest Kent. Some coastal towns are characterised by low property values, low cost (butoften poor quality) accommodation and seasonal and/or low skill employment. These areashave seen an increase in the proportion of vulnerable people within them. Many aredependent on benefit and can find themselves in a spiral of deprivation. There are deprivedcommunities in parts of Thanet, Folkestone and on the outskirts of Ashford. Some ruralwards suffer higher than average levels of deprivation, made worse, in the case of RomneyMarsh, by their remoteness.

3.33 A number of recent changes are helping to improve the area’s overall image as well asits accessibility. Investment in East Kent has included: The expansion of the pharmaceuticalindustry in the Sandwich Corridor at Richborough; growth in the higher/further educationsectors in Canterbury and Thanet; major road improvements, including work to the ThanetWay; major retail projects in Canterbury and at Westwood in Thanet; seafront regenerationschemes.

3.34 Alongside this investment, the Kent Agreement with Government focuses on reducingwelfare dependency and bringing about social regeneration in East Kent. Together with theinvestment in physical infrastructure this will help to turn around perceptions of East Kent


and allow it to capitalise on its opportunities and build on its strengths. Much has been doneto improve road access to, and within, the area but there are outstanding requirements toupgrade water supply, wastewater treatment and power supplies.

3.35 Improving the East Kent economy means more work on raising skills, encouraging thepharmaceutical industry and other growth sectors to invest further and capitalising on areinvigorated tourism sector. The prospective expansion of Kent International (Manston)Airport provides further investment potential. East Kent’s close and convenient access tocontinental markets is a further asset. Provision of Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic railservices to East Kent, with the consequent reduction in journey times, will assist in extendingopportunities, encouraging regeneration and building confidence. They have an importantrole to play in enhancing the area’s accessibility.

3.36 Upgrading the quality of the environment to support these efforts, as well as for its ownsake, is important in parts of East Kent. Prospective measures include major green spaceinitiatives around the lower Stour Valley and Wantsum Channel to create and enhancenatural habitats and improve visitor facilities and access.

Ashford

3.37 Ashford is recognised in RPG9: Ashford Growth Area (2004) as a regional focus forgrowth, both to help stimulate inward investment to East Kent and to assist in addressing theregion’s wider employment and housing needs. Local economic performance has laggedbehind a rising rate of housing development despite a generous supply of employment land.There will be additional labour market pressures caused by improved rail commutingcapacity and faster rail journey times to London after the Channel Tunnel Rail Link iscompleted in 2009. Targets for employment growth under Ashford’s Future and RPG9 areambitious. If housing and employment are to be more balanced, as envisaged by theStructure Plan, it will require a major increase in investment supported by a boost invocational skills provided by the town’s further education sector.

3.38 On the basis of the Ashford’s Future study, the Sustainable Communities Plan (2003)and RPG9 (2004) this Structure Plan envisages a substantial and accelerating scale andpace of growth at the town. If this is to be achieved, a number of infrastructure and resourceconstraints need to be tackled, and essential improvements secured, early in theimplementation of growth. The local authorities and the Ashford Delivery Board needarrangements, supported by central Government, that will enable them to finance thephysical, social and community infrastructure required to support the accelerated growth thatis planned. This includes major renewal and upgrading of the town centre and its environs,improvements to highway and public transport infrastructure, facilities for increasing watersupply, enhancing the treatment of wastewater and managing flood risk and surface waterdrainage, alongside investment in educational, cultural, recreational and other communityfacilities in the town. Disadvantaged areas of Ashford must share in economic andcommunity improvements. Environmental management measures will also be essential insecuring sustainable growth, for example by making sure that design standards for newdevelopment provide for conservation of water resources.

3.39 The provision for new housing in Ashford is set well above the amount indicated bydemographic and household growth trends. It provides for an accelerating rate of net inwardmigration and local population growth consistent with Ashford’s growth area role. A closerelationship between economic performance and housing provision is essential if Ashford isto achieve balanced growth in line with regional and strategic objectives.

3.40 The housing provisions in Policy HP1 are for the borough as a whole. However theapproach to the regional growth area at Ashford and the requirements of Policy SS1 mean


that the great majority of housing should be provided at the Ashford urban area. RPG9(2004) envisages provision being made for 13,100 dwellings in the growth area between2001 and 2016, along with 10,300 additional jobs.

3.41 Continuing the rates of housing development provided for in the Kent Structure Plan1996 and accelerating them beyond 2006 in line with the conclusions of the Ashford’s Futurestudy will need major investment in infrastructure as set out in Policy AS1. Strategic housingprovision reflects a staged approach to growth beyond 2006 that supports an average rate ofdevelopment of approximately 1,100 homes per annum by 2016. Growth will be stronglyconcentrated at the Ashford urban area.

3.42 The prospects for, and scale of, growth beyond 2016 will be subject to review. This willinitially be through a review of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East takingaccount of the longer term objectives of the Sustainable Communities Plan (2003) whichenvisages 31,000 more homes and 28,000 new jobs at Ashford by 2031. This review shouldtake account of the scale, form and balance of development that has taken place, includingeconomic performance and employment growth. Progress with the provision of the majorelements of community infrastructure outlined in Policy AS1 that are essential to balancedand sustainable growth at Ashford will be another key consideration.

3.43 Greenfield land has accounted for most of the land supply previously committed fordevelopment. As part of the detailed masterplanning for the growth area, the capacity of theurban area should be investigated further in order to increase the contribution made bypreviously developed land. There is also substantial scope to increase the efficiency withwhich existing development sites are used. However, although the sequential considerationof locations for development and the priority attached to the use of previously developedland applies, the Structure Plan requirements for the scale of development at Ashford willrequire additional greenfield land, including further strategic scale greenfield land releasesbeyond 2006 in locations which are close to the Ashford urban area and have goodaccessibility to it by a choice of transport. Detailed definition of new Strategic DevelopmentLocations will need to take account of the provisions of this Structure Plan to 2016 and thepotential beyond that date if Ashford’s accelerated rate of growth is to continue into thelonger term. The primary area of search for this for examination through the LocalDevelopment Framework will be to the south of the town between the M20 and the A28.

Policy AS1: Ashford

Ashford is identified as a regional centre for growth. This was confirmed in RPG9(2004).

The location and phasing of development will be comprehensively planned.Expansion will be focused on high quality and sustainable developments in andaround central Ashford and, where further greenfield development is required, withina broad area of search to the south of the town between the M20 and A28 progressingfrom the south east and south towards the west.

Early measures to improve the public realm and quality of life in Ashford shouldinclude major investment in educational, cultural, retail, leisure, convention andcommunity facilities.

Provision will be made for additional land for business development to meetrequirements beyond 2011 for balanced employment and housing growth.


Major investment in physical infrastructure, social and community facilities, publictransport enhancement, other sustainable transport initiatives and environmentalmanagement will be required to support the growth in residential and businessdevelopment proposed and the existing community. This will include:• enhanced junction capacity on the M20 involving improvements to Junction 10, a

new Junction 10a and, in the longer term, improvements at Junction 9• quality bus corridors, Park and Ride facilities and a consolidated bus hub in

central Ashford• measures to manage flood risk in the Stour Valley including surface water

drainage improvements• provision for sustainable management of water resources, including facilities for

increasing water supply and the treatment of wastewater in conjunction with themaintenance of water quality standards

• an enhanced network of water and public greenspaces• positive management of the urban fringe around Ashford for recreation and the

enhancement of biodiversity.

An assessment will be undertaken to examine the potential role of new transport linksbetween the A2070 and the A28 to the south west of the town.

Following masterplanning of Ashford's growth, Local Development Documentsshould identify the outer limit of Ashford's planned expansion and measures to:

(a) protect the open countryside in the M20/A20 corridor towards Folkestone,taking account of the requirement for a new motorway junction on the M20 tothe south east of Ashford (Junction 10a); and

(b) maintain the separate identity of rural settlements around an enlarged Ashfordurban area.

In the rest of Ashford Borough the principal planning policy will be to protect andenhance the character of the countryside and the rural setting of its towns andvillages.

Canterbury

3.44 The built environment of the City of Canterbury has great historic significance includinga World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO. Conservation of the city’s historicenvironment and setting is of paramount importance. Canterbury is the predominant retail,cultural and educational centre within East Kent and a principal focus for professionalservices. Its education and cultural sectors represent a potential catalyst for growth. Thefurther and higher education sectors in the city should be fostered by expanding itsuniversities and colleges. This should include providing accommodation suitable for anexpanded student population.

3.45 Diversification of the Canterbury economy should be pursued through support forbusiness and research activity that has links with the higher education institutions in the city.Economic diversification, meeting local business need and regenerating the urban economyshould be supported through the provision of new office accommodation in the city. This willinclude release of land/floorspace within Use Classes B1(a) and B1(b) for businessdevelopment and to support knowledge and technology uses linked to the education sector.This land should be easily accessible from the city centre. Further investment is required inthe cultural sector and in new hotels.


3.46 The city currently depends on a large net inflow of commuters to support the level ofjobs in the area. Increasing housing capacity within the city through fuller use of previouslyused land in line with the sequential approach should help to reduce the dependence uponcar-based travel to work. A range of sustainable transport initiatives should tackle roadtraffic pressures associated, in large part, with the number of commuters, shoppers andtourists who visit the city. Junction improvements on the A2 to the south and west ofCanterbury will be promoted.

3.47 Herne Bay and Whitstable have experienced significant housing expansion in recentyears. The emphasis at the coastal towns should now be on realising capacity for housingwithin the urban area and securing a better local balance between housing, population, jobsand facilities. With the priority attached to regenerating the coastal towns there needs to bea ready supply and choice of employment land, both for local firms and for inwardinvestment.

3.48 There is scope at Hersden for development that would assist the regeneration of thisformer coalfield settlement. Such development would be consistent with its location withinthe Priority Area for Economic Regeneration (as designated by RPG9) but, in view of itsfreestanding location, distant from the urban centre of Canterbury, such development mustbe of a local scale and character appropriate to its rural settlement status.

3.49 Housing requirements, reflecting recent demographic and household growth trends, arestrongly influenced by the high numbers of people who have moved into the area in the past.Although strategic policy reflects restraint, provision in Policy HP1 is well aboverequirements associated solely with local population and household change. New housingshould be allocated to support the growth in the Canterbury economy envisaged by thisPlan.

3.50 Housing land supply will stem primarily from urban capacity within the principal urbanareas, with the emphasis on progressing the development of brownfield sites andregeneration opportunities as well as making more efficient use of previously allocated land.Although there is not expected to be any requirement for new housing locations on astrategic scale, it will be a matter for the district’s Local Development Documents todetermine if land - other than previously developed land - will be needed to ensure that thePolicy HP1 provisions for Canterbury in this Structure Plan are met.

Policy CA1: Canterbury

At Canterbury the location of new development will be governed by the need toconserve the built environment and setting of the historic city.

Expansion of the further and higher education sectors in Canterbury will besupported. Knowledge and technology uses linked to this sector will be encouraged,initially through the identification of a site not exceeding 10 hectares.

Proposals for major cultural facilities and high quality tourism accommodation in, orwith good access to, the city centre will be encouraged.

New office accommodation contributing to local business need, diversification of theeconomy and urban regeneration will be promoted in the city and through provisionfor up to 20 hectares (or its floorspace equivalent of 70,000 square metres) forbusiness development (Use Classes B1 (a) and B1 (b)) at Canterbury at a locationeasily accessible to the city by way of public transport and cycling as well as by car.


The supply of housing land will primarily rely on enhanced urban capacity, unlessalternative land identified in Local Development Documents is justified to provide forthe housing requirement within this Plan.

The transport strategy for the City of Canterbury will be reviewed to:

(a) bring forward further initiatives to provide for enhanced public transport andfacilities for cycling and walking as alternatives to the use of the car

(b) promote junction improvements on the A2 to the west and south of Canterbury.

At Herne Bay/Whitstable it is strategic policy to enhance and diversify the localeconomy. A site, or sites at Herne Bay/Whitstable, providing up to 10 hectares (or itsfloorspace equivalent of 35,000 square metres) for the relocation and expansion oflocal firms and inward investment, should be identified.

At Hersden proposals to assist regeneration will be supported consistent with itslocation within a Priority Area for Economic Regeneration, as designated by RPG9,and commensurate with its size, location and status as a rural settlement.

Shepway

3.51 The policy for Shepway seeks to regenerate Folkestone in order to improve itsshopping, service and residential functions, strengthen its role as a tourist resort, attractfurther investment into the town and address the needs of socially disadvantagedcommunities. Redevelopment of the harbour and seafront for a mix of uses, butincorporating a major residential element, will make a substantial contribution. Alternativeuses for the port area should be considered. Some further provision of employment land tomaintain a choice of sites for inward investment and new enterprise is proposed where well-related to the Folkestone/Hythe urban area or to New Romney or Lydd which are the RuralService Centres for the Romney Marsh area.

3.52 Expansion of the Folkestone/Hythe urban area is limited by the proximity of the NorthDowns AONB. As a precaution against long term flooding risk, significant additionalresidential development on Romney Marsh should be avoided. The expansion of Hawkingeas a Strategic Development Location for residential and employment use will be completedwithin the settlement boundary defined through the Shepway Local Plan and will depend oncompletion of the A260 Hawkinge Bypass. Measures to stimulate the rural economy andstrengthen the role of the service centres at New Romney and Lydd should be pursued. Thepotential to maintain and improve facilities at Lydd Airport and Folkestone Racecourse andto bring forward employment land at Link Park, Lympne should be investigated.

3.53 Housing requirements based on recent demographic trends are strongly influenced bymigration into the district. This Plan does not provide for the full trend-based requirementsbut still makes provision well above the level that would accommodate household growthgenerated solely by local demographic and social changes. The Plan provides for continuedgrowth from migration, including workforce growth that will be needed to support economicregeneration and diversification.

Policy SH1: Shepway

Proposals which assist in regenerating Folkestone, including improvement of itsshopping, service and tourism functions will be supported. Provision for mixed-useregeneration of the harbour and seafront should incorporate a major residentialelement and consider opportunities for alternative uses of the port.


The expansion of Hawkinge as a Strategic Development Location should becompleted on the basis identified in the Shepway Local Plan with no further majordevelopment on the Downs. Provision for up to 20 hectares of additional land (or itsfloorspace equivalent of 70,000 square metres) for business development should beidentified and be well related to the Folkestone/Hythe urban area or NewRomney/Lydd.

Proposals to strengthen the rural economy of Romney Marsh should be concentratedat New Romney and Lydd. Proposals to retain and strengthen the current uses atLydd Airport and Folkestone Racecourse and to bring forward employment land atLink Park, Lympne should be pursued.

Dover

3.54 Strategic policy for Dover focuses upon economic growth and the regeneration of thetown and the former coalfield areas. The innovation hub based on pharmaceuticalsresearch and development in the Sandwich Corridor will play an important role, as willbringing forward strategic employment land at Dover and mixed use redevelopment of theDover Town Investment Zone. Development proposals, including those at the port, shouldbe brought forward to capitalise on the opportunities afforded by Dover’s European Gatewayrole. The regeneration of the former coalfield area is a strategic priority, but the isolatednature of the former colliery sites makes large-scale, intensive development inappropriate.The economic prosperity of Deal and Sandwich will continue to be supported, as will theirrole as service centres for the East Kent coast. These aims for the district will need to besupported by a range of transport and accessibility improvements. Dover needs completionof the East Kent Access improvements, improvements to the A2 close to Dover and to therail infrastructure serving the port, inclusion of Dover within the network of high speeddomestic rail services on the CTRL and service enhancements between Dover and othercentres in East Kent.

3.55 Aylesham’s role as a Strategic Development Location has been established in previousStructure Plans and confirmed through the adopted Dover District Local Plan. This role isretained in this Plan. The expansion envisaged involves up to 1,000 homes together with jobopportunities, community services and infrastructure. Aylesham is reasonably close toCanterbury and has a rail connection to it. This development will contribute to wider housingprovision for East Kent and will offset some of the restraint on housing development appliedto the neighbouring Canterbury district. The strategy does not envisage substitutionbetween provision at Aylesham and land release elsewhere in Dover District. Developmentat Aylesham will also help the substantial existing community to be more sustainable and isnow expected to be completed over the 2006-2016 period.

3.56 Housing provisions for the district increase beyond 2011 and lend support to widerregeneration at the principal urban areas, particularly Dover. They exceed the requirementsindicated by demographic trends which themselves reflect modest gains from net inwardmigration to the district.

3.57 Consistent with the sequential approach to the location of new housing (HP2),additional provision to meet Policy HP1 should be guided by detailed assessments of urbancapacity, particularly within the principal urban areas of Dover and Deal. It should respectthe tight and strategically important environmental constraints around Dover, including theNorth Downs AONB. Policy DO1 includes provision for 900 homes at Dover and/or at Dealas part of the higher provision post 2011 in Policy HP1. The location of new provision shouldalso reflect support for continuing economic and business growth to the north of Sandwich.


Policy DO1 earmarks provision of a minimum of 300 homes beyond 2006 in areasaccessible to business and employment in the Sandwich Corridor.

Policy DO1: Dover

Development in Dover should strengthen and diversify its economy and promoteenvironmental enhancement. This will include support for pharmaceuticals researchand development in the Sandwich Corridor at Richborough and implementation ofstrategic employment land at Dover (White Cliffs Business Park). Appropriateexpansion and diversification of the Port of Dover and mixed use redevelopment ofthe Dover Town Investment Zone will also be supported.

The economic prosperity of Deal and Sandwich will continue to be supported as willtheir role as service centres for the East Kent coast.

Proposals supporting the regeneration of the former East Kent Coalfield sitesprimarily involving the provision of new employment and recreational uses should becontinued.

The mixed-use expansion of Aylesham, incorporating provision for up to 1,000dwellings by 2016, is supported.

The housing provision for Dover District (Policy HP1) includes:

(a) a minimum of 300 dwellings for the post 2006 period to be accommodated at alocation, or locations, that can support, and offer good accessibility to,business growth to the north of Sandwich

(b) 900 dwellings for the post 2011 period at Dover and/or Deal on sites to beidentified through Local Development Documents.

Improvements to transport infrastructure and accessibility should include earlyimplementation of the East Kent Access proposals in the A256 corridor, A2improvements between Lydden and Dover, rail access to the port of Dover, and railinfrastructure and service improvements between Dover and Canterbury, Thanet, andAshford.

Thanet

3.58 Strategic policy seeks employment-led regeneration for Thanet. A better balancebetween housing and jobs is required to reduce commuting out of the area and address theneeds of deprived communities. Previous strategic policies mean that a generous supply ofemployment land has already been committed. The dualling of the Thanet Way from theM2/A2 and the Ramsgate Harbour access road have improved the accessibility of the area.Thanet now needs better rail infrastructure and services, including the provision of high-speed domestic services on the CTRL from/to Ramsgate via Ashford.

3.59 Tourism and culture can play an important role in regenerating the towns of Ramsgateand Margate in particular. The proposed Turner Contemporary in Margate is a flagshipproject in this regard. There is potential for Kent International (Manston) Airport to attractsignificant inward investment through major expansion for both freight and passengerservices. A new mixed-use town centre at Westwood, which is already a major retaildestination, can reduce the need for long shopping trips. A Strategic Development Locationfor housing is also proposed for the Westwood area for development in the 2006-2016


period. This is close to the new town centre and to substantial land previously allocated forbusiness development, and is within the principal transport corridor linking Margate andRamsgate. It is acknowledged that a sustainably-located urban extension of this nature inThanet will have an impact on best and most versatile agricultural land.

3.60 Past trends indicate that about two-thirds of the housing requirement in Thanet is drivenby inward migration. However the substantial increase in the housing stock over the past 10to 15 years has been accompanied by poor local economic and employment performance,despite reductions in unemployment. The significant growth in new homes planned (PolicyHP1) relative to household growth generated by local demographic and social changes willsupport economic regeneration and new job generation.

3.61 The scale of this major urban area, past experience and other policies within this Planindicate that urban housing capacity should contribute the predominant part of housingsupply for the area. This, combined with the contribution of the Westwood StrategicDevelopment Location, will support the higher housing provision for the 2006-2016 period.

3.62 The review of strategic policy for housing provision beyond 2016 should have regard toprogress with the development of the local economy and the pace at which new jobs arecreated, particularly within the ‘Central Island’ area and in association with the developingrole of Kent International (Manston) Airport.

Policy TH1: Thanet

Development in Thanet must address the long standing economic and socialproblems of the area by strengthening and diversifying the local economy andemployment base.

Proposals for growth in Thanet should provide a better balance between housing andemployment by enhancing the rate of inward investment in the economy. As a keycatalyst for economic growth the expansion of Manston Airport for passengers andfreight will be supported including the development of new terminal and freighthandling facilities.

Developments that will contribute to the regeneration of the central and seafrontareas of Ramsgate and Margate, including cultural and tourism-related proposals, willbe supported. This includes initiatives for Ramsgate Waterfront and Margate OldTown.

A new town centre for Thanet at Westwood will involve mixed use retail, service andleisure uses and a new public transport interchange, and be developed predominantlyon previously used land.

A Strategic Development Location of up to 1,000 dwellings for the post-2006 period,adjoining the urban area at Westwood, should be defined and phased through theLocal Plan/Local Development Framework.

Improvements to infrastructure will be required to support economic growth andimprove accessibility, including East Kent Access (within the A256 and A253corridors), rail infrastructure and service improvements between Thanet andCanterbury, Dover, Ashford and London and an eventual direct rail link to ManstonAirport.


Mid and West Kent

3.63 This area includes the most prosperous parts of Kent. The western part of Kent (thedistricts of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells) is economically importantfor the county as a whole, but the growth of the principal towns is subject to long-standingrestraint through the Metropolitan Green Belt and nationally important landscapedesignations (AONB).

3.64 The Maidstone/Medway Gap major urban area is the largest urban concentration andoccupies a central location within Kent. Housing, labour markets and patterns of movementtranscend administrative boundaries in this area. Maidstone is the County Town of Kent anda sub-regional shopping, employment and service centre.

3.65 Mid and West Kent is characterised by attractive countryside, good quality housing, lowunemployment, tight labour markets (i.e. a labour shortage) and, for the western districts, ahigh dependence on commuting to work outside Kent, particularly to central London.Employment growth has been relatively strong, despite the lack of major new sites forbusiness development. These have been largely confined to the Tonbridge & Malling area(notably Kings Hill, where new jobs are diversifying the area’s economic base). A balancehas to be struck between the area’s employment requirements and its labour supply, andthis, together with environmental constraints, means no major new employment sites areproposed.

3.66 Constraints on greenfield development coupled with strong housing markets and landvalues have resulted in substantial reinvestment in the fabric of the principal urban areas tomeet housing demands. In some instances this has meant the loss of existing employmentland. Key workers and other newly-forming households have faced difficulties in enteringthe housing market because of the high costs involved. In many instances the pattern ofhousing and job markets does not follow local administrative boundaries. Some ruralcommunities are remote and lack services or facilities, and excessive levels of commutingcan be detrimental to community life. The legacy of the cement industry and redundantinstitutional land available in Tonbridge & Malling provide significant opportunities forregeneration and recycling of previously used land. Despite the general economic strengthof the area there are pockets of social disadvantage in settlements such as south Maidstone,East Malling, Snodland, Edenbridge and Swanley.

3.67 Strategic policy for West Kent seeks to optimise economic performance in asustainable manner without any strategic release of Metropolitan Green Belt land. This willrely strongly on making the best use of land for housing in the principal towns and RuralService Centres while protecting existing employment land, particularly where it is in central,accessible locations within those settlements.

3.68 Employment growth will focus upon a few key strategic sites. These include severalinnovation hubs where links between research and business are promoted and whichprovide an opportunity for Kent to increase its share of regional economic inward investment.Some existing developed sites within the Metropolitan Green Belt, such as companyheadquarters, may offer redevelopment or other opportunities for optimising use. In suchcases the existing built footprint will be important in establishing the future scale ofdevelopment.


Policy WK1: West Kent

In the West Kent Districts of Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling:

(a) there will be no release of land from the Metropolitan Green Belt to meet strategicrequirements and no major release of additional greenfield land beyond landcommitted at 2001 for residential or business development

(b) in seeking to make the best use of land within the principal urban areas forhousing the local planning authorities should make provision to safeguardexisting and/or new employment land for more intensive (office) employment usesat locations in, or close to, the town centres of the principal urban areas.

Maidstone

3.69 The role of Maidstone as the County Town will be underpinned through major newretail, cultural and community uses. The town remains the centre for administrative, judicial,and financial services in Kent. The range and quality of retailing in the town centre has beenenhanced by the Fremlin Walk development. Central Maidstone has an important role toplay in supporting diversification of the local economy and enhancing the quality of the urbanarea as an employment centre. Urban regeneration within central Maidstone also has animportant contribution to make in meeting housing requirements. The priority will be to makebest use of urban capacity and use opportunities for regeneration within central Maidstonefor re-development, re-use and more intensive use of land near to town centre services andpublic transport. Transport improvements will support these priorities and allow better trafficmanagement, provide opportunities for environmental enhancement and improveaccessibility for communities to the south of Maidstone.

3.70 The Strategic Gap originally designated in the Kent Structure Plan 1996 betweenMaidstone, the Medway Gap and Medway, is retained to maintain the separation of theseurban areas. Areas of landscape importance limit the growth of Maidstone to the north andnorth west, particularly to the north of the M20, while extensive areas of high qualityagricultural land lie to the east and south of the Maidstone urban area. Accessibility to thetown centre and rail corridors is poor from the south and east of the urban area.

3.71 Maidstone has a large and open labour market which stems from its central locationwithin Kent, but there are environmental constraints to substantial additional greenfield landrelease in locations that are well related to the urban area. At the same time its supply ofexisting business and industrial land within the urban area and elsewhere has contractedand newly-identified land has been slow to come forward. In order to maintain provision inline with the guidance in Policy EP2(c), there is a need for a re-appraisal of land foreconomic development, including the need for some substitution between existing and newallocations. This should also secure a supply of attractive land for economic developmentthat has both good accessibility to the labour market of Maidstone and the national andstrategic road network. Such a review should have particular regard to the national andstrategic landscape constraints in the Maidstone area and the role of the Strategic Gap inmid Kent.

3.72 Household growth generated by local demographic and social changes is relativelyhigh. Housing provision in this Plan is above the level implied by indigenous population andhousehold growth alone and reflects a greater reliance on the role of previously developedland in meeting requirements. The Policy HP1 quantity for Maidstone is a minimum;provision above it will be subject to local assessment of urban capacity and the identificationof sustainably-located sites that fulfil the locational criteria for such development within thisPlan.


Policy MA1: Maidstone

Proposals for new office and residential uses should focus on the centre of Maidstoneto provide close integration between employment, housing and public transportfacilities.

Proposals to enhance and broaden the town centre's retail, leisure, tourism andcultural draw will be supported. Transport improvements to support these initiativeswill include the A229 Upper Stone Street improvements and All Saints Link.

No large-scale release of greenfield land for housing will be provided beyond anamount equivalent to that already allocated for housing development in the MaidstoneLocal Plan.

Provision of land for economic development at Maidstone should be re-appraised toensure that sufficient land and floorspace is available to comply with Policy EP2(c).This re-appraisal should not:

(a) undermine the principal role of the Strategic Gap in separating north Maidstone,as defined by the M20, from the Medway Towns urban area and the north westernedge of Maidstone from Aylesford/Ditton

(b) prejudice the role of the North Downs Special Landscape Area in protecting theforeground of the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tonbridge and Malling

3.73 The Strategic Development Locations identified for Tonbridge and Malling under earlierstructure plans have been reviewed in this Plan. There are a number of changes:

• Commitment to a mixed-use new community at Kings Hill remains, but its land use mixshould be reviewed to provide for a greater residential element (some 750 additionalhomes) and a reduction in business floorspace to 186,000 sq. metres. This will easelabour market pressures, help to reduce demands elsewhere for additional housing landand further improve the balance between residential and business use within thedevelopment.

• The provision for development on the east bank of the Medway within this Plan is limitedto a new community provided on previously developed land at Peters Pit.

3.74 This Plan also identifies (Policy EP5) technology and knowledge economy clusters atKings Hill and East Malling Research, where links between research and businessdevelopment will be encouraged. East Malling has a specific role for the land-basedindustries, and proposals will need to pay due regard to prevailing policies of restraintapplicable to greenfield land in this area. 3.75 The designated Strategic Gap between the Medway Gap urban area and the Maidstoneand Medway Towns urban areas is retained to prevent their coalescence and should beextended to include undeveloped land not currently allocated for development on the eastbank of the Medway. 3.76 The borough has Strategic Development Locations, as set out in Policy TM1, whichwere identified in previous structure plans and which consist of previously developed ordamaged land. These have now passed through critical stages of the planning process.Making more efficient use of land at these major development locations is strategicallysignificant in terms of housing capacity and its phasing, and is taken into account in the


overall housing provision for the borough in this Structure Plan (Policy HP1). Thecontribution to housing provision from these strategic locations, clustered within the MedwayGap area, may extend beyond 2016 in view of the scale of their individual and cumulativecapacity. 3.77 Housing provision for the borough in this Plan is significantly above the level generatedsolely by local demographic and social changes and provides for continuing gain frommigration over the Plan period. Policy TM1: Tonbridge and Malling Within Tonbridge & Malling Borough, housing and employment growth will beconcentrated at the following Strategic Development Locations: • Kings Hill for continued development of a new mixed-use urban community

involving phased development of a campus style business park, major residentialdevelopment and associated social and community facilities. A revised mix of landuse to reduce B1 employment provision and increase the housing element will bepursued

• Holborough Quarry, to the north of Snodland and west of the A228, principally forhousing and associated social and community facilities

• Leybourne Grange, to the south of the M20 and west of the A228, for housingdevelopment and associated social and community facilities

• Peters Pit, on the East Bank of the Medway, principally for housing and associatedsocial and community facilities and subject to the provision of transportinfrastructure including a new crossing of the Medway.

Sevenoaks 3.78 Diversification of the Sevenoaks economy through tourism and leisure will be pursued,together with development in the knowledge and technology sectors. The emphasis will beon maintaining and securing a sustainable balance of job opportunities and housing in orderto reduce the need to travel/commute. This will be done in a manner compatible with thefact that the district lies wholly within the Metropolitan Green Belt. There will be a particularfocus on providing key worker housing to meet the needs of the local economy and on otherlocal needs housing. The viability of Sevenoaks and Swanley centres should be secured byenhancing the quality of their retail and other consumer services. 3.79 The size and character of Sevenoaks and Swanley (the two Principal Urban Areas)suggest that there is only modest potential for housing in the urban areas, especially if theyare to maintain a balanced mix of land uses and employment land is to be safeguarded.Trend-based projections of household growth are predominantly influenced by locally-generated demographic and social change. This Plan applies significant restraint on thetrend-based projected growth given the continued importance of development restraint in theinner-Metropolitan Green Belt. Restraint in the district, especially its northern part (includingthe Swanley area) is, however, accompanied by the regionally-significant housingopportunities arising within the Kent Thameside area in the neighbouring Dartford andGravesham Boroughs. Policy SE1: Sevenoaks Within Sevenoaks District the scale of new housing development reflects its locationwholly within the inner Metropolitan Green Belt, the relatively small scale of the


principal urban areas of Sevenoaks and Swanley and the character of their builtenvironments. Fort Halstead is identified as a prospective business cluster associated with itsestablished role in research. Proposals to expand technology and knowledgeactivities will be supported subject to the provisions of policy EP5. Tunbridge Wells 3.80 The prime considerations for Tunbridge Wells are the need to ensure conservation ofthe town’s setting and its high quality built environment and to respect its location within theMetropolitan Green Belt and the High Weald AONB. Within these limits, the emphasis willbe on maintaining business growth and prosperity within the constraints of labour supply andlocal housing needs. There will be a particular focus on the commercial and employmentrole of the town centre as a sub regional centre and regional hub, and on the carefulmanagement and husbanding of the supply of land for business and industrial development.There is a strategic requirement for a new general hospital at Tunbridge Wells serving awide area of West Kent (Policy QL12). 3.81 Trend-based projections of household growth show only a very modest increaseattributable to net inward migration. Housing provision (Policy HP1) is above the levelimplied by projected household growth arising solely from local demographic and socialchanges and places a strong emphasis on urban capacity to meet policy requirements. Policy TW1: Tunbridge Wells The prime consideration at the urban area of Tunbridge Wells in the quantity andlocation of development will be the conservation of the built and natural environment,the setting of the town and its location within the Green Belt. Within this framework full and effective use of development capacity within theprincipal urban area of Tunbridge Wells/Southborough will be pursued. This shouldprovide for a balance of business, commercial and residential development withparticular attention paid to meeting locally based needs for housing.


CHAPTER 4: PROTECTING AND ENHANCING OUR NATURALENVIRONMENT 4.1 We hold our environment in trust for current and future generations. Kent’s naturalenvironment is a prized asset that in some parts of the county is recognised as superb.Protecting, conserving and enhancing the environment is fundamental to ensuring the well-being and prosperity of this and future generations. The challenge for the Structure Plan isto protect the environment while at the same time allowing for essential development. Key issues for Kent: Protecting, conserving and enhancing the:• countryside• coast• flora and fauna• differing landscapes of Kent and their distinctive character Countryside and coast 4.2. Kent’s countryside and coast are varied and have an intrinsic value of their own. Theirmany distinctive features include: the North Kent Marshes; the steep cliffs around Dover andThanet; the scarp slopes of the North Downs; the intimate woodlands of the High Weald; thevast shingle beaches and open expanses of Romney Marsh; the county’s traditional patternsof streams, fields, hedgerows and orchards. 4.3 Landscapes operate at many levels, from local networks of wildlife habitats through rivercatchments such as the areas alongside the Stour and Medway to the way people live, workand enjoy the countryside. Both natural and man-made elements influence the character ofthe countryside, including geology and soils, topography, vegetation cover and enclosurepatterns. The landscapes of Kent are important for themselves and because of the impact they haveon the quality of life of those who live, work and spend time in the county. The benefitsinclude:• supporting the economy of rural areas, including farming• influencing perceptions of Kent and encouraging tourism and investment• contributing to people’s enjoyment, education, health and well-being• providing an attractive setting for Kent’s villages and towns• supporting features which help maintain day-to-day living, such as the defence against

flooding provided by coastal habitats• maintaining natural systems which contribute to daily needs such as water catchments• preserving our relationships with nature and with past cultures. 4.4 The Kent coast and estuaries are an important local and national resource, particularly interms of their nature conservation value, scenic quality and importance for recreation.However, they are under pressure from a variety of commercial and recreational uses.Opportunities for development within undeveloped stretches of coast are increasingly limited.Every effort should be made to protect undeveloped stretches of Kent’s coastline. Theremay, though, be developments that require a coastal location or direct access to the watere.g. port facilities and related development or sea defence works. In cases like these thelocal planning authorities should assess what impact the proposed development would haveon the landscape, seascape and conservation of the stretch of estuary or coastline involved.


They should also consider defining the extent of undeveloped coast and estuaries in LocalDevelopment Documents in order to allow the objectives of Policy EN2 to be applied clearly.This should include assessment of the extent to which Policy EN2 will apply inland of theundeveloped coast and estuaries. Within built-up coastal and estuarial areas, it will also beimportant to assess the impacts of development on the townscape and on the seascape orriverscape, including the contribution made to retaining or opening up views of the water. 4.5 The main river estuaries are important wildlife corridors. The Tidal Thames is a wildlifecorridor of considerable importance bordered by the Thames Gateway growth area.Measures to sustain and improve the quality and quantity of its wildlife habitats (through, forexample, the Tidal Thames Habitat Action Plan) should be pursued. 4.6 The protection and enhancement of the countryside and coast should reflect the waythey are valued, take account of the factors that have helped shape them and respect thefunctions they serve. 4.7 There may be instances where, exceptionally, development is required in the countrysideor at the undeveloped coast. Wherever possible such a need should be identified andassessed through the preparation of Local Development Documents. This might arise inorder to meet the housing and employment land provisions of the Structure Plan or toprovide other strategically-important facilities (e.g. transport use) which cannot be met withinexisting settlements, or to respond to the needs of rural communities where a rural locationis required. All proposals will be subject to the terms of Policies EN1 and EN2. Where acase of need is substantiated, appropriate mitigation of, or compensation for, any adverseimpacts should be secured to the satisfaction of the local planning authority. Policy EN1: Protecting Kent's Countryside Kent's countryside will be protected, conserved and enhanced for its own sake. Thisis important for the social, economic and environmental well-being of Kent.Development in the countryside should seek to maintain or enhance it. Developmentwhich will adversely affect the countryside will not be permitted unless there is anoverriding need for it which outweighs the requirement to protect the countryside.Development so permitted should include appropriate mitigation and/orcompensation. Policy EN2: Protecting Kent's Coast and Estuaries Kent's undeveloped coast and estuaries will be protected, conserved and enhanced.Development in such areas and in adjoining countryside will not be permitted if itmaterially detracts from the scenic, heritage, wildlife or scientific value of these areas.Development so permitted should include appropriate mitigation and/orcompensation. Countryside character 4.8 Kent’s identity as the Garden of England is well established, but its character is beingeroded, even in areas where the landscape is protected. Changing agricultural practices,new transport infrastructure and other development have all had an impact.


The seven main natural character areas of Kent identified by the Countryside Agency andEnglish Nature are: • Greater Thames Estuary• North Kent Plain• Kent Downs• Wealden Greensand• Low Weald• High Weald• Romney Marshes. 4.9 Changes in the countryside, which are necessary and inevitable, should be managed ina way which, as far as possible, strengthens its pattern and diversity rather than eroding itscharacter and distinctiveness. Change may take place outside the planning system, andland management practice plays a particularly important role in managing the countryside.Government guidance places increasing emphasis on conserving the countryside byassessing the character of its landscape. This approach will help to ensure that Kent’scharacter and distinctiveness are safeguarded and, where possible, enhanced. Landscapecharacter embraces not only the visual appearance of the countryside and sense of placebut also its natural and cultural heritage. 4.10 Each of the main character areas shown on the map has a unique make-up of geologyand soils, biodiversity, appearance, settlement and land-use patterns, history, locally-distinctive architecture and degree of tranquillity. Within and across Kent, these main areashave been divided into local character areas. Broad priorities for the conservation,restoration, reinforcement and creation of distinctive landscape features have been attachedto these areas. 4.11. Supplementary Planning Guidance on Landscape Character (SPG1) supports theStructure Plan and will help authorities apply Policies EN3 to EN5 in the preparation of theirLocal Development Documents and in development control. Kent County Council’sLandscape Strategy Map, Medway Council’s Landscape and Urban Design Framework andthe Kent Historic Landscape Characterisation Study all provide guidance and information toassist in implementing Policy EN3. The historic dimension of the landscape is alsoaddressed by Policy QL9. The Landscape Strategy Map offers guidance on a Kent-wideapproach to protecting, conserving and enhancing landscapes and sets out priorities forlandscape action. It also suggests how the type, scale and form of justified developmentmight respect the character of the countryside. 4.12 Local planning authorities will, as appropriate, need to carry out more detailed characterassessments for their areas within the period of this Plan and, to protect landscape interests,assess the role of criteria-based policies in Local Development Documents. Where formallocal assessments of landscape character and quality identify landscapes of localsignificance they should be designated in Local Development Documents in accordance withPolicy EN3. Policy EN3: Protecting and Enhancing Countryside Character Kent's landscape and wildlife habitats will be protected, conserved and enhanced.Development will not be permitted if it would lead to the loss of features or habitatswhich are of landscape, historic, wildlife or geological importance, or are of anunspoilt quality free from urban intrusion unless there is a need for developmentwhich outweighs these considerations.


Where a need for development in the countryside is justified, important features andcharacteristics will be retained. Proposals should reflect the need for conservation,reinforcement, restoration or creation of countryside character and provide for theappropriate management of important features and the wider landscape. Where formal assessments of landscape character and quality identify landscapes oflocal significance, they should be designated in Local Development Documents. Designated landscapes Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast 4.13 Kent has two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), the Kent Downs and theHigh Weald, and two stretches of Heritage Coast extending from Kingsdown to Dover andfrom Dover to Folkestone. These are nationally-important landscapes which have a similarstatus to National Parks. The emphasis within them is to conserve their natural beauty whilehaving regard to the economic and social well-being of the areas within them. Developmentproposals outside the designated area of an AONB should be considered for any effect theymight have on the natural beauty of the AONB. 4.14 Past policy has served these areas well, but there is evidence that their natural beautyand distinctiveness are threatened by a range of activities, many of which are not underplanning control. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires the preparation andregular review of AONB management plans. The local planning authorities should haveregard to the North Downs and High Weald Management Plans in preparing their LocalDevelopment Documents. Measures and actions set out in these plans, alongside policies inthe Structure Plan and Local Plans/Local Development Documents, will be designed toensure that Kent’s AONBs are protected, conserved and enhanced. Policy EN4: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Heritage Coast Protection will be given to the nationally-important landscapes of:• the Kent Downs and High Weald Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and• Kent’s Heritage Coast between Kingsdown and Dover and between Dover and

Folkestone.

The primary objective in these areas will be to protect, conserve and enhancelandscape character and natural beauty.

Major commercial, mineral or transport infrastructure developments will not bepermitted unless it can be demonstrated that:

(a) there is a proven national interest(b) there are no alternative sites available or the need cannot be met in any other way;

and(c) appropriate provision can be made to minimise harm to the environment.

Other development which would be detrimental to the natural beauty, quality andcharacter of the landscape and quiet enjoyment of the area will not be permitted.Development that is essential to meet local social or economic needs should bepermitted provided that it is consistent with the purpose of Areas of OutstandingNatural Beauty and Heritage Coast..Special Landscape Areas


4.15 Certain areas within the county have been designated as Special Landscape Areas(SLAs) within previous Structure Plans because of their strategic landscape importance andscenic significance in a Kent-wide context. Their detailed boundaries have been defined inLocal Plans. Recent studies countywide have revealed that landscape character in some ofthese areas has declined.

4.16 The designation of SLAs in this Structure Plan now excludes areas that fall within areasthat have been nationally designated as AONB. In some instances this will require thereview of detailed boundaries in Local Plans/Local Development Documents. SLAs shouldcontinue to provide a focus for the protection, conservation and restoration of landscapequality and character while securing the social and economic well-being of the communitieswithin them. In future the designation and review of SLAs will form part of the process ofpreparing Regional and Sub-Regional Spatial Strategies.

Policy EN5: Special Landscape Areas

Special Landscape Areas are defined as follows and indicated on the Key Diagram.Detailed boundaries of the SLAs will be reviewed and defined in Local Plans/LocalDevelopment Documents:

• North Downs• Greensand Belt• High Weald• Eastern Low Weald• Western Low Weald• Old Romney Shoreline• North Kent Marshes• Sandwich Bay/Pegwell Bay• Dungeness• Blean Woods

The primary objective of designating Special Landscape Areas is the protection,conservation and enhancement of the quality of their landscapes, whilst havingregard to the need to facilitate the social and economic well-being of the communitiessituated within them.

4.17 Although the principal aim is to protect and enhance the landscape character andnatural beauty of both AONBs and SLAs, the needs of agriculture, forestry, the ruraleconomy and local communities should be taken into account. These areas of naturallandscape can play an important part in providing informal recreation, but only where it doesnot impact upon their natural beauty. New development which is needed to improve thesocial and economic life of local communities within AONBs and SLAs should be locatedwithin, or immediately adjacent to, existing settlements. Diversification of the rural economyis supported within these areas (Policies EP7 and EP8) but should be consistent with AONBand SLA objectives.

Nature conservation

4.18 Kent contains a wide range of wildlife habitats and their associated species. Theseinclude downland, woodland, meadows, rivers, coastal habitats and wetlands. These natureconservation resources continue to come under pressure. One example of this is that wildbird populations, a general indicator for biodiversity, are continuing to decline in Kent. Thisreflects a national trend caused by development pressures and other activities such as more


intensive agriculture. These important resources need to be protected and encouraged,both for their own sake and for future generations.

4.19 Nature conservation can improve our quality of life. Green spaces supporting wildlifeinterest, for example, can be very important to local communities. Access to nature andwildlife on an everyday basis can contribute greatly to our health and well-being.

4.20 Development and other activities can have direct and indirect impacts on areas ofnature conservation interest. Development sites can impact on a natural resource aconsiderable distance away, particularly if the effect relates to air quality or water resources.The impact of one development may be small, but the cumulative effect of several can besignificant. Impacts can be avoided and gains achieved by conducting a thorough ecologicalsurvey at an early stage, by careful design and by guiding development away from sensitivesites. Opportunities to deal with the impacts of development on sensitive sites throughmitigation measures and/or seeking appropriate compensation should be taken.

4.21 This Plan provides protection for wildlife. It seeks to identify opportunities forenhancement taking account of the international, national or local importance of wildlifepopulations. Supplementary Planning Guidance on Biodiversity Conservation (SPG2)supports Policies EN6 to EN9 on protecting and enhancing biodiversity, elaborates the aims,objectives and targets of the UK and Kent Biodiversity Action Plans and also sets out howthese can be delivered and made to work alongside development.

Internationally and nationally important sites

4.22 Internationally and nationally designated sites contain the best examples of our naturalheritage. Sites of international importance are designated under the terms of:

• the Ramsar Convention - as wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites)• the European Habitats Directive - as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)• the European Birds Directive - as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). 4.23 Natura 2000 is the network of European sites (SPAs and SACs). Development likely toaffect such sites is subject to thorough assessment (Conservation [Natural Habitats etc]Regulations 1994). 4.24 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) have been designated for their nationally-important wildlife or geological features. Some are managed as National Nature Reserves(NNR). There is a duty on public bodies, including local authorities, to further theconservation and enhancement of the special interest of SSSIs. Development proposalsmust demonstrate that they will not adversely affect these sites. Policy EN6: International and National Wildlife Designations Development will not be permitted where it would directly, indirectly or cumulatively,materially harm the scientific or nature conservation interests of any of the followingcategories of sites:• a European site• a proposed European site• a Ramsar site• a Site of Special Scientific Interest• a National Nature Reserve.


Other sites of strategic importance 4.25 The network of local sites is strategically important for delivering biodiversity targets asthey contain many important habitats such as ancient woodlands and lowland grassland. 4.26 Local Nature Reserves are designated by statute and are designed to increase thepublic enjoyment and understanding of nature as well as promoting nature conservation.County Wildlife Sites (designated by the Kent Wildlife Trust) and Regionally ImportantGeological/Geomorphological Sites are of both strategic and local importance for wildlife andthe earth’s heritage. Many contain nationally-important habitats and contribute to wildlifediversity. Policy EN7: County and Local Wildlife Designations Development which would materially harm the scientific or nature conservationinterests, either directly, indirectly or cumulatively, of: • Local Nature Reserves• County Wildlife Sites identified in Local Development Documents• Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites

will not be permitted unless there is a need which outweighs the local natureconservation or geological/geomorphological interest and adverse impacts can beadequately compensated.

Biodiversity

4.27 The Kent Biodiversity Action Plan underlines the commitment to safeguarding biologicaldiversity in Kent. It considers whole ecosystems, recognising that safeguarding andenhancing wildlife cannot be done just by conserving sites. It seeks to safeguard andimprove priority habitats and species found in the wider countryside and identify areas ofbiodiversity potential where net improvements can be achieved.

4.28 Habitats often occur as fragments within the landscape, providing wildlife corridors,links or stepping stones from one habitat to another. Preventing further fragmentation bysafeguarding existing habitats and improving linkages between them will help to maintain thecurrent range and diversity of our flora and fauna. The biological role of land corridors isimportant in relation to green space networks and rights of way as supported by PolicyQL17.

4.29 Future development should seek to maintain and enhance existing habitats and reversefragmentation by identifying areas where the biodiversity potential is greatest. This shouldbe based on a clear understanding of the biodiversity interest of the development site (andother areas affected) in the context of the ecology of the area, as well as of national andcounty biodiversity priorities and targets. Restoration and enhancement efforts, andmitigation and compensation for adverse impacts, should be concentrated in areas wherethere is scope for significant nature conservation gain or where the most valuable and fragilehabitats and species occur. The potential value to biodiversity of previously developed landand previously worked sites should be taken into account.

4.30 Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG2) on Biodiversity Conservation provides a listof Priority and Broad UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats found in Kent, together withUKBAP Species found in Kent. This, in conjunction with the designations covered by Policy


EN6 and Policy EN7, represent the network of important habitats in the county that are thesubject of Policy EN8.

Policy EN8: Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Biodiversity

Wildlife habitats and species will be protected, conserved and enhanced, especiallythrough long term management and habitat creation schemes, particularly where theyhave been identified as national and county priorities in the UK and Kent BiodiversityAction Plan(s), or where they are protected under wildlife legislation. This will besecured by:

(a) ensuring that site evaluation is undertaken to establish the nature conservationvalue of proposed development sites

(b) identifying, safeguarding and managing existing and potential land for natureconservation as part of development proposals, particularly where a connectedseries of sites can be achieved

(c) local planning authorities identifying locations and proposals for habitat andspecies management, restoration and creation.

Development likely to have an adverse effect, directly, indirectly or cumulatively, onimportant habitats or species will not be permitted unless:• there is an overriding need for the development that outweighs adverse impact on

nature conservation; and• adverse impact on an important nature conservation resource can be adequately

mitigated and/or compensated. Trees, woodland and hedgerows 4.31 Trees, woodland and hedgerows are important features in Kent’s landscape.Woodland and hedgerows have many benefits. They contribute to landscape character,provide wildlife habitats, contribute to biodiversity and help to maintain the balance of carbondioxide in the atmosphere and air quality. Woodland can also have a commercial value.Within built-up areas and around the urban fringe, woodland can provide further wildlifehabitats and enhance damaged landscapes. 4.32 It is strategic policy to increase tree cover in Kent, one of the least wooded counties inthe South East. Hedgerows and woodland have been lost mainly through agriculturalintensification and development. At the same time, though, Kent has more identified ancientwoodland than any other county in the UK - around 10% of the national total. This is aunique resource in terms of biodiversity, heritage and landscape character. 4.33 New development provides an opportunity for planting trees, woodland and hedgerows.Such planting can improve the character of settlements and enhance the appearance of thenearby countryside. It can link remnants of ancient woodlands, enhance biodiversity andimprove access for recreation. The scope for major new woodlands will be greatestadjoining larger urban areas, particularly where significant new development is planned,such as in Kent Thameside and Ashford, and in urban fringe locations where it could help torestore damaged land. At other appropriate locations, such as Thanet or in the former EastKent Coalfield area, smaller areas of woodland planting will be encouraged. 4.34 Tree planting is not appropriate where it would cause damage to, or loss of, importantopen habitats, such as unimproved grassland or heathland. Tree planting is not the onlyway to create woodland, and greater gains are made for biodiversity where new woodland is


allowed to develop through natural succession. Effort should be directed towards areas,woodland types or species which are the rarest or most fragile and therefore provide thegreatest potential for biodiversity gain. 4.35 Kent and Medway Councils will continue to plant and manage trees and woodlands ontheir own land and promote these activities to other woodland owners. A specific objectivewill be to increase the cover of broad-leaved woodland, with local species where possible.Other priorities will include improving the management of small woodlands, including thecounty’s significant resource of coppice, marketing woodland products and fosteringcommunity interest in woodlands. Policy EN9: Trees, Woodland and Hedgerows Provision should be made for the creation of new woodland, especially indigenousbroad-leaved species at appropriate locations in Kent, including provision of newhabitats as part of development proposals. Tree cover and the hedgerow network should be maintained. Additionally, theyshould be enhanced where this would improve the landscape, biodiversity, or linkexisting woodland habitats. Ancient and semi-natural woodland will be protectedand, where possible, enhanced. Community forests and woodlands 4.36 Creating ‘community forests’ around major urban areas can give communities access togreen space and provide an important way of managing and enhancing the urban fringe.Such forests, especially when they consist of native species, can enhance the landscape,create opportunities for recreation, bolster economic confidence and encourage investment.Existing wildlife habitats and landscape character must be protected. The Government’sSustainable Communities Plan (2003) encourages the consideration of community forests inthe regional growth areas. Their potential in Kent Thames Gateway and Ashford should beconsidered and, if they are felt to be appropriate, proposals to create them should beincluded in Local Development Documents. At other appropriate locations, communitywoodland planting should be examined. The White Horse Wood Community Forest nearMaidstone exemplifies the approach envisaged. New woodland planting should not beundertaken on areas where wildlife value derives from other land cover features such asmarshland. Policy EN10: Potential for Community Forests and Woodlands The potential for community forests or community woodland sites will be investigatedin North Kent and at Ashford and other suitable locations and where appropriate,defined and safeguarded in Local Development Documents. Urban fringe 4.37 The countryside around our towns can make an important contribution to our quality oflife. It connects built-up areas with the wider open countryside, allowing people access togreen space, woodland and recreational activities. In The Countryside In and Around Townsten key functions are identified which should be recognised through greater integration andinteraction between the roles indicated for the urban–rural fringe.


The urban–rural fringe: Ten key functions A bridge to the country Networks of parks, woodlands and other green spaces

are linked to urban areas and the wider countryside byfootpaths, bridleways and cycleways. Parks and other green spaces are joined up to formgreen corridors between town and country.

A gateway to the town The quality of the countryside around towns is anindicator of the quality of a town or city – it creates astrong impression to visitors and prospective investors.

A health centre An accessible and attractive countryside and greenspace infrastructure close to where people live and workprovides an invaluable recreational resource.

A classroom The countryside around towns provides learningopportunities in a variety of ‘outdoor classrooms’ tosupport the national curriculum, particularly in respect ofenvironmental education and rural studies.

A recycling and renewableenergy centre

The countryside around towns plays an important part inthe sustainable management of the waste, water andpollution generated in urban areas.

A productive landscape Farms close to urban areas can take advantage of theirproximity to urban markets, supplying high quality localproduce through direct marketing as well as throughother outlets.

A cultural legacy The countryside around towns contains many imprints ofthe history of communities and their change anddevelopment.

A place for sustainable living Where careful decisions have been taken toaccommodate the need for new development afterexamining other options including increasing housingdensities in existing urban areas and expanding othertowns and villages.

An engine for regeneration Strategies for regeneration use the countryside on theurban edge to help communities develop their ownconfidence, skills and prospects.

A nature reserve The countryside around towns contains historic andnewly-established woodlands, wetlands and meadowsand a range of other natural habitats.

Source: The Countryside In and Around Towns: A Vision for Connecting Town and Country in the Pursuit ofSustainable Development, Groundwork and Countryside Agency 2005. 4.38 The urban fringe is subject to a wide range of pressures, particularly from newdevelopment and other activities, and it often contains damaged land. In some places itsuffers from poor maintenance, neglect and vandalism, but there are opportunities toimprove its appearance and wildlife value, as well as its accessibility, by careful managementand planning. Enhancing the urban fringe is particularly important in areas such as KentThameside and Ashford and other places where significant changes to the form andstructure of the urban areas are proposed. Policy EN11, in conjunction with QL17 andQL18, provide multifunctional planning and management of urban fringe areas. Policy EN11: Planning and Managing the Urban Fringe Local planning authorities will work together and with others to draw up andimplement strategies for ensuring effective environmental management and high


quality design for urban fringe areas, particularly in Dartford/Gravesham (KentThameside), at Ashford and where other large-scale new developments are proposed. Local Development Documents will provide policies for such areas that ensure: • the maintenance or enhancement of landscape and urban character;• the creation of new habitats;• the safeguarding of land for public access and the provision of recreational

networks, including linkage with existing communities/built-up areas;• where appropriate, the enhancement of damaged, despoiled or degraded land. Where directly related, contributions from developments to the implementation ofsuch programmes may be required. River corridors 4.39 Kent contains the main river valleys of the Darent, Medway, and Stour, and is borderedto the north by the River Thames and its estuary. Rivers and their adjoining areas are ofgreat importance for water resource and flood risk management, nature conservation,fisheries, recreation and tourism. They often make a significant contribution to the characterof the landscape and they provide pleasant green corridors in many of Kent’s towns. Theycan provide safe and convenient walking and cycling. Both new development andredevelopment should minimise flood risk and enhance rivers and the riverside environment.This could be by increasing public access, improving water-related habitats, landscape orwater quality or by securing the restoration of natural river features. Policy EN12: River Corridors The environment within river corridors and river catchments, including the landscape,water environment and wildlife habitats, will be conserved and enhanced. Whereconsistent with this, provision will be made for:

• increased opportunities for access and water recreation;• increased public access for walking, cycling and horse riding and links to existing

rights of way and cycleway networks. Supply of water, treatment and disposal of waste water and flood risk managementshould be sustainable and deliver environmental benefits. Environmental enhancement of primary routes 4.40 Kent’s primary road and rail routes are used by large numbers of people from withinand outside the county and include sections that carry significant amounts of tourist traffic.The character and quality of the landscape along these routes is important because itinfluences the perceptions of visitors and potential investors and can help to mitigate theimpact of the routes themselves and the traffic which uses them. 4.41 Considerable advances have been made in the quality of landscaping on such routesthrough local authorities working in partnership with other bodies such as the HighwaysAgency and Network Rail. The construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link through Kentdemonstrated the benefits that can be achieved from a concerted programme ofenvironmental treatment and enhancement. Policy EN13 promotes the enhancement of


environmental quality along the county’s motorway and primary road and passenger railnetworks as identified on the Key Diagram. Policy EN13: Environmental Enhancement of Primary Routes Enhancement of landscape quality and character and of wildlife habitats alongprimary road and rail routes, including important tourist routes, will be promoted. Rural lanes 4.42 Kent possesses a rich heritage of ancient lanes that dates back to medieval, Saxon andeven prehistoric times. As well as having historic value, they contribute to natureconservation and add to the distinctive character of the countryside. Some are comingunder pressure and need to be protected and enhanced. Local authorities should identifysuch lanes in Local Development Documents, supported as appropriate by surveys and byenvironmental and archaeological advice. 4.43 Measures to safeguard Kent’s rural lanes should include restraining traffic, imposingspeed restrictions, limiting road upgrading, planting and making Tree Preservation Orders.Other options include traffic orders and voluntary routing agreements with adjoininglandowners and key industrial, commercial or agricultural users. The Greensand RidgeQuiet Lanes scheme is one of two national demonstration projects which aim to make lanesmore attractive for cyclists, horse riders and walkers while maintaining essential access forlocal residents, essential services and businesses. Other rural transport initiatives andpolicies can be found in the Transport Chapter of this Structure Plan and in the LocalTransport Plan for Kent (2006-11). Policy EN14: Rural Lanes Rural lanes which are of landscape, amenity, nature conservation, historic orarchaeological importance will be protected from changes and management practiceswhich would damage their character, and where possible will be enhanced.


CHAPTER 5: PROMOTING QUALITY OF LIFE IN TOWN ANDCOUNTRY 5.1 This Plan seeks to make towns and villages in Kent vibrant places in which to live, workand take leisure. This chapter looks to support an ‘urban renaissance’ in Kent and therevitalisation of rural communities. It focuses upon those policies that affect the quality ofplaces, including design, safety and security, the protection of Kent’s wealth of built heritageand the provision of community services and infrastructure. Policies for protecting andenhancing the countryside and coast, their landscapes and wildlife are equally importantdimensions of quality of life. These are addressed in Chapter 4. Key issues for Kent: • Ensuring new development is designed to a high quality• Preserving the separate identities of different settlements• Making towns and villages more attractive and safer places in which to live, work

and spend time• Encouraging mixed uses in our towns and other centres• Conserving our built and man-made heritage• Enhancing community and other infrastructure• Providing better facilities and opportunities for sport and recreation The quality of development and design in town and country 5.2 Kent has a valuable legacy of attractive and historic built environments. However, sometowns and villages have unexceptional or poor townscapes because of heavy industry, thepoor design of more recent development and the impact of traffic which causes pollution andmakes pedestrian movement difficult. 5.3 The intrinsic character and setting of Kent villages and small rural towns is valuable. Ithelps to mould the image of the county and contributes to the quality of life for everyone wholives in and visits Kent. Structure Plan policies have protected the countryside and ruralsettlements from inappropriate development and must continue to do so. Any developmentin the rural areas must respond carefully to its location and environment. 5.4 There is now a clear expectation that the planning system will promote sustainable andwell designed development and this is reflected in a range of national planning policyguidance notes and other Government publications e.g. Better Places to Live - by design(2001) and By Design - Urban Design in the Planning System: Towards Better Practice(2000). It is important that development responds well to the distinct character of eachsettlement. This character is formed by the buildings, open spaces, landscape, streetpattern, landmarks, materials used and other features. Each town or village therefore has adifferent set of physical design problems and opportunities. Achieving good design meanslooking at the function, convenience and context of a development as well as theappearance and appropriateness of its architecture. The design process must also addressthe public realm including the space between buildings and there is a need to involve localcommunities as well as those directly concerned with projects. 5.5 Good design can often be achieved at no extra overall cost. Using good urban designand management to focus more attention on street maintenance, public open space andpedestrian routes can result in economic benefits to an area as well as making places moreattractive. The Kent Design Guide (2005) has been prepared on behalf of Kent localauthorities and adopted as a Supplementary Planning Guidance to the Structure Plan


(SPG5). It advocates high quality design for new development that should be in harmonywith its surroundings but without stifling innovation. It provides detailed guidance on theprinciples and considerations addressed by Policy QL1. 5.6 The overall character and identity of a settlement is of importance both to its economicwell-being and for the quality of life of its residents. Investors are influenced by the cultural,leisure and retailing vitality of settlements. Applying good urban design principles helps tomake towns more attractive and successful places in which to live and work. High qualityurban design has an important part to play in delivering wider policy and communityobjectives. In particular, the Structure Plan, Local Transport Plans and CommunityStrategies aim to encourage journeys by foot and cycle, improve health and safety andreduce crime. An important contribution can be made to improving the quality of life in theseareas through programmes for pedestrian and cycle priority and circulation, for theappearance and treatment of open spaces and the spaces between buildings, and fortownscape improvement, particularly in town centres. The benefits of good design: Good urban design and high quality architecture will help to deliver strategic planningpolicies in Kent in a number of ways, by:• providing Kent residents with a higher quality environment in which to live• making towns more attractive through high quality building and landscape• satisfactorily accommodating higher density and mixed use development and

integrating new uses for vacant sites, thus contributing to the targets fordevelopment on previously used land

• increasing the confidence to invest, particularly in town centres and the inner parts ofour urban areas

• making it easier and safer to move around on foot or by bicycle and reducingdependence on the car

• bringing together different housing types and local services and encouragingcommunity development

• producing buildings and layouts which consume less energy and water• adopting design measures that contribute to public health and applying ‘secured by

design’ principles2 that contribute to public safety and reduce crime• making buildings flexible enough to be adapted and extended throughout their life to

meet changing needs and requirements• reducing physical isolation and encouraging social inclusion, for example by making

areas more accessible and better connected and by encouraging the design ofdwellings to ‘homes for life’ standard

• adopting design which complements local architecture and contributes to urban andvillage character

Policy QL1: Quality of Development and Design

(i) All development should be well designed and be of high quality.Developments, individually or taken together, should respond positively tothe scale, layout, pattern and character of their local surroundings.Development which would be detrimental to the built environment, amenity,functioning and character of settlements or the countryside will not bepermitted. Existing built environment of high quality and character will beprotected and enhanced. Innovative design will be encouraged whereappropriate.

2 See www.securedbydesign.com


(ii) Local authorities and others will:(a) ensure that the distinctive character of towns and villages is conserved

and improved(b) apply the principles of the Kent Design Guide when determining

planning applications and preparing site-specific development guidance(c) require, where appropriate, that a design statement accompanies

proposals for development with accurate illustrations of thedevelopment in its surroundings

(d) develop design policies for their area based on an analysis of thequality, character and significance of the surrounding built and naturalenvironment. This will include:

(i) identification of areas where local design policies willapply to take account of their special character

(ii) provision of design guidance within development briefsand master plans for major development sites and areas ofchange.

(iii) The design of development should:(a) consider the needs of all sections of the community(b) provide for a healthy, safe and secure environment(c) enhance the public realm(d) protect the amenity of residents(e) incorporate sustainable construction techniques as detailed in Policy

NR1.

Policy QL2: Priorities for the Public Realm

A concerted effort will be made to improve the appearance, design, safety andambience of the public realm including streets, squares, walkways, green space andvistas in both town and country. This will be implemented by:

(a) programmes of investment in new and refurbished public spaces;(b) the improvement of townscapes including environmental enhancement;(c) improved maintenance of streets, squares and other open spaces;(d) adoption of measures that foster community safety and security;(e) encouragement, as appropriate, of retail, leisure, sport and recreation, cultural

and civic activity to bring vitality to the central areas of our towns and cities.

Policy QL3: Movement and Accessibility in the Public Realm

Local authorities will establish priorities and programmes for:

(a) pedestrian priority and reduced traffic speeds within town centres, in existingresidential areas and in major new development areas

(b) the provision of safe pedestrian and cycle routes to schools(c) a network of high quality, direct and convenient pedestrian and cycle routes

linking public open space, safe streets and parks in urban areas, residentialareas with community facilities/services and the major/principal urban areaswith the surrounding countryside

(d) the provision of a safe and convenient network for pedestrians and cyclists inrural areas.


Where directly related, contributions from developments to the implementation ofsuch programmes may be required.

Policy QL4: Maintaining the Separation and Identity of Settlements

The separation and identity of settlements will be maintained including:

(a) safeguarding of the open and undeveloped character of the countryside aroundand between settlements, including the use of landscape buffers

(b) the allocation of land at, but outside the built confines of, settlements for useswhich maintain or enhance their setting

(c) the protection of important features, views and skylines.

A vibrant mix of uses

5.7 Developments with a mixture of land uses can have strong advantages over givinglarge areas over to a single use. They can reduce the need for travel to work or to reachservices and they can improve the prospects for investment by spreading risk andmaximising value. Mixed use also creates more interesting environments, while a range ofhouse types fosters more balanced communities. Significant new land releases includingmajor regeneration sites should provide mixed uses capable of creating communities withgood access to a full range of services, either within themselves or by association withexisting development. Major allocations or developments based on a single land use should,where practicable, be reviewed with a view to introducing a wider mix of uses, as long as thisdoes not conflict with other Structure Plan policies or adversely affect the need to meetstrategic development requirements for housing or new employment.

Policy QL5: Mix of Uses on Sites

(a) New large scale developments will include a mix of residential and employmentuses, unless an appropriate mix can be achieved through proximity to, andintegration with, existing development. They will incorporate appropriatecommunity and other services if not available within walking distance or if theycannot be provided in extended facilities nearby.

(b) Opportunities should be taken to introduce an appropriate mix of uses intoexisting developed areas and on major sites currently planned for single usewhere this would lead to a better balance in the mix of development.

(c) Consideration of proposals for other sites should assess their potentialcontribution to mixed use, either within the development site itself or bycomplementing surrounding uses.

Heritage

5.8 Kent’s historic environment is an irreplaceable asset which contributes greatly to thecharacter of the county but is nonetheless vulnerable to damage or destruction. We have aduty of care since, once lost, components of the historic environment can never be replaced.Conserving our heritage has economic and social benefits. It helps to maintain varied andattractive places in which to live and work, provides historic places to visit and enjoy andencourages investment in, and re-use of, old buildings. Features and areas ofarchaeological or historic importance should be protected, conserved and enhanced wherepossible. Some of these features are protected by statute, for example Scheduled Ancient


Monuments, Listed Buildings or Conservation Areas, while others are recognised as being ofmore local importance.

Conservation Areas

5.9 Kent’s most important areas of special architectural or historic interest have beendesignated as Conservation Areas. There are almost 500 such areas in Kent. Designationhelps to ensure protection against harmful development and encourages environmentalimprovement. The sense of history and the type and quality of buildings, spaces, trees andother features contributes to the special character of these areas.

5.10 The variety of building styles dating from different historical periods can add tocharacter and interest within a Conservation Area. New buildings do not always have tocopy their older neighbours to be successful. Innovative design of new buildings may beappropriate provided it is of high quality and is sensitive to the character of the ConservationArea.

5.11 It is important to take into account the impact of proposals outside Conservation Areaswhere these might affect important views in to and out of such areas. Highwayimprovements and maintenance will be carried out in a manner that is sensitive to theirsurroundings in order to minimise adverse environmental impacts on Conservation Areas.Co-ordinated environmental improvement schemes will be carried out in appropriatelocations.

Policy QL6: Conservation Areas

The primary planning policy towards Conservation Areas is to preserve or enhancetheir special character or appearance.

Development within Conservation Areas should preserve or enhance their characteror appearance. Development which would harm the character or appearance of aConservation Area will not be permitted.

District planning authorities should:

(i) include policies within local development documents that protect,within Conservation Areas, the plan form, buildings, architecturalfeatures, archaeological sites, trees, streets and spaces, and therelationships between these features, which contribute to their specialcharacter and setting

(ii) review the boundaries of existing Conservation Areas and, whereappropriate, amend them and/or identify new conservation areas

(iii) carry out conservation area appraisals to identify important features orcharacteristics which need to be protected and develop strategies forthe enhancement of Conservation Areas.

Archaeological sites

5.12 Kent has a wealth of archaeological sites, ancient monuments and historic landscapes.These provide valuable information about the past and make an important contribution toeducation, leisure and tourism. Because of its location close to mainland Europe, Kent washistorically well placed for trade and for receiving new ideas, but at the same time vulnerableto invasion. This is reflected in the county’s archaeology. From earliest times Kentsupported prosperous, as well as socially and politically advanced, communities. Along the


coastline are the remains of defensive works dating from the Roman period through to theSecond World War. It is strategic policy to preserve, record and promote this richarchaeological heritage.

5.13 The emphasis should be on preserving archaeological sites ‘in situ’ (i.e. in their originalposition). If this is not appropriate or possible, then an archaeological investigation for thepurposes of ‘preservation by record’ will be required before the site is developed. This islikely to involve a full archaeological excavation and recording of the site, conservation ofany finds and publication of the results. Provision should be made for the long-term storageof the site archive and finds for future generations. Displays, both temporary andpermanent, can help people to appreciate the value of archaeology and can provide a senseof history for new and existing communities.

5.14 The Kent Extensive Urban Archaeology Survey provides an overview of thearchaeological resources of Kent’s historic towns and sets out a framework for taking thisinto account in assessing development proposals. This guidance supports Policy QL7 andhas been adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG3) to the Structure Plan.

Policy QL7: Archaeological Sites

The archaeological and historic integrity of Scheduled Ancient Monuments and otherimportant archaeological sites, together with their settings, will be protected and,where possible, enhanced. Development which would adversely affect them will notbe permitted.

Where important or potentially important archaeological remains may exist,developers will be required to arrange for archaeological assessment and/or fieldevaluation to be carried out in advance of the determination of planning applications.

Where the case for development affecting an archaeological site is accepted, thearchaeological remains should be preserved in situ. Where preservation in situ is notpossible or justified, appropriate provision for preservation by record will be required.

Buildings of architectural or historic importance

5.15 Kent has the second highest number of historic buildings of any shire county, with morethan 18,000 buildings listed as Grades I, II or II*. They make a valuable contribution totourism and the cultural heritage of Kent. It is important to protect them and their settings.

5.16 Generally, the best way to secure the upkeep of historic buildings is to retain them inthe use for which they were originally intended or in their current use. A proposed change ofuse for a listed building may be acceptable if it offers the best way of retaining orrefurbishing it.

5.17 Demolition of buildings of special architectural or historic interest will require a verystrong case to be made. In such cases there is a legal requirement to allow EnglishHeritage reasonable access to a building to make a record of it prior to demolition. The localauthorities will seek to reduce the number of listed buildings ‘at risk’ and to identify ways toreduce the number recorded as ‘at risk’ on the Buildings at Risk Register maintained byEnglish Heritage.

5.18 Altering a historic building can involve the destruction of important features and shouldbe avoided. Before work is carried out, a suitable record should be prepared. Wheredemolition or alteration would damage part of the structure of a building of special


architectural or historic interest, applicants may be required to document fully the impact ofthe proposed works on the historic fabric of the building before the application can bedetermined.

5.19 Kent’s built heritage can be identified by local stones, bricks and tiles made fromlocally-produced clay, as well as by the use of flint, thatch, oak and weather boarding. Theuse of similar materials for alterations, repairs and new building can help to maintain andenhance the character of the county’s buildings of historic or architectural interest,conservation areas and other visually sensitive areas.

5.20 The total or substantial demolition of a listed building will require exceptionaljustification. Where demolition, partial demolition or alteration would damage part of a listedbuilding, appropriate arrangements for the investigation and recording of its historic fabricmay be required.

Policy QL8: Buildings of Architectural or Historic Importance

Listed buildings will be preserved and their architectural and historic integrity and thecharacter of their settings will be protected and enhanced. Development which willadversely affect them will not be permitted. Changes of use will be permitted wherethese will provide the best reasonable means of conserving the character,appearance, fabric, integrity and setting of listed buildings.

The historic landscape

5.21 The historic landscape of Kent includes World Heritage Sites, historic parks andgardens and historic battlefields as well as the wider landscape itself (as recognised byPolicy EN3). Historic landscape features are special because of their contribution to thecharacter of the urban and rural historic environment. The settings of historic landscapesand views in to, and out of, them are also important and should be protected.

5.22 The Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England is compiledby English Heritage. Its main purpose is to help ensure that the special features andqualities of these assets are safeguarded. There are other parks and gardens which are oflocal importance (for example as listed in the Kent Gardens Compendium) and these mayalso deserve protection.

Policy QL9: Historic Landscape Features

Development will not be permitted which would have an adverse impact upon thehistoric and archaeological importance, landscape character and physical appearanceof historic landscapes, parks and gardens.

Historic landscape features and the settings and views into, and out of, historiclandscapes, parks and gardens will be protected and where possible enhanced.

Enabling development

5.23 In certain cases funds for repairing and restoring a ‘heritage asset’ that cannot begenerated from any other source can be provided by permitting ‘enabling development’.This ensures the preservation of the asset through cross subsidy made possible by theassociated development. A ‘heritage asset’ describes any component of the historicenvironment, including scheduled monuments and other archaeological remains, statutorily


listed historic buildings and others of more local significance, conservation areas, registeredhistoric parks and gardens and battlefields and other historic landscape features.

5.24 Proposals for enabling development can only be justified on the basis that the benefit tothe community of preserving or enhancing the heritage asset outweighs any harm. Theenabling development must preserve the asset; it must not detract from its archaeological,architectural, historic, landscape or biodiversity interest or harm its setting. Thedevelopment must be shown to be the minimum necessary to secure the long-term future ofthe asset and be shown to minimise any adverse effects. Further guidance is contained inEnglish Heritage’s Policy Statement on Enabling Development and the Conservation ofHeritage Assets (2001).

Policy QL10: Heritage Assets - Enabling Development

Development for the purposes of protecting a heritage asset will be permitted onlywhere this is the sole means of protecting and securing the long-term future of theasset. The scale of development shall not exceed that required to achieve thisobjective and be in a form that minimises dis-benefits.

Community services, sport and open space

5.25 People want to live in safer, more prosperous communities with access to good housingand public transport, improved education, health and leisure facilities and jobs. Suchcommunities are also likely to have lower unemployment and less dependency on socialsecurity benefits. Through their Community Strategies, the local authorities are working inpartnership with service providers to improve community services, increase public safety andreduce crime. The Structure Plan can assist these objectives by promoting sustainablesettlements and regeneration, improving accessibility and meeting community needs fordevelopment.

5.26 A wide range of services is essential to community well-being. It includes education,health, social care, sport, youth and community services, recreation and the arts. Theexisting pattern of development has allowed some areas to become deficient in services oronly able to access them by car. The Structure Plan can help promote a co-ordinatedapproach to providing community services by requiring:• high quality urban design, which itself encourages a sense of community• land and buildings for community services, especially to support new housing• land for recreation and open space.

5.27 The diversity of local communities must be taken into account and opportunities takento promote social inclusion and maximise life chances and independence. People withdisabilities, older people and the young are less mobile than the majority of the populationbut need access to a wide range of facilities. The number and proportion of older people inthe population as a whole is set to increase, while new communities may have a highproportion of young people. Gender, ethnic and religious groups also have particular needs.This diversity should be reflected in the type and design of development proposed. Inparticular, planning policies should ensure that no one section of the community is isolatedfrom housing, services, employment, shopping or other support. An important reason forconcentrating development in the principal urban areas is that they will be able to sustain afull range of services, including good quality public transport.


Providing for community services

5.28 Existing community buildings and open space will be protected from developmentwhere there is a continuing need for them. In other cases new facilities may be neededwhere growth is taking place in order to remedy existing deficiencies or to allow serviceproviders to invest in new facilities.

5.29 Planning for community services can be complex. There are few dominant servicecentres among the small to medium-sized towns in Kent, and rural areas rely extensively onthe urban areas. Services are provided by both the public and private sectors and mustadapt to changing demands and to new arrangements for service delivery. This can include,for instance, combining library, adult education and other services into a single building orthe multiple use of buildings as meeting places and local service centres. Multi-purposefacilities can reduce the need to travel, make efficient use of land and premises and at thesame time make services more accessible. Health and social services will require newforms of accommodation that provide supported living, residential and recuperative care.The standard of existing service provision will be important, as will the need to respond tolocal requirements and provide innovative services. The provision of community facilitiesrepresents an opportunity to integrate new and existing communities and should be plannedto complement existing provision.

Policy QL11: Protecting and Enhancing Existing Community Services

Existing community services* and recreation facilities will be protected as long asthere is a demonstrable need for them. Provision will be made for the developmentand improvement of local services in existing residential areas and in town anddistrict centres, particularly where services are deficient. Flexibility in the use ofbuildings for mixed community uses, and the concentration of sports facilities atschools, will be encouraged.

* ‘community services’ includes schools and other education provision, socialservices, adult education, libraries, youth and community services, police andemergency services, health, culture, places of worship, recreation and amenity space,sport, local shopping, public utilities, and transport.

5.30 When preparing Local Development Documents, local authorities should consultservice providers, take account of their strategies and programmes for service delivery andassess existing and future requirements for services to meet the needs of all sectors of thecommunity. Local Development Documents should safeguard land for community purposesearly in the planning process. Community services should be located wherever practicablein multi-use facilities at town, district or local centres and should not depend upon transportby private car. In cases where existing community services and facilities do not have thecapacity to serve new residential developments, guidance from providers on standards forthe provision of land for community services should be used. For example, Kent CountyCouncil maintains a Guide for Developers relating to its services. Demands placed onfacilities and infrastructure will vary depending on the type of use and this will need to beconsidered. Precise requirements for a particular development are likely to be determined indevelopment briefs and through negotiation with developers.

5.31 The expansion of further and higher education could support wider regenerationinitiatives in Medway and growth at Ashford, as well as building on existing strengths in thesesectors at Canterbury. Housing growth will often require increased education provision bothon new sites and at existing schools. Other major community needs include improved healthcare facilities in West Kent.


5.32 It is essential that unless there are exceptional circumstances, the costs of providingnew community facilities to support new housing or other development is met by thedevelopment in question (see also Policy IM1, Chapter 11).

Policy QL12: Provision for New Community Services and Infrastructure

(a) Provision will be made to accommodate additional requirements for localcommunity services* within new residential, commercial and mixed usedevelopments or through the provision or upgrading of facilities nearby inresponse to:• needs generated by the new development• growth in demand from the community as a whole.

(b) Development will not be permitted until the basis for the funding of thecommunity services it requires has been identified and agreed.

(c) Provision will be made in Local Development Documents for new community

facilities. Specifically land will be provided for:• expansion of further and/or higher education at Canterbury, Medway and

Ashford• primary and secondary schools in areas of major new dwelling provision• a new general hospital at Tunbridge Wells.

New community services will be located where they are accessible by walking andcycling and by public transport from the area they serve. Whenever practical they willbe located in town, district or local centres. * ‘community services’ includes schools and other education provision, socialservices, adult education, libraries, youth and community services, police andemergency services, health, culture, places of worship, recreation and amenity space,sport, local shopping, public utilities, and transport. Culture and the arts 5.33 Facilities for culture and the arts range from formal performance and exhibition space tothe dual use of existing buildings and street festivals. They can help to bring vitality to ourtowns and villages, foster community spirit and preserve the heritage of Kent and itscommunities. In recent years several towns and cities in the UK and abroad haveundergone a renaissance founded upon individual landmark buildings or a cluster of relateddevelopments which foster the local arts and cultural ‘scene’. Innovative new buildings of anappropriate scale and design can help to stimulate public interest further. The proposedTurner Contemporary in Margate seeks to foster such a transformation in the image ofThanet. Policy QL13: Cultural Development and the Arts Proposals for cultural or arts facilities will be encouraged, particularly where locatedwithin or close to town centres or public transport nodes. Development proposals ingeneral should seek to promote public art, both directly and through the provision ofdevelopment contributions.


Provision for open space, sport and recreation 5.34 Sport is a vital part of education and can help to develop community spirit, engendergood health, enhance community safety and contribute to regeneration. Kent has a largepopulation and a wide range of sports facilities, although provision for the most specialisedand large scale sport and recreation is hampered by the absence of a strong regional centrewithin the county. There are few sporting facilities of strategic significance in Kent. 5.35 High quality sports venues which can also be used for entertainment and otherpurposes have considerable value in regenerating urban areas. As a potential location forsuch facilities, Kent can benefit from its proximity to London, its international and nationaltransport links and from the areas of major growth within the county, notably Kent ThamesGateway and Ashford. 5.36 New sports facilities must have regard to minimum standards but must also be basedon an assessment of local demand and the quality of existing facilities. In rural areas thepossibility of creating focal points for sport and recreation by clustering facilities togethershould be examined. This can also add to the sustainability of key settlements. Kent’sStrategic Framework for Sport identifies deficiencies in the county in a number of singlesport and multi-sports facilities such as sports halls and swimming pools and recognises therole that dual-use and joint provision can play in meeting those needs. 5.37 This Plan encourages investment in local sports facilities but also supports the provisionof more specialised venues and major competition facilities that respond to county wide,regional or national requirements. There is a particular focus in this regard on the regionalpriority areas of Kent Thames Gateway and Ashford. Policy QL14: Provision for Major Sporting Venues The development of high quality venues for sport to serve Kent and wider regional ornational requirements will be encouraged. Assessment of the potential for suchfacilities will give particular emphasis to Thames Gateway and Ashford. Any suchprovision should be accessible to the county as a whole by a choice of transport andpreferably be at a major or principal urban area. Policy QL15: Formal and Informal Recreation/Sport Facilities All major new formal recreation and sports facilities, including intensively usedfacilities in rural areas such as golf courses, should be accessible by a choice oftransport and designed to avoid nuisance from traffic, noise and lighting. Local Development Documents will make provision for sport, informal and formalrecreation facilities taking account of the potential for dual use and/or joint provision.Where there is a continuing need, existing facilities will be protected and where theseare deficient land will be identified for improvements. The need for new facilities within major new residential and mixed-use developmentswill be assessed and appropriate provision made. Where additional facilities are needed in rural areas priority should be given toclustered provision at rural service centres. 5.38 Kent is an important area for water sports and recreation due to its long coastline and tothe major area of sheltered sailing close to London provided by the estuaries of the Thames,


Medway and Swale. Facilities for mooring, landing and launching craft may need to beimproved if this potential is to be realised, but congestion and conflict between users shouldbe taken into account. There is continuing potential for inland water recreation throughsensitive restoration of mineral workings and in association with development of any newsurface reservoirs. However, the sensitive nature of the areas in which these are locatedrequires careful consideration of the impact of water sports. While this Plan protects theundeveloped coast, opportunities to add to facilities that support water sports within existingurban areas or where existing port or commercial uses are declining should be examined. Policy QL16: Water Recreation Development that improves or extends water recreation in Kent will be permittedprovided it causes no material harm to species, natural habitats or the widerenvironment. 5.39 Open space, playing fields and informal recreation areas should be protected fromdevelopment. As a feature which is central to the quality of urban living, it is also importantto identify and greatly improve the network of open space within urban areas and itsconnection with the edges of towns and the wider countryside. Local authorities areencouraged to identify natural green spaces within their Local Development Documents inaccordance with English Nature’s natural green space standards. 5.40 Kent’s Public Rights of Way (PROW) network is the largest in the country, providing aninvaluable means of access to schools, shops and services as well as offering significantrecreational opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding. The Countryside and Rightsof Way Act 2000 seeks to modernise the Public Rights of Way system and places a dutyupon highway authorities to produce Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIP). Theseplans will look at the contribution the PROW make to sustainable communities includingtransport, recreation and health. They will address matters such as accommodating anincrease in cycling and riding, improving access for disabled people and dealing with otherpressures on the network. As part of a wider and integrated network that includes otherfootways, cycleways, public open spaces and permissive rights of way as well as theadopted highway network, the PROW can contribute to achieving reduced reliance on theprivate car. Improving connectivity with local services is a key focus for ROWIPs and LocalTransport Plans. In an appropriate form, new development or re-development provideimportant opportunities to enhance connectivity and further the aims of ROWIPs. Thisshould be encouraged. Open space networks in urban areas: • add to the quality of development• encourage investment by improving the setting of development sites• provide a local amenity and opportunities to support wildlife• accommodate safe pedestrian and cycle routes; to succeed fully as communication

routes they must be continuous, direct and easy to access.

Policy QL17: Green-Space Networks and Rights of Way

Local authorities will prepare open space strategies and reflect their land userequirements in Local Development Documents.

(a) In urban areas local authorities will establish and extend green-space networksas corridors for movement by foot and cycle, as havens for wildlife and natural


habitats, and for leisure, amenity and recreational use. Where practicable,green linkages should be encouraged from within settlements to the opencountryside.

(b) Existing open space and public rights of way will be protected and improvedas part of these networks which, where possible, should extend through majornew development sites and connect directly with community facilities,employment areas and transport hubs.

(c) The rights of way network will be protected and enhanced and the provision,protection and improvement of routes and networks open to equestrians willbe supported.

5.41 The major and principal urban areas in Kent Thames Gateway and Thanet, Canterburyand Ashford in East Kent are bordered by extensive, highly valued environmental assets.The successful regeneration of Kent Thames Gateway requires investment in theenvironment, attention to the setting of the urban areas and provision of strategic greenspace for existing and new communities. The North Kent Greenspace initiative is a majorenvironmental project in this area which will provide the necessary co-ordination and aframework for funding and implementation. It aims to create a setting for the existing urbanareas, provide for environmental improvement and create new leisure and recreationalopportunities with improved public access to them, as well as conserving and enhancing thearea’s high quality countryside assets. Sustainable management of improved recreationalopportunities within these areas is an essential requirement. In East Kent the coastal zonehas strong landscape and environmental elements. The lower catchment of the River Stourbetween Deal, Sandwich and Ramsgate and parts of the former Wantsum Channel includeprotected wetland and other habitats that are fragmented. There is potential in this area tocreate new natural habitats as alternatives to agriculture and to improve visitor facilities andaccess.

Policy QL18: Strategic Green Space Initiatives

Major infrastructure programmes will be developed to maintain, enhance andextend green-space, heritage, wildlife and access initiatives:

(a) in the wider rural areas of Kent Thames Gateway, especially within Graveshamand Medway, in support of the Thames Gateway regeneration initiative; and

(b) in East Kent, particularly in the Lower Stour Catchment, to supportregeneration and tourism.


CHAPTER 6: EMPLOYMENT AND PROSPERITY

The economy and employment

6.1 Securing sufficient, well-rewarded employment for Kent’s residents is fundamental totheir quality of life and well being. One of the challenges is that Kent is less prosperous thanmany of its neighbours in the South East.

Key prosperity issues for Kent

• Improving the county’s economic performance relative to the South East• Reducing differences in prosperity across Kent• Getting higher quality, better paid jobs into Kent• Encouraging knowledge and technology sectors within the economy• Improving the local balance of jobs and housing to reduce commuting• Capitalising upon the county’s potential for tourism and as a gateway between Europe

and London• Ensuring a balanced and prosperous retail sector focused on town centres Structural weaknesses in the Kent economy Although unemployment is low at 2% (2005), there are still weaknesses in the Kenteconomy: • Many jobs are in industries with lower average earnings than the new businesses that are

concentrated in London and the west of the region. Only four Kent districts are among thetop 25% in the UK for average earnings, despite Kent’s location in a high-cost region.

• There are still many people who are at a disadvantage because of ill health and lowskills.

• Certain areas, such as Thanet, have suffered from under investment in the economy inthe past.

• There are significant variations in average income levels between the east and west ofthe county.

• There are about 80,000 more working people living in Kent than there are jobs in thecounty. Kent demonstrates a high level of commuting to London and neighbouringcounties, especially from North and West Kent.

6.2 The people of Kent will not enjoy greater prosperity unless strenuous efforts continue tobe made to renew the economy and to make the most of the county’s economic assets,including its leading businesses. Economic growth, however, must be planned in a way thatensures that the environment is protected and all areas benefit from better job opportunities. Strategies for economic development The priorities of Kent’s key economic development strategies are well established in theStructure Plan and Local Plans. Kent Prospects 2006-2012 is the economic development strategy for the Kent CountyCouncil area. It aims to ensure the continued success of the more prosperous parts of Kentand to help less successful areas close the gap. It seeks to encourage economicdevelopment and regeneration opportunities while respecting Kent’s quality of life andenvironment. Key aims include promoting a diverse “mosaic” economy by:• Building on the existing key economic activities in Kent including:


- the visitor economy, tourism, retailing and hospitality - land-based industries and food processing - distribution and logistics, including ports - health care - construction - manufacturing and engineering - printing and packaging • Encouraging the knowledge economy and growth sectors including: - pharmaceuticals and life sciences - creative industries, media and communications - cultural industries - professional, financial and business services - higher education and research and development - eco-enterprise and environmental industries The Medway Economic Development Strategy parallels this approach by giving particularemphasis to specialist manufacturing and engineering, construction, health, tourism andcultural industries, creative industries, higher education, retailing, marine activities (port-related and engineering), business services and environmental technologies. Kent’s sub regional economic partnership, the Kent and Medway Economic Board,outlines a range of priorities related to developing skills, supporting the growth of enterprise,developing and making better use of infrastructure assets, attracting investment and coastaltowns regeneration. The 2006-2016 Regional Economic Strategy for the South East provides a furthersupportive framework for the sectors and priorities identified in the above strategies asbusiness concentrations and networks in Kent. Strategic principles 6.3 National and regional economic objectives and the well-established aims for improvedemployment within Kent have prompted a number of strategic principles within the StructurePlan. In seeking to improve the balance between housing and employment and raise thequality of jobs, this Plan pursues the following objectives: The scale and character of economic growth should:• improve the economic performance of Kent relative to the South East region• reduce dependence on working outside Kent• promote more varied and high quality employment in Kent• harness new technologies to underpin opportunities in the knowledge-driven ‘information

economy’• harness economic strength to improve the quality of life and the environment• make best use of the existing supply of employment land• be assisted by improved facilities for education and skills training. To encourage Kent’s varied economy as a whole:• all economic activities should contribute to a higher value economy• the Plan provides land for business uses and has positive policies for retail and leisure,

ports and airports, community services, minerals and waste management• Kent will take advantage of its strengths (such as pharmaceuticals and defence) and

work to regenerate vulnerable sectors (agriculture and tourism)• new industries (including business services and technology) will be encouraged


• links with higher education and research will be developed• support will be given to improving the ‘digital economy’ in order to sustain growth in all

sectors• investment by Kent’s key employers will be supported. Economic development will be concentrated in the following ways:• improvements at the regeneration priority areas in East Kent, at Ashford and in Kent

Thames Gateway will be given priority in order to reduce the wide differences inprosperity between different parts of the county and to sustain balanced growth at theregional growth areas

• major economic development will be concentrated at six strategic locations: KentThameside, Medway, Sittingbourne/Sheppey, Ashford, Thanet/Richborough and theMaidstone/Medway Gap.

Local balance will be achieved in the following ways:• sufficient development will be provided in all urban areas to sustain full employment and

reduce the need for travel• employment will be designed to suit the skills of the workforce, which will be improved to

allow people to access new opportunities• planning policy will be supported by fiscal and other measures to reduce poverty in

specific areas of deprivation• the rural economy will be diversified in a manner that respects the Kent countryside. The balance of housing and employment land 6.4 The strategic principles seek a ‘balance’ between the workforce of the county and thejobs available locally, both in numbers and in the kinds of jobs available. Over a 20-yearperiod the balance between workforce and jobs is uncertain, but there will continue to beadjustments in the labour market and in the economy of the county that will bring about abalance. It is central to the Plan’s strategy that this process should lead to greateremployment choice, higher earnings and less need to travel long distances to work whilemaintaining the quantities of employment land and housing proposed. For example:• higher value employment uses will prompt increased investment and higher productivity• average working hours may increase as part-time working is replaced by more full-time

working• the proportion of working age people moving into Kent may increase• the road and rail network will allow short inward commuter journeys from outside Kent to

Kent Thameside and West Kent.

6.5 The introduction of domestic rail services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) in2009 could increase long-distance commuting to London, but the scale of such an increaseis uncertain. CTRL services will reduce journey times to London from East Kent and KentThameside and thus improve access to a better choice of jobs for people living in the moredisadvantaged and distant urban areas. However there is not likely to be a great increase inLondon commuting from those areas. The number of peak period trains and the cost of travelwill cap the increase and a significant proportion of the capacity of CTRL services is likely tobe taken by travellers transferring from existing services.

6.6 The approach to commuting in this Plan is therefore:• to support improved rail services using the CTRL and other routes to provide a better

choice of workplace and better quality travel• to use improved rail services to encourage people to switch from car to rail travel• to reduce the amount of long-distance travel out of Kent by increasing the number, range

and quality of local jobs.


Journey times to London before and after completion of Channel Tunnel Rail Link Before (mins.) After (mins.) Ashford 75 40 Folkestone 94 57 Canterbury 90 63 Ramsgate 110 85 Gravesend 52 23 Chatham 46 39 Source: CTRL Domestic Services Consultation Document, Strategic Rail Authority, 2003. Education and skills 6.7 Kent’s businesses will only be able to capitalise on opportunities for economic prosperityif they can call on an appropriate range of skills. Similarly, Kent residents can take advantageof greater prosperity only if they have the skills to access better paid jobs. Enhancing thefacilities and opportunities to update and acquire new skills is therefore a major factorinfluencing the county’s current and future economic prosperity and needs to be pursued intandem with the development strategy of this Plan. All sectors have important roles to play inhelping to improve skills levels in Kent. The public sector provides school, further and highereducation learning facilities, the voluntary sector provides community-based learningopportunities and the private sector provides off-site and workplace vocational training. Thedevelopment of linkages between higher education establishments and the businesscommunity is also vital to increasing knowledge/technology transfer and skills levels in Kent. Policy EP1: Land, Workforce, Education and Skills Sufficient land and floorspace will be provided throughout Kent to sustain fullemployment and reduce the need to travel. The varied character of the employment land provided, together with the developmentof other economic sectors, will provide opportunities for the workforce as a whole. To improve the skills and qualifications of the workforce in Kent and to support thedevelopment of the Kent economy, particularly the technology, research andknowledge based industries: • land and premises will be provided for education and skills training purposes• the improvement of education and skills training will be encouraged and fostered

having regard to the spatial strategy and regeneration policies of this Plan. The impact of new business space 6.8 The 1996 Kent Structure Plan paid special attention to the regeneration of major sites inthe industrial towns of North Kent and to diversifying the East Kent economy in response tocolliery closures, a decline in port employment and weak tourism. The provisions of that Plangave Kent a leading role in the South East in terms of land supply for new business. As at2001 there were more than 30 sites of more than 10 hectares in Kent available or planned forbusiness investment. Together these could provide 3.84 million square metres of businessspace over the period of this Plan. Access improvements and incentives to encourage inwardinvestment have supported the generous land provision.


6.9 Although ample land has been provided, development has fallen short of the 1996Structure Plan floorspace guidelines (based on net additions to new business space from1991). This was exacerbated by the loss of industrial and business space to other uses(some 1.5 million square metres between 1991 and 2001). Table EP1 shows that, in netterms, only 30% of the Structure Plan guideline was met across Kent. Table EP1: Business floorspace*: Strategic guidelines and take up 1991–2001 (million square metres) 1996 Kent Structure Plan business floorspace guidelines(net increase)

1991–2001 3.33

Gross take up of industrial and business floorspace 1991- 2001

2.50

Net take up of industrial and business floorspace 1991-2001

1.01

Net take up of industrial and business floorspace 1991-2001 as a proportion of the 1996 Structure Planguideline for 1991-2001

30%

* Based on Use Classes A2/B1/B2 and B8 Source: KMSP Working Paper 2 (Revised) Economy, Workforce and Employment Land (July2004) 6.10 Based on past experience, market demand will not match the supply of land for growthand regeneration in the Kent’s priority areas, and jobs from new development will be offsetby the loss of existing sites and their related employment. Only the larger development sitesare likely to improve local employment prospects materially. Taken together, the major sitesin Kent offer the potential to transform the economy of the county, but the precise impact isdifficult to judge. Table EP2: Planned business floorspace 2001* (million square metres) Available by 2011 Available 2011-2021 All sites 3.94 1.16 Of which, major sites (2.68) (1.16) Total 5.10 * Based on gross commitment i.e. excludes any future losses to alternative uses. Source: KMSP Working Paper 2 (Revised) Economy, Workforce and Employment Land (July2004) 6.11 Sites in Kent larger than 10 hectares have the potential to support 125,000 jobs1,assuming full take up. In practice there will always be some empty space and some of thenew buildings will be occupied by firms relocating from elsewhere in Kent. Other sites takenout of employment use will offset the impact of new development. Taken together thesefactors mean that the net number of additional jobs might be between 40% and 60% of thesite capacity, rising to perhaps 60 to 80% for very large developments such as at Ebbsfleet.At the same time other proposals such as the expansion of Kent International (Manston)Airport will boost employment. 6.12 Consultants’ forecasts made early in the Structure Plan process when there wasconcern that growth might stall, suggested that with no contribution from major new sites the 1 KMSP Working Paper 2 (Revised) Economy, Workforce and Employment Land Annex 11a. July2004


growth of jobs in Kent would be modest - perhaps only an additional 14,000 jobs over 20years. However, in broad terms an extra 55,000 to 81,000 jobs could be created, net oflosses elsewhere, by the successful development of the major sites in Kent alone2. 6.13 The scale and distribution of new homes proposed in Policy HP1 of this Plan takesaccount of the future balance between the number of available jobs and the size of theworkforce. There will be slower growth in the working age population, and with the 93,800additional dwellings proposed by 2016, the workforce will increase by about 40,000. TheCTRL, with its network of domestic services proposed and favoured by the local authorities,will make commuting from many parts of Kent more attractive (from c.2009). Earlier forecastssuggested that most of the passengers would be diverted from existing rail services, and theassumption made here is that they will not be replaced by new commuters using the existingrail services. If this were not the case, and commuting out of Kent does grow as a result ofthe new services, the growth in the Kent workforce employed in the county could be smaller. 6.14 The number of new jobs created on the major business sites already provided couldtherefore exceed the increase in workforce. This will provide an opportunity to reduce bothcommuting out of Kent and persistent unemployment. A 25% fall in the number ofcommuters, improved access to jobs as a result of this Plan’s policies and some increase in‘double jobbing’ (associated in part with the overall growth of part-time employment) couldinject up to 43,000 more people into Kent’s workforce3. On this basis the growth in jobs andthe workforce will be broadly in balance in Kent as a whole – see (a) and (b) in Table EP3. 6.15 The growth in jobs and in the workforce varies considerably, however, throughout Kent.Some adjustment in journey-to-work patterns or to employment land supply will be needed toachieve a more sustainable relationship in each area:

• In Kent Thameside, if high-level employment growth is achieved in the future there islikely to be a reduction in out-commuting and some reverse commuting into the area fromouter London

• At Medway the Structure Plan proposes additional employment land to help balance thelabour market and reduce dependence on commuting

• At Ashford further employment land may be required in the longer term to support itsgrowth area role based on balanced housing and employment growth

• In Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells there is the opportunity to reduce out-commuting tosupport local employment

• In Tonbridge and Malling moderation of job growth on new employment sites, notablyKings Hill (as provided for by this Plan), will contribute to an improved balance in thelabour market

• If there were high employment growth in the Manston-Richborough area, further housingprovision could be needed in Dover/Thanet in the longer term, although initially progressneeds to be made to secure the employment developments already planned.

2 KMSP Working Paper 2 ( Revised ) Annex 143 KMSP Working Paper 2 ( Revised ) Annex 14


Table EP3: Job creation and workforce forecasts Combined capacity of sites > 10 Ha

Job Change 125,000 jobs

Assumed rate of jobs created which are additional to Kent 40 – 60% …..and at very large developments (e.g. Ebbsfleet) 60 – 80% Total additional employment from major developments 55,000 – 81,000 jobs Forecast of growth in jobs not including the effect of majorsites (trend increase)

14,000 jobs

(a) Total potential number of jobs created 69,000 - 95,000 jobs Increase in resident workforce

Workforce Change

+40,000 Reduction due to CTRL (increased commuting) -5,000 Reserve of labour (25% reduction in commuting) andimproved access to jobs

+43,000

(b) Total workforce +78,000 The release of new business land 6.16 In Kent as a whole, growth in retail, leisure and other services as well as new businessspace have contributed to recent job growth. Nevertheless, business uses (notablymanufacturing, office uses, research and warehousing) remain important because they makeup a large part of the economic base of most areas. The quality of the business developmentsites available will largely determine the ability of a location to compete for mobileinvestment, particularly in those sectors offering higher value and higher incomeemployment. It is therefore important to set guidelines for the amount of new business landto be released after considering a number of factors: • The strength of the local economy

The Structure Plan seeks to ensure a generous supply of land in order to achieve astrong local economy throughout Kent. Some districts, such as Thanet, Swale andShepway, have particular needs for new development because of unfavourableemployment structure, slow growth or low earnings.

• Market demand for new development

In areas where demand is weaker, the Structure Plan aims to stimulate demand byreleasing land and by improving accessibility. Other than in West Kent and Canterbury,the take up of sites has lagged behind the availability of land. This has been particularlytrue of the coastal towns.

• The scale and variety of new development already planned

The Plan provides for a ready and varied supply of business land. This largely reflects thesubstantial scale and pattern of prior commitments (equivalent to more than five millionsquare metres at 2001 in Kent as a whole) which stem from previous planning initiatives.Provision for new land is selective and directed at enhancing the quality of land provisionneeded to support parts of the priority areas for growth and regeneration or to diversifyand enhance provision to meet local business needs. Net additional provision is made inCanterbury, Shepway and Medway.

• The future labour supply and the balance with jobs

Land supply must be sufficient to cope with future growth and the size of the labourmarket in each area. The largest increases in workforce, reflecting the housing quantitiesin Policy HP1 (2001 – 2016) will be in Ashford (c.13,000) and Kent Thameside


(c.16,000). New employment land provisions in Medway reflect the scale of the workforcein this area and the scope for changes in commuting.

6.17 Much of Kent already has enough employment land committed for the plan period, andthe priority is to develop those planned major sites. Policy EP2 confirms the existing landsupply and proposes to supplement this where necessary to ensure that shortage of landdoes not hinder full employment or necessary restructuring and diversification of localeconomies. In Tonbridge and Malling the planned scale of new B1 development is reduced(by 75,000 square metres at Kings Hill) to help maintain the balance of labour demand andsupply in the borough and to reflect the regional priority for new employment in Kent ThamesGateway and East Kent (see also Policy TM1). At Canterbury additional employment land isproposed at the coastal towns. Notwithstanding the strong employment role of the centre,land is also provided at Canterbury City to provide scope for enterprise linked to theuniversities and for growth of the business community in the city.

6.18 In implementing this policy, the objectives of the Plan regarding the re-use of previouslydeveloped land and the requirement for mixed-use developments (Policies SS4 and QL5)should be rigorously pursued. In Kent Thameside, in particular, a full range of service,community and residential land uses will be encouraged on the major mixed-use sites so thatthe land required to support the employment and population growth of the area can belargely met within those sites.

6.19 In addition to the considerations governing the scale and management of land supplyset out in Policies EP2 to EP4, the local planning authorities may need to reassess thequality and availability of existing employment land. This should include identifyingreplacement sites and re-assessing the mix of land uses envisaged for existing employmentallocations where this is compatible with the other policies and proposals within this Plan.Employment sites that are well located and of good quality, however, should be retained forthis purpose, especially where the provision of alternative land is constrained by this Plan’sGreen Belt, environmental and other policies. Schemes should be prepared to improve theenvironment of existing sites which have proved unattractive to investors and occupiers.Local authorities should identify suitable sites for relocating businesses that cause pollutionor other environmental problems in residential and mixed-use areas. There are opportunitiesto increase the density of business and commercial development by redeveloping singlestorey buildings or changing the way parking is provided. It is important to make better use ofdevelopment land by such means, particularly in urban areas.

Policy EP2: Employment Land Provision

(a) Priority will be given to developing sites in Kent with planning consent oridentified in Local Plans for financial and professional services, business,industrial and warehousing uses (Use Classes A2/B1-8) as at 2001.

(b) In addition new land (or its floorspace equivalent) should be identified as follows:

• in Medway at least 20 hectares (70,000 square metres) for a wide range ofemployment uses, including the knowledge and technology sectors, as part ofmixed use development at Chattenden/Lodge Hill

• at Canterbury City up to 10 hectares to provide specifically for knowledge andtechnology uses linked to the higher education sector in Canterbury and up to20 hectares (70,000 square metres) for office accommodation and businessdevelopment within Use Classes B1(a) and B1(b) at the city

• at Herne Bay-Whitstable up to 10 hectares (35,000 square metres) to ensure acontinuing supply of land for the relocation and expansion of local firms and toattract inward investment to the coastal towns


• in Shepway provision of up to 20 hectares (70,000 square metres) to improvechoice and support inward investment

• at Ashford further employment land will be provided where required to givesupport, for the longer term, to its role as a regional growth point based onbalanced employment and housing growth.

(c) Accordingly the total provision for net additional floorspace provision for financialand professional services, business, industrial and warehousing uses will be:

Local AuthorityArea

Net Commitmentat 2001

(000’s sq. m)

New Provision

(000’s sq. m)

Total 2001-21

(000’s sq. m)Ashford 592 592Canterbury 161 140 301Dartford 892 892Dover 512** 512**Gravesham 435 435Maidstone 129 129Sevenoaks 84 84Shepway 162 70 232Swale 938 900&

Thanet 304 304Tonbridge & Malling 359 284#

Tunbridge Wells 74 74KCC Area 4,642 210 4,739Medway 505 70 575Kent 5,147 280 5,314

(d) Existing employment sites that are well located and otherwise well suited toemployment use should be retained for this purpose. Existing commitments maybe reviewed through Local Development Documents. Sites which have notsucceeded because of constraints or poor quality may be replaced by alternative,more marketable and better located allocations provided that this:• does not prejudice the scale and implementation of strategic locations for

business development supported and safeguarded by this Plan (Policy EP4)• does not conflict with other Structure Plan policies.

Measures, including investment by the public and private sectors to provideserviced sites and/or land reclamation, should be taken to bring forward sites thatthe market alone would not develop. Schemes will be encouraged to improveunattractive sites where this is a main reason for their lack of investment.

(e) Local Development Documents should identify land for the appropriate location ofbusinesses likely to cause environmental disturbance, particularly in residential ormixed use areas.

(f) Employment uses other than those covered by Policy EP2 (but excluding retail andleisure) may be included on the major sites provided that this does not conflictwith the policies of this Plan, notably in respect of the location of major generatorsof travel demand.

(g) Business and commercial development should secure the efficient use of land

including the redevelopment of low density uses especially where located withinthe major/principal urban areas.


Note to Policy EP2:

** includes land at Richborough-Sandwich previously occupied by a variety of uses and nowavailable for redevelopment.

# figures for Tonbridge and Malling allow for revised mix of land uses at Kings Hill andreduced B1 content pursuant to Policies HP1 and TM1.

& figures for Swale allow for some rationalisation of business floorspace at Favershampursuant to Policy SW1.

Net commitments include net completions 2001-2002, Local Plan allocations at 2002, netplanning permissions at 2002, and vacant plots within existing employment sites.

New provision based on 3,500 sq. m per hectare.

6.20 Proposals in Local Development Documents for new or replacement employment sitesor developer proposals should be made in accessible locations that are well related to urbanareas and have good prospects for successful implementation. Proposals by establishedbusinesses to expand at their existing location, including those outside urban areas, shouldbe considered on their merits in the light of other policies within the Structure Plan.

Policy EP3: Location of New or Replacement Employment Land

Proposals for employment and business development other than (a) those alreadyidentified in adopted Local Plans or (b) at the specific locations identified in PolicyEP5(b) or identified pursuant to Policy EP7, should be located in, or adjacent to, majoror principal urban areas and be easily accessible by a choice of transport. Suchproposals should be attractive to the market place.

6.21 The success of this Plan and the impacts on employment structure and growth that itseeks depend on key strategic employment sites. These are identified and safeguardedunder Policy EP4. Measures will be taken, particularly in those parts of the county where theinvestment market is weak, to bring these sites forward. This will include seeking national orEuropean funding to resolve problems with access or infrastructure or to provide mitigationfor environmental impacts.

6.22 There are other important areas in need of regeneration which have considerablepotential for mixed uses, including employment, notably Medway Waterfront, major sites inKent Thameside and at town centres and the central parts of the principal urban areas. Themajor opportunities are included in the Strategic Development Locations set out in Chapter 3.

Policy EP4: Locations of Strategic Importance for Business, Industrial or DistributionUses

In contributing to the provisions of Policy EP2 the safeguarding and implementation ofthe following strategic employment locations will have priority:

• Ashford: Eureka Science Park• Ashford: South East Sector including or replacing land at Orbital Park, Waterbrook

and Cheeseman’s Green• Dartford: North Dartford (including Fresh Marshes)• Dartford: Crossways Business Park• Dartford: Eastern Quarry• Dartford/Gravesham: Ebbsfleet• Dover: Land at Richborough


• Dover: White Cliffs Business Park• Shepway: Shearway Business Park: Folkestone• Swale: Neatscourt: Queenborough• Swale: Lappel Bank: Sheerness• Swale: Ridham Kemsley• Swale: Eurolink: Sittingbourne• Thanet: Eurokent• Thanet: Manston Park• Tonbridge and Malling: Kings Hill*• Medway: Kingsnorth and Grain• Medway: Adjacent to Rochester Airfield. *Subject to the provisions of Policy TM1 Other considerations for the release of business land 6.23 Existing sites may not meet the needs of all businesses and so, not withstanding theguidelines in Policy EP2, selective new land provision may be needed to:• promote innovative sectors and encourage business 'clusters' that exploit links with one

another and/or with science and research institutions• allow key businesses to expand at their existing location or meet a very specific need to

develop in a certain location• replace sites which are unlikely to be developed by providing more attractive land with

good access to a choice of transport.

Technology and knowledge “clusters” in Kent

6.24 The technology and knowledge-based businesses in Kent do not form a closely-knitcluster in the original sense. Kent has a number of major employers in electronics,pharmaceuticals and research that are spread throughout the county and have few linkageswith one another. In a national context, the higher education institutions in Kent are relativelysmall and the obvious linkages between research and industry are limited. Considerableimportance, though, is attached to the future success of technology and knowledge-basedbusinesses in Kent and to the growth of higher education. In particular the links betweenuniversity research and commercial enterprise should be encouraged and is supported bynational and regional policy.

What are clusters?

A ‘cluster’ has been defined as “a geographical concentration of inter-connected companies,specialist suppliers, service providers, firms in related industries and associated institutions”.‘Technology’ and ‘knowledge’ industries include those which rely on new research, scientific,professional or technical understanding. They do not include everyday financial and businessservices. The UK Competitiveness White Paper (DTI 1998) emphasised the importance ofpromoting the expansion and creation of ‘clusters’ or networks of ‘knowledge-driven’industries. This objective is found in national guidance and regional strategies. Policy RE9 ofRPG9 states that high value activities should be encouraged, including the provision of sitesclose to universities. Policy EP2 includes provision for such a new site at Canterbury for‘knowledge and technology uses linked to the education sector’ which is important in theCity.

6.25 The major employers and higher education institutions in Kent have the potential toexpand or to act as the core around which new businesses in linked activities could develop.Collectively there is particular scope to attract new investment around the strong presence in


Kent of pharmaceuticals, agricultural research and aviation technology and training. Theexisting major technology and research institutions are considered to be very important to thefuture of the Kent economy. Their intensification and, where appropriate, expansion in situ issupported by this Plan. In some instances this may necessitate the use of greenfield land toachieve key economic and investment objectives. Proposals should seek to minimise the useof such land and be sympathetic to their surroundings, with adequate measures to reduceand mitigate environmental impact through design and landscaping.

6.26 The locations identified in Policy EP5 at which technology and knowledge clusters willbe supported reflect a number of criteria considered during preparation of the Structure Plan.These were: the existing and potential interaction between higher education/training andbusiness, the presence of technology and research on the site, the scale and standing ofexisting activity, the scope for, and interest in, expansion and the attraction for new businessand investment. Policy EP5(c) also provides for other locations and sets out thecircumstances in which proposals for intensifying or expanding the technology andknowledge sectors will be supported. With the exception of committed or proposed new landidentified at Canterbury, Richborough and Kings Hill under Policy EP2, development of newland as a result of Policy EP5 will not be restricted by the Policy EP2 guidelines.

Policy EP5: Land for Technology and Knowledge Clusters

High quality proposals for intensification or expansion in the technology andknowledge sectors will be supported at the following locations unless there areoverriding environmental impacts which cannot be adequately mitigated:

(a) a new site at Canterbury linked to the University (pursuant to Policy EP2);(b) expansion of technology and knowledge activities at:

• Fort Halstead (Sevenoaks District)• East Malling Research• Kings Hill• Pfizer and land in the Sandwich Corridor at Richborough• Kent Science Park• Chatham Maritime; and• adjacent to Rochester Airfield.

(c) the expansion, at existing locations, of other key employers in the technology andknowledge sectors.

Premises for small firms

6.27 Encouraging small firms by providing them with suitable premises is an important part ofeconomic strategy, both because of their growth potential, particularly in new economicactivities, and because they contribute to ‘home grown’ employment growth. Support forthem should include providing premises in inner urban areas that are accessible to the localpopulation on foot and by public transport. Except where businesses are locatedinappropriately, the loss of existing employment land should in general be resisted,particularly where it fulfils an important role for local firms and sectors of the economy whichare strong.

Policy EP6: Premises for Small Firms

Premises for small firms will be provided:

(a) within larger industrial estates(b) within new mixed-use developments


(c) as part of clusters of similar economic activity (pursuant to Policy EP5)(d) through the development of small infill sites(e) through the conversion or alteration of suitable existing buildings; and(f) through the protection of existing employment land.

Development at these locations should demonstrate good accessibility from theprimary or secondary route network.

The rural economy

New employment uses in rural areas

6.28 Although the main potential for future economic development in Kent lies in theregeneration of urban areas and strategic sites close to the centres of population (seePolicies EP2 and EP4), the strategy recognises that rural communities also need neweconomic investment.

6.29 The Rural White Paper (2000) reviewed in 2004, The Rural Strategy 2004 and PlanningPolicy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, set out national policies forrural areas. These documents underline the need for planning policy to do more to assist thediversification of farms and to support the wider rural economy, but this should notundermine the continued protection of the countryside. Structure Plan policy for Kent mustjudge what scale and character of new businesses should be permitted to encouragediversification of farms and the rural economy while preserving the character andenvironment of rural areas. It recognises the long-standing importance of the land-basedeconomy in Kent and the need to support its adaptation to changing consumer demands andinnovations in production, processing and marketing. Policy EP7 accepts the development ofsuitable small-scale business uses at Rural Service Centres and larger villages and setscriteria for business development elsewhere. The prospective contribution of enhancementsto the Kent County Agricultural Showground at Detling, near Maidstone, to the support andpromotion of the land-based sector in Kent and the wider region is acknowledged.

Policy EP7: Development of Employment Uses in Rural Areas

Provision for small-scale business development (B1-B8) and service industries shouldbe made within, or adjoining, the built up area of Rural Service Centres (identified onthe Key Diagram) or of larger villages that can provide a sustainable form ofdevelopment. Development should be appropriate to the scale of the settlement andwithout detriment to its amenity, character or setting. In this context small-scalelive/work units may be acceptable.

No provision for business development will be made elsewhere in rural Kent exceptwhere:

(i) it involves the re-use, adaptation or redevelopment of an existing building, ascovered by Policy SS8(ii); or

(ii) it is required for the expansion of an established business and/or for theprocessing, storage, distribution or promotion and research concerningproduce from Kent agriculture, horticulture or forestry;

and good access can be provided to the primary road network and bus or railservices.


The role of the Kent Agricultural Showground at Detling is recognised as importantand requiring enhancement so as to promote more widely the land-based economy ofKent and the region.

All development supported within the terms of this policy should have nounacceptably adverse impact on the local transport network, the environment or theGreen Belt and will be subject to the restriction of subsequent expansion if in conflictwith the policies of this Plan.

Diversification of farm businesses

6.30 The problems facing agriculture have been well articulated in recent years. Furtherpressure for change will arise from EU policy that has switched funding for agriculture fromsupporting production to grants for rural development and for protecting and enhancing theenvironment. It will be particularly difficult for small farms to survive on agricultural incomealone. The Land Based Economy of Kent report (2003) made recommendations regardingpolicy towards farm diversification and the rural economy; these have been taken intoaccount in this Plan.

6.31 While diversification of farm businesses may include introducing new crops, includingenergy crops, and other measures that do not require planning consent, activities such asthe processing and packaging of produce may require conversion or the construction of newbuildings. Larger projects may be put forward on behalf of a number of farms, for example iffarms co-operate to achieve economies of scale from local distribution and processingactivities.

6.32 Many farms have surplus buildings. Re-using these, if they are of good quality, willusually be preferable to new buildings in the countryside. Existing buildings may beappropriate for activities not related to agriculture, such as small-scale offices, workshops ortourist accommodation. Policy EP8 sets out the circumstances in which conversion,alteration or re-use of existing farm buildings, and/or the construction of small new buildings,will be acceptable.

Policy EP8: Farm Diversification

Conversion, alteration or re-use of existing farm buildings to support agriculture,horticulture and forestry based on Kent, or other locally sourced produce, will bepermitted where the traffic and environmental impacts are acceptable and it isdemonstrated that the proposal is:

(a) necessary for the efficiency or viability of an existing business or required for anew agriculture, horticulture or forestry business; or

(b) a suitable small-scale non-agricultural use which secures the viability of a farm; or(c) suitable land-based activity.

New small-scale buildings or replacement buildings for the above purposes may bepermitted if no existing buildings exist which could be converted, provided that theyare of a scale and design appropriate to their rural surroundings and there are nooverriding environmental constraints.

All such proposals should be supported by a business case or farm plan whichdemonstrates effective management of the farm in the long-term.


Agricultural land

Kent’s agricultural industry

• 64% of Kent is farmed; roughly half of this is managed for cereals and arable crops and afurther third is grassland.

• Kent has a high percentage of high grade soils suitable for agricultural production – 43%of its agricultural land is within DEFRA Agricultural Land Grades 1 and 2 compared to anational average of 20%.

• Kent’s agriculture has long specialised in fruit and hop growing. About 40% of the area inEngland devoted to top fruit is in Kent, although the total land involved has declined bymore than two thirds in the past 50 years. Horticulture, mainly fruit farming, now accountsfor some 5% of Kent’s farmland.

• In 2004 there were just over 1,500 full time farms in Kent – more farm businesses thanany other county in the South East.

• The percentage of employees in agriculture in Kent (2.3% in 2004) is more than doublethe national average (0.9%), although this proportion continues to decline (from 3.1% in1995).

6.33 A competitive and sustainable agricultural industry is vital to the economic, social andenvironmental well being of Kent’s rural areas. Planning decisions affecting the future of the‘best and most versatile’ agricultural land (DEFRA Grades 1, 2 and 3a) should take accountof a wide range of planning considerations which determine the value of land to thecommunity. Advice on the quality of land should, if necessary, be sought from DEFRA,English Nature and others. The quality and character of the landscape, biodiversity,recreational amenity, historic and cultural heritage and accessibility are among the importantconsiderations that must be weighed in planning decisions. Policy EP9 protects the bestagricultural land unless there are good planning reasons for its development. This could bebecause alternative sites have greater environmental value or are less accessible.

6.34 This policy will be applied to a range of circumstances across the county. Access tourban areas, including London, and pressures on housing and rural roads tend to be greaterin the west of Kent where Metropolitan Green Belt policy puts a strong restraint ondevelopment. The importance of agriculture as a source of local employment is relativelygreater in east and south Kent, while the largest areas of best and most versatile agriculturalland are in the north and east of the county.

Policy EP9: Protection of Agricultural Land

(a) In order to protect the long term productive potential of agriculture, developmentof agricultural land will only take place when there is an overriding need identifiedin the Development Plan which cannot be accommodated within themajor/principal urban areas, Rural Service Centres or on other previouslydeveloped land.

(b) Best and most versatile agricultural land (DEFRA Grades 1, 2 and 3a) will beprotected from development unless:• there is no alternative site on land of poorer agricultural quality; or• alternative sites have greater value for their landscape, biodiversity, amenity,

heritage or natural resources; or• the land proposed for development is more accessible to infrastructure, the

workforce or markets than the alternatives.


Tourism

Economic impact of tourism in Kent

Tourism and leisure are important to Kent’s economy:

• In 2003 there were 4.9 million staying visitors and 39.2 million day-visitors, spending anestimated £1,814 million.

• About 36,500 full-time jobs are supported directly by spending on tourism and leisure,rising to perhaps 49,500 jobs if the benefits to other businesses are taken into account.

Source: The Economic Impact of Tourism on Kent 2003,Tourism South East, (2005)

6.35 Kent has much to offer tourists. Much of its coast and countryside are of national andinternational importance and there are outstanding historic towns and strong associationswith famous writers and painters. Access from the rest of England and from mainland Europehas improved substantially and will continue to do so. There is a good network of publicpaths and bridleways which Kent and Medway Councils work to maintain and improve andwhich give access to the coast and countryside.

6.36 There is a wide variety of tourist destinations in coastal, urban and rural Kent. Makingtourism sustainable in environmental, economic and social terms means reducing itsenvironmental impact, moving towards higher value products and acknowledging thattourism development should contribute to alleviating social exclusion in the county’s coastaltowns and rural areas. The economic benefits of tourism have to be carefully balanced withthe impact of visitors on sensitive countryside and historic towns and villages and at heritagesites such as the designated World Heritage Site at Canterbury Cathedral and that proposedat Chatham Historic Dockyard.

6.37 The tourism policies in the Structure Plan encourage developments that will increasethe attraction of Kent as a tourist destination. Sustainable tourism seeks to ensure that theactivity and development that is needed to support tourism proposals does not undermineenvironmental objectives. Kent’s environment is itself a key tourism asset which tourism-related development should serve to sustain and enhance. The tourism policies of this Plandirect large projects to previously developed sites within urban areas in order to savegreenfield land and maximise access by means other than the private car. Related policiescovering cultural development and the arts, provision of major sporting venues, formalrecreation/sports facilities and water recreation can be found in Chapter 5.

Policy EP10: Sustainable Tourism Development

Development of tourism facilities, such as accommodation and visitor attractions, willbe supported if:

(a) they are designed to a high standard which enhances their setting and theattraction of Kent as a tourist destination; and

(b) there are clear economic advantages to Kent; and(c) there are no adverse environmental impacts or such impacts are capable of being

adequately mitigated; and(d) they reduce dependence on the private car and access is possible by a choice of

means of transport, particularly by public transport, cycling and walking; and(e) equal access is provided for all social, economic and cultural groups and to

people with disabilities.


Spatial priorities – selective development and regeneration

6.38 Investment in tourism and leisure will help to achieve the Structure Plan priorities ofregeneration, economic change and growth. There is opportunity in Kent Thames Gatewayto develop a market for business visitors as well as developing environmental and attraction-based tourism. With good road and rail links via the M20 and the International PassengerStation, Ashford provides a key location for both a significant visitor attraction and aconvention centre (see Policy AS1). The coastal resorts have a tradition of tourism but herethe emphasis is on diversifying the economic base. The Plan supports proposals thatpromote higher value-added activity, reduce seasonal fluctuations, upgrade theaccommodation stock and improve the local environment.

6.39 Sports, shopping and other leisure activities can be a major component in theregeneration of our urban areas. There are existing or prospective examples in Kent atChatham Maritime, the harbours of Dover, Folkestone and Ramsgate, and at Whitstable andother town centres. Developing these and other tourism uses within, or near to, town centresand incorporating them in mixed use developments is particularly valuable in creating athriving and attractive urban core.

6.40 Heritage and the arts can also provide strong tourist attractions, especially for higherspending visitors. They fit well in refurbished buildings and can stimulate regeneration ofurban areas, especially where the area has a strong history and impressive architecturalcharacter. Kent has a number of historic centres which would benefit from such investment.Historic pubs and inns are part of the cultural heritage of Kent and an important touristattraction. Their loss, particularly by being converted to residential use, should be resisted.There is also a need in Kent for a small number of ‘green tourism’ and interpretation centres,such as the proposal for a visitor centre at Pegwell Bay.

Policy EP11: Tourism Development and Regeneration

(a) New tourist attractions and the upgrading of existing tourism facilities in themajor/principal urban areas will be supported, particularly if located in, or near to,a centre within the strategic hierarchy of centres in Kent as identified on the KeyDiagram and in Table EP4, where they assist regeneration and cause no harm tothe environment or to the amenity of nearby residential areas.

(b) Priority will be given to such development:

• within Kent Thames Gateway• at the coastal resorts of East Kent• at Ashford.

(c) Proposals for new buildings or for the refurbishment of buildings of historicinterest, particularly in “clusters”, for arts or cultural use will be supported wherethey cause no environmental harm.

(d) Historic inns and pubs should be retained in this use unless a change of use is

demonstrated to be necessary to secure their future.

(e) Environmentally related tourism initiatives will be encouraged.

Tourist accommodation

6.41 New tourist accommodation has been supported by previous planning policies. Sincethe end of the 1980s, more than 30 new hotels have been built in Kent, with the largemajority located close to the main business and tourist routes through the county rather than


at the traditional coastal resorts. Despite these new facilities the number of bed-spaces inKent has declined over the past decade, especially at the coastal resorts.

6.42 It is important for Kent to retain good quality accommodation, especially where therehas been decline. To meet the growing demand for budget accommodation and provide highquality business and conference hotels in Kent, suitable sites will be identified within urbanareas and in town centres. Improvements in the range and quality of Kent’s accommodationstock will be supported where possible.

Policy EP12: Tourist Accommodation

(a) Sites for the development of high quality tourist, business and conference hotelsand for budget hotels will be identified as first priority in, or adjacent to, centreswithin the strategic hierarchy of centres as identified on the Key Diagram and inTable EP4.

(b) Proposals for hotel development must demonstrate that they will have nosignificant adverse environmental or transport impact.

(c) Proposals which would result in the loss, without replacement, of good qualityaccommodation will not be permitted unless there is overriding economicadvantage to the area from the development.

(d) The conversion or extension of existing buildings to provide small hotels, bed andbreakfast or self catering accommodation will be permitted provided this causesno harm to the local environment.

(e) The improvement of touring and static caravan and camping sites will be permittedif the development benefits the local environment.

Other tourism developments in rural areas

6.43 There is a presumption against development in the countryside, particularly when this isat a distance from settlements. Small-scale, high quality development for tourism orrecreation that contributes to the diversification of a farm may, however, be acceptable underthe terms of Policy EP8.

Major tourism/visitor developments

6.44 Kent lacks the kind of modern attractions which could draw visitors on a substantialscale from the UK and abroad. Such attractions include major exhibition and conferencecentres and ‘flagship’ arts, cultural or sports developments. The Eden Project in Cornwall,the Botanic Garden of Wales and projects in Birmingham and Tyneside have changed theperception and prospects of the areas in which they are located.

6.45 New projects which bring exceptional benefits to Kent and could take advantage of thecounty’s international transport links and good access to London will be encouraged. Theyshould be designed to the highest architectural standards. Policies QL14 and QL15encourage the development of high quality venues for sport and entertainment.

6.46 Priority locations for such development are the urban areas of Kent Thames Gateway,Ashford or the coastal towns of East Kent. Developments of this stature with an essentialrequirement for a large amount of land may mean considering a greenfield location. Theywould, though, need to meet strict criteria regarding accessibility, design and impact on their


environs, as well as demonstrating that environmental concerns were clearly outweighed bythe economic and social benefits to the county.

Policy EP13: Major Tourism/Visitor Attractions

Proposals for major tourism/visitor attractions in Kent of national or regionalsignificance will be encouraged. All such developments should be of an exceptionallyhigh standard of design and landscaping.

The priority for the location of such development is within the urban areas of ThamesGateway, Ashford or the coastal towns of East Kent.

The location, and associated land take, of proposals outside the major/principal urbanareas will require exceptional justification and should demonstrate that thedevelopment:• is capable of bringing major benefits to Kent’s economy; and• will make an important contribution to diversifying and upgrading the tourism and

visitor attractions in the county; and• is well related to the passenger rail and primary road networks; and• is located so as to minimise its impact on the environment including landscape,

wildlife, the best and most versatile agricultural land and areas of archaeologicaland historic importance; and

• incorporates satisfactory provision for mitigation of adverse impacts on thelocality.

Ensuring the prosperity of strategic centres 6.47 Town centres provide a broad range of community facilities and financial, cultural,leisure, administrative and public services. Shopping and related consumer services, though,remain the economic lynch pin of town centres, although recent changes in retailing havereduced and changed their role. Significant recent changes in retailing include: • the Bluewater regional shopping centre which opened in 1999• the completion of some major town centre schemes anticipated in the 1996 Structure

Plan e.g. at Canterbury and Maidstone• smaller stores developed by some of the main food retailers and introduced into rural

centres• three factory outlet centres developed outside town centres (at Ashford, Dover and

Chatham Maritime)• an expansion in out-of-centre development for bulky goods* retailing• a drop in the number of proposals for large, out-of-centre food stores due to stronger

planning constraints, although extensions to existing stores continue to be sought• proposals to diversify the range of goods sold from food superstores and retail

warehouses which increasingly challenge the core retail functions traditionally associatedwith the High Street**

• the development of new leisure uses, predominantly outside town centres• retail and leisure development at Westwood Cross permitted as a new town centre for

Thanet. * Stores specialising in an aspect of comparison retailing such as DIY/home improvement products,major electrical items, motor accessories, furniture and carpets and garden products. ** Generally higher value non-food products e.g. clothing and footwear, jewellery, books etc.


6.48 Retail spending has continued to grow substantially. Along with demands for betterquality shopping and changing consumer preferences, increasing spending is a key influencebehind the continuing pressure for new floorspace and the redevelopment or refurbishmentof existing shops. Increased car usage and the general mobility of shoppers has increasedcompetition between centres. Other forms of trading such as internet sales are having animpact on areas of both retail and leisure spending; internet retailers (‘e-tailers’) are notrestricted by trading hours, store size or the types of goods sold. In consequence, if towncentres are to remain competitive there is a constant need to upgrade the quality of theirshops and their general environment. 6.49 These trends and influences require strong support for existing centres. TheGovernment, in its guidance on development plans, requires the identification of a hierarchyof retail centres. Within this framework there is a need to: • give priority to locating all categories of retailing, leisure and other major travel-generating

uses within these centres• require developers to pursue a form of development which suits these locations• apply the same planning criteria to all retail development, including special forms of

trading e.g. factory outlet centres. New district or local centres will be required to serve major new developments, having regardto the relationship with existing communities and their retail and service provision. The retail hierarchy in Kent 6.50 Town centres in Kent fulfil different roles according to the size and composition of theirretail ‘offer’ and the other services which can be found there. The strategic hierarchyidentified by this Plan is set out in Table EP4. It is closely related to the overall settlementhierarchy set out in Table SS1 (Chapter 2), but in this instance distinguishes the relativescale and range of functions of centres within the larger multi-centred urban areas (e.g. theThanet towns). 6.51 Bluewater is an established regional shopping development with a catchment extendingacross much of Kent and into London and Essex. Turnover and other measures indicate thatthere are currently four sub-regional centres in Kent which provide a wide range ofcomparison shopping and other services and which have extensive catchment areas. Theycommand higher rents and have greater potential for investment. Ashford should alsodevelop to fulfil this role within the Plan period. 6.52 A distinction is drawn between the strategic hierarchy of centres and district and localcentres of primarily local significance. The strategic hierarchy comprises: • Regional and Sub-Regional Centres (with a broad retail base serving a wide catchment

area)• Principal Town Centres (providing the main focus for shopping, local government and

other services within a district)• Urban and Rural Service Centres (which serve smaller urban areas or parts of urban

areas or are at the centre of rural catchments).

6.53 Principal Town Centres offer greater physical capacity and investment potential. Interms of total retail turnover there is little difference between some of the middle-rankingPrincipal Town Centres and the larger Urban and Rural Service Centres, but the former offera wider range of services.


Table EP4: The strategic hierarchy of retail and service centres in Kent

REGIONAL CENTREBluewaterSUB-REGIONAL TOWN AND CITY CENTRESAshford Canterbury Chatham Maidstone Tunbridge WellsPRINCIPAL TOWN CENTRESDartford Folkestone Sevenoaks Sittingbourne Westwood

(Thanet)Dover Gravesend TonbridgeURBAN SERVICE CENTRESBroadstairs Hempstead

ValleyMargate Rochester Southborough

Deal Herne Bay Rainham Sheerness SwanleyFaversham Hythe Ramsgate Strood WhitstableGillinghamRURAL SERVICE CENTRESBorough Green Hawkhurst Lydd Staplehurst WesterhamCranbrook Headcorn New Romney Sandwich West MallingEdenbridge Hoo St Werburgh Paddock Wood TenterdenDistrict and Local Centres: To be defined in Local Development Documents

6.54 This hierarchy of centres will generally be maintained. The county’s sub-regionalcentres will be supported and strengthened, especially Maidstone and Chatham, which liewithin the wider catchment of Bluewater. All of the existing sub-regional centres areregionally-significant transport hubs recognised for their level of accessibility and scope tosupport the concentration of economic activity. The Principal Town Centres within North Kentneed to strengthen their roles as retail and service centres for their expanding communities.

6.55 Accelerated growth at Ashford over an extended period will provide scope for the towncentre to be enhanced and to capitalise on its role as a public transport node and regionaltransport hub. The Structure Plan provides for significant population growth in the townduring and beyond the plan period and supports its evolution to fulfil a role as a sub-regionalcentre within the strategic hierarchy of centres.

6.56 The planning and development strategy in North Kent will result in Bluewater becominga major centre for retail, leisure and entertainment embedded within the new urban area ofKent Thameside. Over time it will mature as a central place for these purposes. It will be wellconnected through road links and new public transport systems to the whole of KentThameside and, being in close proximity to the A2 and the new station at Ebbsfleet, willincreasingly serve the wider region, particularly as a specialist comparison goods shoppingcentre. The concept of Bluewater has evolved. It is not solely served by car, there is a goodand developing bus system and it will be well served by Ebbsfleet and Greenhithe stationsand by ‘Fastrack’. The co-ordinated development of town centre uses (retail and leisure) withnew housing and business initiatives in Kent Thameside, together with the complementarynature of the centres, is a matter for consideration in the preparation of Local DevelopmentDocuments and the review of the South East Plan. Bluewater should not evolve as a multi-purpose centre for everyday shopping, which is the role of the principal town centres.Ebbsfleet will join central Dartford, central Gravesend and Bluewater as one of fourcommercial nodes in Kent Thameside, providing shopping and services that support its roleas a transport hub and a new residential area.

6.57 Investing in the principal East Kent coastal town centres to capture retail spending andfuture growth will also support wider regeneration initiatives and a more sustainable pattern


of development by reducing the need for longer journeys, usually made by car, to sub-regional centres, especially Canterbury. Further development which would intensify theattraction of retail spending to Canterbury from the coastal towns and Ashford, and therebyprejudice regeneration of the coastal towns or the strengthening of Ashford’s role, will not besupported.

6.58 Thanet has not had a dominant town centre capable of stemming the substantial loss ofcomparison spending from this large urban area to other centres. Development opportunitiesin the existing town centres are very limited and their investment potential is constrained bytheir relatively small coastal catchments and the competition between the centres.Westwood, in central Thanet, is already a major focus for bulky and convenience goodsretailing, includes a strategically-important location for new employment and is astride theprincipal transport corridor linking Margate and Ramsgate. The recent development of a newtown centre at Westwood provides major comparison shopping that will help reduce the lossof spending to Canterbury. Developing its mixed-use character will enhance its role as aPrincipal Town Centre, complement existing uses and allow for multi-purpose trips to thearea.

6.59 Medway, like Thanet, is a multi-centred urban area. Over time five discrete towns(Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Rainham and Gillingham) have grown together to formMedway. Chatham, the largest of the towns, serves as a sub-regional centre but has beenperforming below its significant potential. Medway needs a strong ‘city’ focus and Chathamalready fulfils much of this role. The aim is for Chatham Centre and Waterfront to become athriving city centre. The other four town centres have an important role as service centreswithin the county’s largest urban area. They will continue to be supported, although the focusfor retail and other suitable developments will be Chatham.

6.60 It will be essential to invest in the fabric of the Principal Town Centres to maintain orenhance their vitality and viability in line with their established role as retail, service, leisureand business centres. Providing for education and culture are also important roles for towncentres. Projects to improve community facilities in town centres will encourage investment inshopping and other services. Urban and Rural Service Centres provide convenience andlimited comparison shopping along with local services for smaller urban areas, urbanneighbourhoods and the larger rural centres. Small-scale retail and service developmentsappropriate to the local needs of these centres’ catchments will be supported to sustain theirrole and enhance local self-sufficiency.

Policy EP14: Development at the Hierarchy of Strategic Centres

The role of Regional, Sub-regional, Principal and Urban and Rural Service Centresforming the strategic hierarchy of retail and service centres in Kent, as identified onthe Key Diagram and in Table EP4, will be safeguarded. Development proposalswhich enhance the quality, range and choice of shopping and/or expand or diversifytheir service, business or leisure activities will be supported.

Development should achieve a high standard of design and enhance the visualquality, functioning and environment of a centre.

Local authorities will:

(a) include policies in Local Development Documents to support the retail function ofthese centres including the allocation of suitable sites or areas for retail and/ormixed use development to meet identified needs


(b) identify measures to improve the environment and functioning of centres includingpedestrian priority zones and networks and public transport access andinterchange arrangements

(c) pursue measures including, where necessary, compulsory purchase to make towncentre sites available for planned development.

Scope for new shopping development

6.61 The growth of retail spending has been projected over the life of the Structure Plan.Greater weight is given to the projections for the first 10 years of the plan period when therewill be demands for new comparison shopping in addition to commitments already made.There are sites for new shopping provision in many of Kent’s town centres, althoughopportunities are limited in some smaller centres.

Sequential approach to locating retail and leisure development

6.62 To support their vitality and viability, new proposals for retail and leisure developmentshould be located within strategic centres (Table EP4) or district/local centres identified inLocal Development Documents. They should take account of the scale of developmentproposed in relation to the size and function of the centre within the centre hierarchy.Proposals at edge-of-centre or out-of-centre locations must demonstrate a need for thedevelopment and meet the ‘sequential test’ by demonstrating that suitable alternative towncentre or edge-of-centre sites are not, and are unlikely to become, available. Need does notsolely relate to the quantitative scope for additional floorspace but may embraceshortcomings in the quality of local retail and leisure provision. In considering the suitability ofsites in town centres, developers must be flexible about the design of shops. It is notsufficient to dismiss town centre sites because they are not suited to a particular buildingform such as large single storey units. Policy EP15 sets out the sequential approach.

6.63 A threshold of 1,000 square metres gross floorspace should be applied in relation toindividual schemes as established in the previous Structure Plan. This remains anappropriate level at which Structure Plan policy should be considered taking account of thepattern and relatively close proximity of Kent‘s urban areas and its network of strategiccentres, the concern of policy for the vitality and viability of these centres and the extent andcomplexity of existing retail provision within and beyond established centres. It will beimportant for local authorities to monitor the cumulative effect of all significant retailproposals.

High street, or ‘core comparison’ shopping

6.64 ‘Core comparison’ goods, notably clothing, are the mainstay of town centre shoppingfollowing the relocation of much bulky goods and food shopping to large, out-of-centrestores. The strategy of the Structure Plan is to give priority to current major town centreinvestments, and encourages all centres to maintain their place in the strategic hierarchy(Table EP4). Development should be on a scale that does not jeopardise nearby centres andshould not prejudice the character of historic centres. Larger scale development will beconcentrated at:

• sub-regional centres, which provide the greatest choice and have the best prospect ofcompeting with out of centre shopping

• town centres within the principal urban areas that are experiencing major growth orwhere development will benefit regeneration of the wider area.


6.65 Retail spending projections prepared for the Structure Plan are contained in WorkingPaper 3.4 These indicative forecasts, reflecting the role and performance of centres at thestart of the Structure Plan period, suggest that there is ‘headroom’ for approximately 253,000gross square metres of ‘core comparison’ retail space in Kent 2001 - 2011. Outstandingplanning permissions and schemes completed post-2001 reduce this ‘headroom’. About halfof the potential arises in districts where the four existing sub-regional centres are located.Major schemes recently completed at Canterbury and Maidstone have made substantial callson this potential. • Canterbury 42,000 sq. m• Maidstone 29,000 sq. m• Medway 34,000 sq. m• Tunbridge Wells 20,000 sq. m 6.66 Other districts with centres with larger catchments and/or faster population growth alsohave significant headroom, notably: • Ashford 25,000 sq. m• Thanet 23,000 sq. m• Dover 14,000 sq. m• Swale 12,000 sq. m• Shepway 11,000 sq. m 6.67 If real growth in retail spending continues, most districts have significant potential fornew development in the longer term (to 2016), but the above locations have the strongestdemand and are the strategic priorities for new town centre shopping. Factory outlet centres

6.68 There are three existing factory outlet centres - at Ashford, Chatham and Dover. Suchproposals, and those for other special forms of trading such as discount clubs, are subject tothe same policy considerations as conventional retail proposals. Bulky comparison goods 6.69 Bulky comparison goods are home improvement and DIY products, major electricalitems, motor accessories, furniture, carpets and garden products. Outlets for bulky goods aremainly concentrated close to the sub-regional centres, although much of the turnover iscaptured by out-of-centre retail parks. There are commercial pressures to widen the range ofgoods sold at out-of-centre stores to include core (High Street) comparison goods, whichincreases competition between High Street and out-of-centre shopping. 6.70 Retail spending projections for the Structure Plan indicate floorspace headroom for afurther 189,000 gross square metres of bulky comparison retail space in Kent 2001-2011,with about half of that in the districts containing the four sub-regional centres5. More than40% of the growth in comparison retail expenditure is expected to occur within the bulkygoods sectors. Wherever possible, potential should be accommodated at the strategiccentres. The combined potential for core and bulky goods comparison shopping floorspacecould serve to support the viability of town centre-based provision. Developers and retailersshould be flexible about the design and operation of stores to allow this to happen. 4 KMSP Working Paper 3 (Revised) Retail Potential and Town Centres: Annex 17 with furtheramendment (2006) to reflect the final housing distribution strategy of the Structure Plan.5 KMSP Working Paper 3 (Revised) Annex 17 with further amendment (2006) to reflect the finalhousing distribution strategy of the Structure Plan


6.71 Where there are no suitable town centre sites, new bulky goods shopping should,wherever possible, be located at existing groups of similar units to provide scope for multi-purpose shopping trips. Better access to those sites by public transport and improvements tothe wider shopping environment should be encouraged. Food and convenience goods 6.72 Spending projections for the Structure Plan indicate potential for 93,000 gross squaremetres of additional convenience retail space in Kent 2001 – 2011. Commitments at, or post-2001, make a significant call upon this. Proposals for large new food stores should besupported where they: • are located at town centres or Urban/Rural Service Centres within the hierarchy• make good a local deficiency in the quantity or quality of food shopping• are needed to serve a new residential community, including those arising from the

strategic developments proposed by this Plan.

6.73 Extensions to existing out-of-centre food and convenience goods stores will be subjectto the provisions of Policy EP15. Policy EP15: Sequential Consideration of Sites for Retail and Leisure Development New retail and leisure development should be located on sites within centres formingthe strategic hierarchy of retail and service centres in Kent, as identified in the KeyDiagram and in Table EP4, taking account of the scale of development proposed inrelation to the size and function of the centre. If there are no suitable sites orbuildings that are, or will become, available then sites on the edge of these centresmay be considered. In the absence of edge of centre sites, development of large food or bulky goodsstores may be considered at out of centre locations but within the confines of amajor/principal urban area. Where possible such developments should be located at,or adjacent to, existing major out of centre retail developments. Development (including extensions to existing retail development) on the edge of, oroutside the strategic centres must demonstrate that:• there is a need for the development; and• more suitable sites do not exist within the strategic centres, or on their edge; and• individually or cumulatively the development does not undermine the viability or

vitality of existing strategic or other centres; and• the development is accessible to a choice of public and private transport, and by

walking and cycling; and• the development will not prejudice readily available and accessible sites identified

for housing, business and industrial development.

Policy EP16: Development for Core Comparison Goods Shopping

(a) Development of comparison goods shopping in the sub-regional and principaltown centres will be supported, particularly at: (i) Maidstone (ii) Chatham (iii)Ashford (iv)Tunbridge Wells (v) Folkestone


(vi)Dover (vii)Sittingbourne.

(b) The scale and character of development at Canterbury should not prejudice

investment in, and strengthening of, the strategic centres in East Kent anddevelopment of Ashford as a sub regional centre.

(c) Any development at Bluewater should not prejudice investment in, and

strengthening of, the sub regional centres of Chatham and Maidstone nor conflictwith the role of principal town centres in North Kent as the prime focus for localretail, service, cultural and leisure facilities.

(d) Development of a new town centre for Thanet at Westwood, adjacent to, and

integrated with, existing major retail provision will be supported.

Policy EP17: Development of Large Food Stores

Proposals for large new food stores should be located in accordance with thesequential approach of Policy EP15.

Local Development Documents will:

(i) identify and allocate sites for such development(ii) identify where new or improved convenience shopping, which cannot be

accommodated within the strategic centres, is needed:(a) to make good deficiencies in the quality or amount of existing provision; or(b) to meet new requirements associated with major new residential

communities including the Strategic Development Locations identified bythis Plan.

Urban and rural service centres

6.74 Below the level of Principal Town Centres, there are numerous smaller centres in Kentthat are varied in their role and character. These include small historic town centres such asFaversham and Whitstable, Rural Service Centres including Tenterden and Cranbrook, andsecondary centres within larger urban areas such as Gillingham and Strood. These centresprovide convenient and accessible shopping and services, primarily for their immediatecommunities. Meeting everyday needs for convenience and comparison shopping are at theheart of their role. This should be supported by small-scale development and by localmeasures to improve pedestrian access and the environment. Alongside Urban and RuralService Centres within the strategic hierarchy, local planning authorities will need to identifyother district, local, neighbourhood and village centres, together with what needs to be doneto maintain or enhance their vitality, viability and character and to respond to the retail andservice needs of local communities.

Policy EP18: Urban and Rural Service Centres

An appropriate scale of retail and service provision at the Urban and Rural ServiceCentres (as identified on the Key Diagram and in Table EP4), and at district, local,neighbourhood and village centres identified within Local Development Documents,will be supported where it will underpin the role, vitality and viability of such centres.

Local Development Documents will identify the locations of new district or localcentres of a suitable scale that are needed to serve large-scale residential or mixeduse development.


CHAPTER 7: HOUSING PROVISION AND DISTRIBUTION

7.1 A central challenge for this Structure Plan is to provide sufficient housing while protectingKent’s countryside and enhancing the quality of urban and rural environments. People inKent should have access to a range and diversity of good quality housing. With the relativelybuoyant housing markets found throughout much of the county, the ability to purchase or rentaffordable housing is very important.

7.2 This chapter covers the key policy issues relating to housing provision and has stronglinks with Chapters 2 (Spatial Strategy), 3 (Area Policies) and 5 (Quality of Life).

Key housing development issues in Kent

• Balancing housing growth with economic development needs and opportunities• Reducing reliance on greenfield sites in favour of previously developed land• Locating new housing development in a sustainable manner• Respecting the wide-ranging environmental and other policy constraints affecting Kent• Accommodating regional requirements for housing growth, including the role of the

regional growth areas of Kent Thames Gateway and Ashford• Responding to the housing needs of the whole community National and regional policy on housing • Government aspirations are to increase the rate of housing completions and ensure that

Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) provisions are met; RPG9 (2001) suggests that therate of regional housing provision will need to increase beyond 2006.

• The average annual rate of housing provision set out in RPG9 is 5,700 homes per annumin Kent for the period 2001 to 2016. This is equivalent to a total of 85,500 homes.

• In Sustainable Communities: building for the future the Government has identified fourmajor growth areas in London and the South East. Two of these, Ashford and asubstantial part of Thames Gateway, lie within Kent. In these areas Government policy isto secure a substantial increase in the supply of new housing.

• Alterations to RPG9 (2004) for the Ashford Growth Area have identified housing provisionfor the growth area of 13,100 homes 2001 - 2016.

Public consultation and housing provision Public consultation on this Plan* produced strong support for policies of urban regenerationand renaissance, reduced reliance on greenfield development, an improvement in the qualityand design of housing development and closer tailoring of housing provision to the needs oflocal communities. There was also a clear demand for better phasing of essential communitysupport facilities and services and for new jobs to be created to match new housingdevelopment. * Kent and Medway Structure Plan: Deposit Plan, September 2003, and Mapping out theFuture: Policy Directions for the Kent and Medway Structure Plan, Spring 2002. 7.3 The scale and distribution of new housing needs to take into account:• Population growth• Other social and demographic changes• The scale of existing labour markets in Kent and the balance between housing and job

supply


• Where jobs are likely to be created and strategic priorities for economic development andregeneration

• The quality of the environment and other locational issues.

Social and demographic influences on the need for housing Population growth, the net movement of people in and out of different parts of the county,changing age structures and household composition are key influences on the future demand forhousing. Trends in these factors, including short term (five year) and longer term (ten year)trends in net migration, have been used to project future household growth* These projections indicate that if the trends continued there would be growth equivalent tobetween 5,500 and 6,800 homes per annum in Kent to 2016 but a significant decline in the rateof growth beyond 2016. The net increase in the housing stock in Kent between 1991 and 2001was 50,100 (5,010 homes per annum) – significantly (14%) below the rate anticipated in regionalguidance (5,700 per annum). If the longer-term trend in net migration continued, almost three-quarters of the projectedhousehold growth over the 2001 - 2016 period would be attributable to local population andhousehold growth. Consequently, while people moving into Kent accounts for the majority ofpopulation growth on the basis of longer term net migration trends, it accounts for only about aquarter of overall household growth Population Change 2001 - 2016 based on longer –term migration trend: Kent*

Total Growth Share of Change Natural change (births – deaths) +26,800 36% Net migration into Kent +47,400 64% Total change +74,200 100%

Household Growth 2001 - 2016 based on longer-term migration trend: Kent*

HouseholdGrowth

Share ofChange

Trend-based growth including trend rate of netmigration

81,300 100%

Trend-based growth with nil gain/loss from netmigration

61,000 75%

Effect of net migration 20,300 25% Although inward migration is relatively modest overall, it is very significant in certain areas,particularly Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Swale and Shepway. Projected growth in one-person households is particularly marked – around 30% in 2001 - 2016compared with about 14% growth in the overall number of households. *Details of these projections are contained in KMSP Working Paper 1 (Revised July 2004) These projections do not constitute policy guidance for individual districts; projections ofhousehold growth have contributed to the development of policy for housing provision and itsdistribution but are only one of a range of factors that need to be taken into account.


7.4 Housing distribution also has to consider the varied and distinctive character and qualityof Kent’s environment, the need to make the most of development opportunities involvingpreviously used or damaged land and the prospects for urban housing capacity. Pastdevelopment has relied upon a significant contribution from greenfield development, and thecurrent substantial supply of already identified housing land reflects considerable relianceupon this source. Some 36% of the capacity identified in 2004 was on greenfield sites. 7.5 Kent’s environment has only limited capacity to accommodate further development ongreenfield sites without adverse impact. The easier options for expanding Kent’s towns havegenerally been acted upon. The edges of most towns are now very close to, or hard upagainst, land that is protected from development, for example because of its intrinsic quality. Proposed housing provision and its distribution 7.6 The strategy for housing provision and distribution provides for: • an average annual rate of housing development of 5,800 homes between 2001 and 2006

compared with RPG9 (5,700 homes per year)• an increased average rate of development between 2006 and 2016 of 6,480 homes per

year. This reflects the provision for accelerated growth at Ashford beyond 2006 inAlterations to RPG9 (2004) in line with its planned status as a regional growth area forthe South East, together with the expectation of RPG9 that regional housing provisionsbeyond 2006 will increase.

Total housing provision is 93,800 dwellings for the period 2001 - 2016. 7.7 In meeting these requirements the housing strategy of this Plan takes account of: • the emphasis on regenerating and reinvesting in Kent’s towns and concentrating

development at the principal urban areas. The five major urban areas in particular (seeChapters 2 and 3) are locations which offer higher quality accessibility by public transportand serve as focal points for services and jobs.

• the need to make the fullest possible use of previously developed (‘brownfield‘) land,taking account of the scale, pattern and timing of development opportunities associatedwith it - particularly in Kent Thames Gateway.

• past experience of development within existing urban areas and opportunities forproviding additional housing within them.

• the full extent of existing housing land commitments, including the contribution made tothem by previously developed land.

• a review of previously-identified locations for strategic scale development which have yetto be implemented, including the scope for using them more intensively.

• the amount of employment land provision and the impact of associated new jobgeneration.

• the pace and distribution of housing provision in Kent Thames Gateway, reflecting bothits national and regional priority for regeneration. The rationale for major developmenthere is rooted in the area’s potential for extensive re-use of previously developed ordamaged land. Delivery of the overall capacity identified in this area, including elementsof the Strategic Development Locations proposed, will extend beyond 2016. The phasedhousing provisions of the Structure Plan take this into account.

• an extension of Ashford’s strategic role over the medium and longer terms to reflect itscontribution to regionally-significant growth. This will depend on resolving criticalinfrastructure thresholds that will govern the rate at which development can beaccelerated, and on a more balanced pattern of housing and job creation.


• no adjustment to the extent of the Green Belt in north and west Kent and retention of theStrategic Gap in Mid Kent together with the designation of a new Strategic Gap betweenthe Medway Towns and Sittingbourne.

• identifying a need for new or extended Strategic Development Locations in some areas. 7.8 The Plan seeks a better balance between housing and jobs, especially where housingquantities are higher than would be needed to support local demands and would supportgreater population movement into an area. In large parts of Kent improved local employmentperformance is essential if housing provision is to support a sustainable pattern ofdevelopment. At Ashford it is a specific regional objective that growth should provide for aparallel increase in jobs and homes. In parts of north and west Kent there is a strong relianceon commuting to London. Domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and otherservice improvements will add to these commuting pressures by improving access to, andfrom, parts of Kent. 7.9 Accommodating these levels of housing throughout Kent is critically dependent uponessential social, educational, community and transport infrastructure being properly fundedand provided at the right time (see Policies QL12 and IM1). 7.10 Policy HP1 sets the quantities of housing for Medway and each district council area forthe 2001 - 2016 period. Policy HP1: Housing Provision and Distribution 2001- 2016 Provision for housing for 2001- 2016 will be made in accordance with the followingquantities: Dwellings (net) 2001 - 2006 2006 - 2011 2011 –

2016 2001 - 2016

Ashford 3,500 5,000 5,500 14,000* Canterbury 2,100 2,300 2,200 6,600 Dartford 3,900 4,000 4,500 12,400 Dover 1,600 1,600 2,200 5,400+ Gravesham 1,400 1,500 1,500 4,400 Maidstone 2,300 2,200 2,000 6,500@ Sevenoaks 800 800 800 2,400 Shepway 1,800 1,500 1,400 4,700 Swale 2,700 3,200 3,200 9,100 Thanet 1,700 2,100 2,200 6,000 Tonbridge & Malling 2,200 2,200 2,400 6,800 Tunbridge Wells 1,500 1,400 1,100 4,000 (KCC area) 25,500 27,800 29,000 82,300 Medway 3,500 3,900 4,100 11,500# Kent 29,000 31,700 33,100 93,800 * including provision for 13,100 dwellings 2001 - 2016 at the Ashford growth point. + includes provision for up to 1,000 dwellings at Aylesham. @ The HP1 quantity for Maidstone Borough is a minimum. Any increase in housingprovision will be governed by study of urban capacity and identification of sustainablylocated sites through the preparation of Local Development Documents.


# The housing quantity for Medway reflects the scale of development expected tooccur by 2016 given the complexity of the key urban regeneration sites and thedevelopment programme for the proposed new settlement at Chattenden/Lodge Hill.Should a higher rate of development prove to be feasible on these sites this will beconsidered, subject to the provision of necessary infrastructure and services inaccordance with an agreed development strategy for each site. Notes to Policy HP1 The quantities in Policy HP1 include all forms of housing development providing selfcontained dwelling units for permanent accommodation and relate to net increases to thehousing stock after 31st March 2001 i.e. net of demolitions or other losses from the housingstock. In order to secure the overall average annual rate of provision for the 2001/2016period the quantities for the three phasing periods to 2016 are cumulative i.e. any surplus orshortfall from the early periods of the Plan are carried forward to subsequent periods. For the purposes of implementing Policy HP1 housing provision will mean the expected netdwelling capacity of planning permissions and allocations in previously adopted or depositeddevelopment plans which were outstanding at 31st March 2001 (including dwellings thenunder construction) plus the planned net dwelling capacity on sites subsequently released orto be released for development through allocations in development plans and planningpermissions. The assessment of the level of provision in relation to Policy HP1 will alsoallow for: (i) the expected contribution from sites below the site size threshold adopted for the

identification of development plan allocations; and (ii) the expected contribution from other windfall sites involving previously developed

land. 7.11 Some of the key considerations in housing provision for the individual districts of Kentand for Medway are discussed in Chapter 3. Housing land: phasing, assessment and sequential approach tolocation The managed release of housing sites 7.12 Housing land releases must be managed to ensure that land is not releasedunnecessarily or prematurely, particularly at greenfield sites. The Plan needs a policyframework aimed at preventing undue or premature identification and release of housing landin the early years. This has to: • take account of the nature of existing commitments• provide for the flow of urban housing capacity within built up areas during the lifetime of

the Plan• allow existing and new Strategic Development Locations to be implemented. 7.13 The planning authorities will need to ensure that sufficient land comes forward to meetthe average rates of development for each of the phases under Policy HP1. In order toachieve this, the use of previously developed land within the major/principal urban areas andat other sustainable locations will be prioritised before greenfield land. Phasing will help toprevent the early release of greenfield sites prejudicing urban regeneration. It will also help toachieve the overall recycling target for the use of previously developed land (Policy HP3).


7.14 Strong market demand for homes in some areas may bring pressure for allocated sitesto be developed rapidly during the early stages of the Plan period and for a higher thanexpected number of ‘windfall’ sites to come forward. Careful phasing of the release of land,including windfalls, will ensure that a steady supply of sites is maintained throughout thewhole of the period. Phasing can also help ensure that, if necessary, community and physicalinfrastructure is improved or provided in parallel with new housing. 7.15 The average annual net rate of development per district in each of the five year phasesand over the plan period as a whole is shown in Table HP1. Table HP1: Annual average rates of housing provision by phases: 2001- 2016 Dwellings (net) ++ 2001 – 2006 2006 – 2011 2011 - 2016 2001 - 2016 Ashford 700 1,000 1,100 930 Canterbury 420 460 440 440 Dartford 780 800 900 825 Dover 320 320 440 360 Gravesham 280 300 300 295 Maidstone 460 440 400 435 Sevenoaks 160 160 160 160 Shepway 360 300 280 315 Swale 540 640 640 605 Thanet 340 420 440 400 Tonbridge & Malling 440 440 480 455 Tunbridge Wells 300 280 220 270 (KCC area) 5,100 5,560 5,800 5,490 Medway 700 780 820 765 Kent 5,800 6,340 6,620 6,250 ++ Rounded to the nearest five Priorities for the location of new housing development 7.16 Housing development on urban sites has in the past come from a variety of sourcesincluding: • recycling land and buildings formerly in non-residential use• developing vacant and previously undeveloped land• providing residential accommodation above commercial premises in town centres• intensifying development within established residential areas by subdividing and

redeveloping the existing housing stock, infilling, and ‘backland’ development. 7.17 Such sources should continue to be explored. Vacant dwellings could provide avaluable additional source of accommodation by being brought back into use as a result of,for example, an empty homes strategy or similar. The housing provisions of this Plan,however, entail new, additional provision. Re-occupation of vacant dwellings does notcontribute to meeting Policy HP1 requirements unless there is a net gain in dwellings, forexample, through the conversion of a property. 7.18 While it is desirable to make the best possible use of urban development opportunitiesfor housing, this should not be done at the expense of other important aspects of urban life.These include improving the urban environment, protecting valuable amenities (includingopen space) within settlements and safeguarding centrally-located and accessible business


and employment land. Para 7.32-7.33 and Policy HP4 address the more efficient use ofdevelopment land and the delivery of high quality development and design in conjunctionwith higher density residential development. 7.19 This Plan requires a sequential test to be applied to the major/principal urban areas andRural Service Centres when land for housing is being considered during the preparation ofLocal Development Documents. Priority will be given to using previously developed land.Reliance on such land within smaller rural settlements, beyond small-scale infilling, will needto demonstrate tangible benefits to village sustainability, along with the potential for asustainable form of development that includes housing, employment and other facilities inclose proximity. In these circumstances such opportunities will take precedence over therelease of greenfield sites that would involve extensions to the principal urban areas or RuralService Centres. 7.20 This Plan identifies Strategic Development Locations which play an important part inimplementing its development strategy. In the case of greenfield development, their releaseand phasing will depend on the prior application of the search sequence in Policy HP2 toensure that priority is given to the use of previously developed land. Similar considerationswill apply to smaller scale greenfield land releases identified through Local DevelopmentDocuments. The identification of these will need to consider the nature and impact ofstrategic environmental and planning constraints at the Principal Urban Areas and the RuralService Centres. 7.21 Identifying land for new housing at rural settlements should normally be done throughLocal Development Documents. This does not imply that planning permission will not begranted at those settlements on sites other than allocations in Local Plans/LocalDevelopment Documents. The amount of any new development should be consistent withthe scale of the existing settlement. 7.22 Development linked to nodes within good, or potentially good, public transport corridorswill need to take account of both the level and frequency of public transport services and theconnections they provide to centres of employment and major services. Proposals should bewithin reasonable walking distance of a railway station or an existing or planned bus stop. 7.23 The acceptability of both previously developed and greenfield land options will besubject to meeting criteria for sustainably-located new housing land as set out in Policy HP2.All sites considered for housing should be assessed to ensure that proposed new homeswould be well located, accessible to essential services and supported by adequate physicaland community infrastructure, while having as little impact as possible on the environmentand the conservation of biodiversity. Policy HP2: Housing Provision: Phasing, Assessment and Sequential Approach toLocation A. Each local planning authority will phase and manage the release of sites for

housing development to ensure that:• Provision accords with the requirements of the growth areas and area based

policies specified in this Plan;• the housing requirements for each district for each of the phasing periods set

out in Policy HP1 are met; and• generally, previously developed sites are identified before greenfield sites.

B. In identifying sites to be allocated, and in the control of development, thesuitability of both previously developed and greenfield sites for housingdevelopment should demonstrate:


(a) good quality accessibility to jobs, shops and services by means other than thecar, including the potential for improving such accessibility; and

(b) adequate capacity within existing transport, utility, social and communityinfrastructure to absorb further development or the ability for new orenhanced facilities to be provided; and

(c) the role of development in sustaining local services and facilities; and(d) the absence of material harm arising from physical and environmental

constraints affecting the development of the land.

C. Subject to sites meeting the criteria in part B of this policy, a search sequence willbe applied in identifying sites to be allocated within each district as follows:

1) The re-use of previously developed land and buildings:(a) within Major/Principal Urban Areas; followed by:(b) within Rural Service Centres; followed by:(c) within a smaller rural settlement, as defined in Local Development

Documents;

followed by:

2) Settlement extensions or new communities where identified as StrategicDevelopment Locations by this Plan: followed by:

3) An extension or extensions to:(a) a major/principal urban area; followed by:(b) a Rural Service Centre; followed by:(c) a smaller rural settlement, as defined in Local Development Documents.

Where practical, consideration of a settlement extension, under 3) above, should givepriority to the use of previously developed land.

Increasing reliance on previously developed land

7.24 There needs to be enough land available to provide 93,800 homes in the period to2016. At 2001 there was enough land identified (sites with planning permission and thoseallocated in Local Plans), on both previously developed and greenfield land for some 54,000dwellings, although a significant proportion of this (approximately 11,000 dwellings, primarilywithin Kent Thames Gateway (Dartford)), represented sites or parts of sites are not likely tobe available until after 2011. Additional land will come from sites identified through district-based urban housing capacity studies and other previously developed land which comesforward as a result of windfall planning permissions. Sites of this kind involving previouslydeveloped land have recently been adding an average of about 1,500 dwellings per annumto the housing supply. Further housing gains can also be expected as a result of increaseddensities from already committed sites, particularly on larger greenfield allocations.

7.25 Kent and Medway’s Urban Capacity Protocol (2002), building on national guidance,establishes a consistent framework for assessing potential urban capacity within the principalurban areas and other defined categories of settlement. These assessments will, in turn,inform Local Development Documents and support the more efficient use of land.

7.26 In the light of these assessments, the planning authorities will need to consider theamount of greenfield development needed to meet strategic housing requirements. This willinclude reviewing existing greenfield allocations against the criteria of Policy HP2 and, if


retained, reassessing their phasing and capacity to avoid the premature release of newgreenfield land. It is unlikely that a major reduction in the need for greenfield land previouslycommitted for development will be appropriate over the Structure Plan period as a whole.

7.27 Strategic Development Locations identified in previous Structure Plans and involvingboth previously developed and greenfield land are largely retained in this Plan. Some newgreenfield provision will be required on a selective basis in the medium term. New orextended Strategic Development Locations will be needed to accommodate requirements inMedway, Swale, Ashford, Shepway and Thanet. Depending on progress in the use ofpreviously developed land, smaller scale additions to greenfield supply may be necessary inCanterbury, Dover, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells in the longer term.

7.28 Policy HP3 establishes a policy objective for the county relating to the proportion ofhousing development for 2001 to 2016 to be met from previously developed land andbuildings. Table HP2 shows the anticipated contribution from each district to the achievementof the overall policy target given the pattern and distribution of housing provision in PolicyHP1. These district guidelines are indicative and subject to testing through urban capacityassessments and the preparation of Local Development Documents. The overall policytarget and indicative guidelines take account of:

• the previously developed and greenfield elements of the existing committed housing landsupply

• the likely scope for increasing the housing capacity of Strategic Development Locationsand other major housing allocations (unless they have already been assessed againstcurrent objectives for better use of land)

• expectations for the future capacity of previously developed land• provision made in this Plan for new or extended Strategic Development Locations

involving both previously developed and greenfield land. 7.29 The Kent-wide policy target for the contribution of previously developed land andbuildings in Policy HP3 and the indicative district level guidelines (Table HP2) reflect thedefinition of previously developed land contained within PPG3 (Annex C). As such, landinvolving certain former mineral workings is excluded, although. Damaged and despoiledland, including land outside the national definition of previously developed land, will,however, make a major contribution to the strategic developments proposed for KentThameside in Policy DG1 (especially within Dartford). These sites are integral to the strategyfor creating a new urban structure within that area and pivotal to delivering the scale ofgrowth planned in this part of Kent Thames Gateway. Policy HP3: Contribution of Previously Developed Land and Previously UsedBuildings to Housing Provision: 2001 - 2016 The local planning authorities will test, through the conduct of urban capacity studiesand the formulation of Local Plans/Local Development Documents, the followingindicative target for the proportionate contribution of dwellings from previouslydeveloped land or the re-use of previously used buildings to the housing provisions ofPolicy HP1 for the 2001 - 2016 period.

Total Housing Provision 2001 - 2016

Target for Previously DevelopedLand/Previously Used Buildings (%)

Kent 93,800 70


Table HP2 Indicative guidelines for the contribution of previously developed landto housing provision 2001 - 2016: Kent districts and Medway Total Housing

Provision 2001 - 2016

Guideline for PreviouslyDeveloped Land/Previously Used

Buildings (%) Ashford 14,000 45 Canterbury 6,600 85 Dartford 12,400 60 Dover 5,400 70 Gravesham 4,400 75 Maidstone 6,500 85 Sevenoaks 2,400 95 Shepway 4,700 65 Swale 9,100 45 Thanet 6,000 80 Tonbridge & Malling 6,800 90 Tunbridge Wells 4,000 90 Medway 11,500 80 Kent 93,800 70 7.30 Given the extent of, and continuing reliance upon, existing committed greenfield land,these guidelines rely upon a higher proportion of previously developed land being identifiedin new housing allocations and planning permissions beyond 2001. 7.31 In interpreting the target in Policy HP3, local planning authorities must still ensure thatthey accommodate the overall housing quantities in Policy HP1 and those for the individualphasing periods within it. Making effective use of development land 7.32 Housing development in Kent has not always made the most efficient use of land.Higher density development is important in helping meet housing requirements whileminimising the demands placed on valued greenfield land. There are opportunities toincrease the density of residential development by redeveloping low intensity development orchanging the way parking is provided. This can create more interesting and variedtownscapes while conserving the best character of Kent’s towns. Higher densities can, andindeed should, be achieved without compromising wider design objectives or the quality ofdevelopment. 7.33 Achieving higher density can work with the grain of social trends and the nature ofhousing need. In the future there will be a continuing housing demand caused by the growthin one or two person households in the younger and older age groups. Providing smallerhomes can contribute to this and address imbalances in the character and size of theexisting housing stock. Densities applied to individual developments should take account ofsite location and accessibility. Higher densities will be appropriate in locations with good orpotentially good access to high quality public transport and/or which are close to a range ofservices and employment (e.g. in or near to town centres). Policy HP4: Housing: Quality and Density of Development In conjunction with the delivery of high quality design and to secure efficient use ofland, residential development should:


• avoid densities* below 30 dwellings per hectare• achieve densities* above 50 dwellings per hectare in central urban areas and in

locations with good public transport accessibility or in conjunction with publictransport oriented development

• otherwise, realise densities* of between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare.

Housing development should secure the efficient use of land including, whereappropriate, the redevelopment of low-density uses especially where located withinthe central parts of the major/principal urban areas.

*Densities apply to the net area of land for residential use excluding major distributor roads,primary schools, open spaces serving a wider area, significant landscape buffer strips andother uses.

Housing development in the countryside

7.34 New house building in the countryside, away from established settlements or areasallocated for development in Local Development Documents, should be strictly controlled.The fact that a single house on a particular site would be unobtrusive does not of itself makedevelopment acceptable. It could set a precedent and lead to a large number of suchdevelopments. Minor development within the defined confines of rural settlements should notbe detrimental to the character of the settlement. Minor development includes infilling whichcompletes an otherwise substantially developed built frontage within the confines of a village.

7.35 One of the few circumstances in which isolated residential development in thecountryside may be justified is when accommodation is required to enable farm or forestry orother essential rural workers to live at, or very close to, their work. When setting out ruralhousing policies, local planning authorities should apply the criteria set out in PPS7 (AnnexA). Re-use of existing buildings in the countryside should meet sustainable developmentobjectives. These should take account of location, the relationship with existing settlements,accessibility to services and the scale and nature of housing need in the locality (e.g. asidentified through a parish-based local needs assessment), as well as the role of existingbuildings in retaining rural employment opportunities. The contribution made to preservingbuildings of historic or architectural importance and their contribution to local character, asaddressed through Policies QL1 and QL8, must also be considered.

Policy HP5: Housing Development in the Countryside

Housing development outside the confines of the major/principal urban areas will notbe permitted unless it is:

(a) a site allocated for housing development in a Local Development Document; orotherwise consistent with Policy SS7; or

(b) minor development within the confines of a Rural Service Centre or smallerrural settlement; or

(c) a single dwelling for farm, forestry or other workers where a rural location at, orin the immediate vicinity of, a place of work is essential; or

(d) the rebuilding, conversion or modest extension of a dwelling currently inresidential use; or

(e) the conversion of a commercial, institutional, industrial or other rural buildingto meet an identified local need for housing which does not conflict with a needto retain local employment opportunities and is in a location that has goodaccessibility to a range of services in a nearby settlement.


Housing development must not be detrimental to the character of the countryside and,as appropriate, the character of rural settlement.

Housing type and need

7.36 Housing needs are diverse. New housing development has an important role in meetingneeds but must be considered in conjunction with the very substantial existing housing stock.The provisions within this Plan will add less than one per cent per year to the total housingstock of Kent. It is the combined effect of new development and turnover in existing housingthat meets the demand from both newly-formed households within Kent and those movinginto and within the area.

7.37 The majority of household growth (more than 70% 2001 - 2016)6 will consist of one-person households. The need to expand the stock of smaller accommodation should takeaccount of the size and characteristics of the existing housing stock. A range of factors,including purchasing power and lifestyle, influences the relationship between the size of thehousehold and the size of the dwelling it occupies. The anticipated growth in one-personhouseholds will vary in terms of age, economic resources and lifestyle requirements. It wouldbe incorrect to assume that all one-person households necessarily require smaller dwellings.

7.38 Local Development Documents should meet the housing requirements of the wholecommunity, including affordable homes, special needs housing (such as that designed forolder people and those with disabilities) and accommodation to meet the needs of thecounty’s existing and growing student population. They should make provision for widerhousing choice and a mix of dwelling sizes, types and locations. Creating large areas ofhousing of similar characteristics should be avoided, with an emphasis instead on sociallymixed, balanced and inclusive communities.

7.39 Residential development within, or close to, Kent’s strategic centres (see Chapter 6)has an important part to play in contributing both to housing choice and to the vitality andregeneration of such centres. Centrally located accommodation, close to a range of servicesand facilities, may prove particularly attractive to households with lower levels of personalmobility and those which require smaller homes, either because of cost or preference. Towncentres can provide opportunities for purpose-built sheltered accommodation for olderpeople. Accommodation in and around town centres, including the upper floors ofcommercial premises, also offers an important source of lower cost accommodation.

7.40 Local housing need and market assessments should be used to determine the type andsize of additional housing to be provided. The assessment should take account of thecomposition of existing and future households, the requirements for both subsidised andmarket housing and the character and condition of the existing stock. Given that the numberof people aged 85+ is expected to grow by almost one third over the next 20 years, and thatthere is a current shortage of extra care housing, the need for sheltered housing, includingextra care sheltered housing, should be assessed. This assessment should take into accountthe strategies of Kent and Medway Councils towards sheltered housing. District-basedassessments should be undertaken in a consistent manner across wider housing marketareas where there are significant cross-boundary movements between districts foremployment and/or housing purposes. Local Development Document policies and other site-specific guidance should set out clear guidance for house builders regarding the type ofhousing expected for the principal development sites.

6 KMSP Working Paper 1 (Revised) Trend and Strategy Based Population, Household and DwellingProjections July 2004 pp33-34.


Policy HP6: Range and Mix of Housing Provision

The provision made for housing in Local Plans/Local Development Documents andthrough development proposals should secure a mix of dwelling sizes and typeswhich will contribute towards meeting the identified needs of all sections of thecommunity. As appropriate this should include:

(a) sheltered housing(b) supported and lifetime housing(c) student accommodation allied to the needs of the higher and further education

sectors in Kent.

Affordable housing

7.41 The housing needs of everyone in the community should be recognised. With the rise inhouse prices in Kent continuing to exceed growth in average earnings, many households canno longer afford to buy or rent housing at market prices. This is particularly the case in highhousing cost areas, notably in the west of the county.

7.42 Not providing enough affordable housing also has adverse consequences for the localeconomy, new commercial development and public services (including those providedprivately such as in the social care sector). Recruiting and retaining ‘key workers’ is mademore difficult if they are unable to find anywhere suitable to live. Insufficient affordablehousing can also adversely affect the quality of life by requiring people to travel longdistances to work from lower-priced areas. RPG9a stresses the importance of increasing thesupply of affordable housing as an essential ingredient of regeneration.

7.43 The term ‘affordable housing’ encompasses a wide range of patterns of tenure andownership. For the purposes of this Plan it relates to housing that is subsidised to enable theprice or the rent to be substantially lower than market prices or rents in the area concernedand which is subject to mechanisms that will ensure that the housing remains affordable forthose who cannot afford market housing. It embraces:

• social rented housing provided by a landlord where access is on the basis of housingneed and rents are at or below the target rents set by government for housing associationand local authority rents

• intermediate housing including:- shared equity housing where both the occupier and a social landlord have an interest

in the property- other sub-market rented housing which is above target rents but is substantially

below open market levels;• key worker housing involving, for example, subsidy by employers or through specific

Government programmes.

Lower cost market housing, where the initial purchase price is below market value and wherethe element of subsidy can be retained on a permanent basis, may also fall within thedefinition of affordable housing.

7.44 In Kent there is a great need to foster both higher levels of investment in the existinghousing stock and to encourage a sense of participation in the well-being of localcommunities. To this end a ‘ladder of opportunity’ to share and participate in housing and thefuture of residential areas needs to be provided. Where potential occupiers cannot afford fullmarket housing (owned or rented) there is much to commend equity sharing and other formsof intermediate housing. Kent and Medway Councils, the Housing Corporation, district


housing authorities and the private sector will seek in particular to widen the opportunity forequity sharing in the county as a means of promoting a sense of community and socialindependence.

7.45 RPG9 (2001) sets a ‘provisional indicator’ of 18,000 to 19,000 affordable homes a yearfor the region. This indicative provision is not divided amongst structure planning areas. It isequivalent to almost half (48%) of the total annual housing requirements, and well in excessof recent provision. Government advice is that it is inappropriate for the Structure Plan toinclude detailed guidance and targets for the level of affordable housing provision inparticular localities as this depends upon detailed local assessments of need.

7.46 A strategic assessment of future affordable housing supply in Kent has been carried outto consider how applicable the RPG9 indicator is to Kent.7 This assessment focussed onneed expected to arise during the Plan period rather than on any outstanding ‘backlog’ ofneed. It concluded that household growth implied an indicative 1,600 to 1,800 net additionalaffordable dwellings per annum made up of homes for rent, shared ownership developmentsand other forms of low cost housing. This suggests that on the basis of household growthalone almost 30% of all new homes should be in the affordable sector. This assessmentdoes not provide district level indicators, for which individual need assessments will berequired, but it is nonetheless indicative of the overall scale of the requirement.

7.47 Local Development Documents should set out the balance to be struck betweenaffordable housing development and other housing provision and between the different formsof affordable housing. This should be carried out within the strategic housing provisionsestablished by this Plan and should draw upon districts’ own local needs assessments andhousing strategies. Provision for affordable housing involving net additions to the housingstock will contribute to meeting the quantities set out in Policy HP1. Local DevelopmentDocument policies should indicate how many affordable homes need to be providedthroughout the plan area, the site size thresholds appropriate for the negotiation of affordablehousing provision, given the needs and circumstances of the district, and set indicativetargets for specific sites. They should also indicate the nature of any variation in the site sizethresholds to be applied across a plan area. The requirement for sheltered affordablehousing, and the levels of associated care to be provided, should be identified jointly with theSocial Services authorities and taken into account when considering the make up ofaffordable housing sought for specific sites.

7.48 The negotiation of cross-subsidy arrangements between market price development andaffordable housing will depend on the circumstances of individual sites. This will include theirrelationship to the existing pattern of services and facilities, accessibility to public transportand local evidence of need. It will be important to ensure that both low-cost market homesand subsidised housing for rent remain permanently affordable, possibly throughpartnerships with registered social landlords and the use of legal agreements. Thecontribution made by sites to affordable housing provision should also take full account ofcontributions required to other infrastructure and services directly related to the developmentin accordance with Policies QL12 and IM1.

Policy HP7: Affordable Housing Provision

Provision of all affordable housing involving net additions to the housing stock willcontribute to meeting the housing quantities in Policy HP1.

7 KMSP Working Paper 8: Housing Provision : Affordable and Market Housing Need in Kent andMedway : Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research , University of Cambridge for Kentand Medway Councils 2001


Local Development Documents should:

(a) establish the proportion of strategic housing provisions identified in Policy HP1that should be met by affordable housing on the basis of district housing needsassessments

(b) identify the respective contributions planned for shared equity, key worker andother forms of intermediate housing

(c) indicate the site size thresholds that will apply to provision of affordablehousing and provide indicative targets for the level and composition of thecontribution required from specific sites.

7.49 Where sites are allocated for housing in Rural Service Centres or other ruralsettlements and there are identified local needs, affordable housing should normally besecured either through cross-subsidy or some other acceptable form of provision. Thepreparation of Local Development Documents should also consider support for theCountryside Agency’s ‘Sites for Social Diversity’ initiative directed at allocating sitesspecifically for the affordable housing needed in many rural areas.

7.50 In villages which do not have land allocated for residential development, local planningauthorities may consider evidence of local need as a material consideration in decidingwhether or not to release land for housing that would not otherwise be considered asacceptable for residential development. Schemes brought forward as exceptions to policiesof constraint will need to be justified by evidence that they will meet local needs. Mixeddevelopment of ‘exception’ sites, involving cross-subsidy with open market housing on thesame site, would not be appropriate because of the exceptional circumstances that justify therelease of such sites for housing. Housing permitted in accordance with Policy HP8 willcontribute to meeting the Policy HP1 provisions for the district, although such schemes are,by definition, likely to make only a modest contribution to overall supply.

Policy HP8: Affordable Housing on Rural Exception Sites

Local Development Documents should indicate those rural settlements at which theprovision of affordable housing would be acceptable on sites that have not beenallocated for housing but where such development would be justified to meet a provenlocal need.

Provision for gypsy and traveller accommodation

7.51 Regardless of their race or origin, gypsies and travellers are distinguished by theirnomadic way of life. For planning purposes this definition now extends to such people who,only because of their own or their family’s dependants’ educational or health needs or oldage, have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently8. Although they make up a tinyproportion of the population, local planning authorities must consider gypsies’ needs foraccommodation and provide for adequate sites in their development plans. In addition to thesettled population, parts of Kent are host to gypsy groups seeking temporary seasonal workor passing through the area. A variety of sites may be needed, including sites for settled,long-term use, temporary stopping places and transit sites. Government has revised policyand funding to facilitate the provision of temporary, transit and emergency stopping places totackle the problem of unauthorised traveller encampments. Consideration should be given tothe need to provide such facilities over a wide area to provide a network of opportunities.District authorities should assess the local need for gypsy sites (both permanent and transit),as part of their local needs housing assessment required under the Housing Act 2004, with

8 ODPM Circular 01/2006 : Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites


any specific land use requirements arising from this assessment reflected in their LocalDevelopment Documents.

7.52 Government guidance in Circular 1/2006 advises that new gypsy and traveller sites inthe Green Belt are normally inappropriate development and that in areas with nationallyrecognised designations such as AONB or SSSI, planning permission for such sites shouldonly be granted where it can be demonstrated that the objectives of the designation will notbe compromised by the development. Sites on the outskirts of built-up areas may beappropriate provided care is taken if they encroach on open countryside and environmentalprotection policies are not compromised. There are other criteria which need to be taken intoaccount in establishing gypsy sites such as access to schools, health care and othercommunity facilities, and the provision of mains services such as water and electricity.

HP9: Provision of Permanent and Transit Gypsy Accommodation

Where a need for permanent or transit gypsy accommodation is established, provisionshould be in accordance with the Structure Plan’s policies for protection of theenvironment, countryside and the Green Belt.

Sites should be provided within the major/principal urban areas or rural settlements.In the absence of such sites, locations with good accessibility to the major/principalurban areas or Rural Service Centres and with easy and safe access to primary andother main roads will be preferred.

Proposals should be located to avoid adverse impact on residential amenity, highwaycapacity and highway safety.


CHAPTER 8: QUALITY, CHOICE AND ACCESSIBILITY IN THETRANSPORT NETWORK

8.1 The Structure Plan’s vision for transport in Kent as reflected in Policy SP1 and the LocalTransport Plan is:

”To provide good and safe accessibility to jobs and services for all sections of the communityin Kent, and to improve the environment and health of the community by reducing congestionand pollution, widening the choice of transport available and by developing public transport,walking and cycling.”

The aim is that, as a result of this Plan and the Local Transport Plans for Kent and Medway,residents of Kent will enjoy greater independence with better access to opportunities and agreater choice in how they travel. Economic regeneration and growth will be supported bythe transport network and will not automatically result in increased congestion for all users.Fewer people will be injured and hurt when travelling, especially children and those frommore deprived areas. Delays and incidents will cause less disruption to people's journeysand travellers will be better informed and advised when they do occur. Residents will sufferfrom less road noise and pollution and progress will be made in reversing some of thedamage to the local environment caused by traffic.

8.2 Accessibility is particularly important in Kent as the county’s economy is not asprosperous as most of the South East. Twenty-two per cent of households in Kent (30% inMedway) do not have access to a car, making it difficult for some residents to reach jobs andkey services. Traffic levels continue to rise, in no small part because of Kent’s role as theUK’s gateway to Europe, and this is having a profound impact upon the county’s distinctiveand high quality environment. People are travelling greater distances to meet their dailyneeds, mainly because of the convenience of car travel. Continuing to rely to such a largeextent on car travel is unsustainable. It will lead to worsening congestion, damages theenvironment and ignores the problems faced by those without access to a car. If people areto be persuaded to change their travel behaviour and rely less on their cars, they need to beoffered more convenient and efficient public transport or other alternatives tailored to theirneeds. The challenges posed by two regional growth areas in Kent demand that asustainable approach should be adopted to transport in the future.

8.3 The transport strategy in this Plan seeks to provide choice in the transport network andreduce dependency on the private car, thereby improving accessibility for the wholecommunity and minimising adverse impact on the environment. It tackles the demand fortravel with an integrated approach and seeks to manage and maintain Kent’s road networkmore efficiently, thereby tackling problems of congestion and pollution. The Plan also seeksto deliver improvements that will meet the transport needs of the county’s growth andeconomic regeneration areas.

8.4 In terms of national policy there are three key agendas in the UK which are central to thetransport strategy in this Plan. These are:

• tackling social exclusion - fundamental to The Accessibility Strategy for Kent that isreflected in Policy TP1

• creating sustainable communities – reflected in Policies TP1 and TP3 and central tothe major and minor investment programmes required in the two regional growth areas ofKent Thames Gateway and Ashford

• improving public health – delivered by reducing the negative impacts of transport andby providing and encouraging healthier modes of travel.


8.5 The Plan takes account of, and helps deliver, the Government’s vision for transport setout in The Future of Transport: 2030, and The Transport Ten Year Plan 2000. The sharedpriorities for transport of reducing problems of congestion, pollution, road safety andaccessibility and improving public transport are also central to both this Plan and theCouncils’ Local Transport Plans. 8.6 The Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) [2004] and its subsequent development in theSouth East Plan focuses on a set of core principles – managing and investing in the network,the rural dimension, regional hubs and spokes, communication technology, mobilitymanagement, better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, road pricing and charging,gateways and freight. The RTS also contains policies and priorities for investment intransport. Specifically for Kent, it sets out to improve the transport infrastructure within, andto, the Thames Gateway to maximise regeneration potential, support economic regenerationin East Kent and support development at Ashford. The RTS also supports increasing the railfreight capacity by giving priority to the line between Dover, the Channel Tunnel andthrough/around London. The draft South East Plan includes support for an enhanced role forKent International Airport at Manston as an airport of regional significance. The South EastPlan also supports the provision of ‘land side’ infrastructure to maintain and enhance the roleof the ports of Dover and Ramsgate and the Medway Ports as well as the Channel Tunnel. Itidentifies transport hubs in Kent at Ashford, Canterbury, Ebbsfleet, Chatham, Maidstone, andTonbridge/Tunbridge Wells where Kent and Medway Councils will encourage increasedlevels of accessibility by sustainable transport modes and improve high quality interchangebetween modes. 8.7 The transport strategy set out in this chapter is consistent with the RTS and South EastPlan. It envisages a balance of investment in public transport and roads and demandmanagement policies and proposals to encourage accessibility in areas of need. TheStructure Plan takes forward regional policies on mobility management that includeenhanced travel planning, management of car parking, increased bus priority, improvedaccessibility to rail stations, improved pedestrian and cycling facilities, transport thatresponds to demand and the use of intelligent transport systems. 8.8 As the local transport authorities for the county, Kent and Medway Councils areresponsible for maintaining some 9,140 km of carriageway (8,340 kms within the KCC areaand 800 km within Medway) and 2,800 associated structures (2,700 in the KCC area and106 within Medway). Maintaining this asset, currently valued at about £6 billion, is animportant element of the transport strategy within this Plan. Making the best use of thenetwork is also a vital component in tackling the challenges arising from the steady growth intraffic in Kent. Cross channel traffic has also grown markedly since the opening of theChannel Tunnel. In 1993, 3 million cars and 1.1 million lorries crossed from Dover. In 2005,4.6 million cars and 3.4 million lorries crossed via Dover or the Tunnel. 8.9 A number of distinctive factors influence travel patterns in Kent. These include the highvolume of international traffic passing through the county, the large numbers of commuterswho travel to London by road and rail and the fact that Kent is made up of many mediumsized towns and rural villages with no dominant urban area. These characteristics make for asignificant amount of movement between and within the principal urban areas and thecountryside. While parts of Kent are generally well served by the rail, motorway and trunkroad networks, other parts are more remote. Key transport issues for Kent include: • Kent’s proximity to London and its role as the UK’s main gateway to Europe• Kent’s dispersed pattern of settlements


• managing the economic and social problems associated with congestion and the need toimprove journey reliability

• taking account of the environmental, social and health impacts of heavy traffic• managing and maintaining the existing transport network• improving public information to help people make more informed travel choices• ensuring that more remote areas have access to public transport• Kent’s limited facilities for cyclists and walkers• reducing dependence on the car, especially for journeys to, and within, urban areas• supporting the Plan’s development and regeneration strategy and responding to the

opportunities and impacts associated with new development.

The Structure Plan’s strategy for transport seeks to:

• facilitate national, regional and local inter-urban movements while minimising harm to theenvironment

• promote a pattern and form of development that reduces the need to travel• promote accessibility for all sectors of the community• address local and global environmental concerns• support strong local economic performance• address the broad transport needs of individual areas and the inter-relationship between

them• ensure that new housing, employment and other development is served by a choice of

transport options including public transport and walking and cycling routes• maintain and make efficient use of the existing transport network• provide travel choice and alternatives to the private car, including public transport,

walking and cycling• inform the public about the transport services available in and around Kent• promote Travel Plans for large developments• introduce and support measures to influence and manage demand for travel• reduce the impact of travel on communities and the wider environment• reduce the rate at which congestion is worsening and improve journey reliability• improve air quality, safety and personal security and reduce social exclusion related to

transport issues• secure improvements to the transport network• concentrate longer-distance traffic movements on the most suitable routes indicated in

the road hierarchies attached to the Structure Plan. Policy TP1: Integrated Transport Strategy The transport strategy of this Plan is designed to further the overall planning strategyfor Kent. Consequently, priorities for transport will include: • promotion of a pattern and form of development that reduces the need to travel

and is served by a choice of means of transport• co-ordination of an accessibility strategy to enable individuals and communities to

access employment, health care, education, leisure and food shops• maintenance, and making efficient use, of the existing transport network; and• provision of travel choice and alternatives to the private car, including public

transport, walking and cycling.


Transport improvements 8.10 A shift towards more sustainable transport patterns will only occur if overall accessibilityby sustainable transport modes is improved, particularly within urban areas. This meansmaking significant improvements to public transport, walking and cycling facilities. This willrequire investment over and above that associated with the incremental changes broughtforward as part of new development and will require effective partnership working betweenthe public and private sectors. Meeting future transport requirements will need targetedimprovements to Kent’s transport infrastructure and to the county’s public transport services.There will still need to be some road building to ensure the county can accommodate throughtraffic and movements between urban areas, although this need has to be justified andalternatives fully considered. The priority for transport improvements will be based on theoverall strategy of this Plan and will reflect the assessment criteria in Policy TP2. Thesecriteria will be used to inform future reviews of the Local Transport Plans for Kent andMedway and responses to schemes promoted by the Department of Transport. 8.11 The scale, distribution and location of the development identified in this Plan willgenerate demand for transport. These demands will be met in part through the programmedstrategic transport schemes (Policy TP4) but also through the schemes to be promotedthrough future Local Transport Plans (Policy TP8). For example, the success and characterof the previously used sites proposed for extensive redevelopment in Kent Thameside willdepend upon a sustainable transport system being in place to serve the area; this is beingprovided by the phased Fastrack service. Sustainable growth will not be possible at Ashfordwithout a mix of transport solutions to tackle existing problems, such as Junction 10/10a ofthe M20, and without the character of future travel demand being influenced through suchfacilities as the Smartlink bus priority scheme identified in Policy TP8. Policy TP2: Assessment Criteria for Transport Proposals Proposals for enhancing the transport network in Kent and Medway will be assessedaccording to their social, transport, economic and environmental effects with specificregard to: • the relationship to the overall strategy of this Plan• the contribution towards achieving a more sustainable pattern of development and

regeneration• the likely impact on the environment including areas of special environmental

quality• the likely effects on air quality and carbon dioxide emissions;• noise impacts• reducing dependence on the private car• the economic and operational benefits likely to be achieved relative to the cost of

the proposal• the contribution to the movement of passengers and freight by rail• the need to concentrate traffic on the most suitable routes• consideration of existing local road congestion• the impact on road casualty reductions• the need to maintain or improve town centre accessibility by sustainable means• the need to accommodate improvements for bus services, pedestrians and

cyclists; and• the ability to enhance the environment for local communities.


Transport and the location of development 8.12 The location of development has a major influence on the demand for transport andhow that demand will be met. This Plan highlights the need for land use and transportplanning to be well integrated. There is an emphasis on locating development where it willreduce dependency on the car and increase the potential use of public transport. 8.13 In preparing Local Development Documents and determining planning applications,local planning authorities will need to consider the location of proposed development, how itwould fit in with the existing transport network, how easy it would be for people to reachservices and what arrangements are being made for transport. Larger scale developmentsmay provide scope for major changes in the transport network and could support major newpublic transport infrastructure. Smaller developments can still make a contribution tosustainable transport, for example, by providing walking and footpath links. Developmentsthat are only accessible by car should be avoided. Travel Plans are an integral element ofsustainable development and are needed for major travel generators. SupplementaryPlanning Guidance (SPG4) supporting Policies TP3 and TP19 of the Structure Plan identifiesthresholds above which Travel Plans and Transport Assessments for individual land usecategories are required. Policy TP3: Transport and the Location of Development Local planning authorities should ensure that development sites are well served bypublic transport, walking and cycling, or will be made so as a result of thedevelopment. Travel Plans should be established for larger developments thatgenerate significant demand for travel to promote the use of these means of transport. Developments likely to generate a large number of trips should be located where thereis either a good choice of transport already available or where a good choice can beprovided in a manner acceptable to the local transport authority. Major Local Transport Plan schemes 8.14 The schemes listed in Policy TP4/Table TP4 cover the rail, motorway and trunk roadnetworks and local highway network schemes in the 2001 - 2006 and 2006 –11 Kent andMedway Local Transport Plans or in government programmes. These schemes will improvethe way Kent’s strategic transport network operates and will support economic development.The local authorities will use their influence to secure the early completion of these schemes. Policy TP4: Safeguarding of Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes The programmed major transport schemes listed in Table TP4 will be promoted andland required for their construction safeguarded. Table TP4: Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes SCHEMES (Likely)

StartDate

(Likely)FinishDate

LINKS TO OTHER PLANPOLICIES/PROPOSALS

RAIL (1) Upgraded Power Supply 2003 2005 SS1, TP9 Channel Tunnel Rail Link 1998 2007 SS1, DG1, ME1, SW1, CA1,

DO1, TH1, AS1, SH1, TP5,


TP9, TP21 East Kent Re-signalling Scheme 2008 2011 SS1, TP9 Thameslink 2000 providing directservices to Dartford/Sevenoaks/Ashford

2007 2012 SS1, DG1, TP9

TRUNK ROADS (2) A249 Iwade to Queenborough Including 2nd Swale Crossing

2004 2006 SS1, SW1, EP4, HP1, TP20,TP22, TP23

M20 Junction 10 Improvement 2006 2007 SS1, AS1, EP2, EP4 HP1, A2/A282 Dartford Improvement 2005/6 2007/8 SS1, DG1 A2 Bean-Cobham Phase 2 2005/6 2007/8 SS1, DG1, EP2, HP1 M20 New Junction 10a 2008/9 2010/11 SS1, AS1, EP2, EP4, HP1 M25 (Junctions 1b – 3) 2006/7 2008/9 SS1, DG1, TP2 M25 (Junctions 5 – 7) Post

2008 TP2

To alleviate congestion,safety and environmentalproblems

A21 Tonbridge Bypass to PemburyBypass Improvement

Post2008

TP2 To alleviate congestion,safety and environmentalproblems and to supportthe regional priority toassist the regeneration ofHastings

A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Post2008

TP2 To alleviate congestion,safety and environmentalproblems and to supportthe regional priority toassist the regeneration ofHastings

LOCALTRANSPORT PLAN SCHEMES (3) A256 East Kent Access Phase 1(Sandwich – Ebbsfleet Lane )

2003 2007 SS1, DO1, TH1, EP2, EP4,EP5, HP1

Fastrack Phase 1 (Dartford towncentre – Darenth Park - Bluewater -Greenhithe - A226 - Gravesend towncentre)

2004 2006 SS1, DG1, EP2, EP4, HP1,TP8, TP9

A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane 2003 2005 SS1, ME1, EP2, EP4, TP22 A228 Leybourne & West MallingCorridor Improvement (includingM20 Junction 4)

2005 2007 TM1, EP2, EP4, EP5, HP1,TP12

Sittingbourne Northern DistributorRoad (sections between RidhamAvenue and East Hall Farm)

2005/6 2009/10 SS1, SW1, EP2, EP4, HP1

(1) Schemes listed in Transport 2010. (2) Schemes in the Highways Agency’s Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI)(3) Schemes included in Local Transport Plans for Kent and Medway (2001/02 – 2005/6 and2006-11) and provisionally accepted by Government (subject to completion of statutoryprocedures).


Rail investment 8.15 The biggest change to the rail network in the South East region will be the completion ofthe Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) through Kent to St Pancras in London and theoperation of ‘domestic’ services from Kent stations from 2009. These are identified in TablesTP4 and TP5. This will increase the capacity for peak period passenger travel to London andreduce travel times, particularly from the new station at Ebbsfleet, from Ashford and from theEast Kent coastal towns. The benefits should not be offset by a significant reduction inservices on existing routes and from smaller stations serving local catchments. A decisionto use the CTRL for freight trains in off-peak periods would have the added advantage ofreducing road freight. Better rail services also depend on the availability of modern rollingstock and power supply, signalling and track improvements on the existing network. 8.16 Major development of the rail network beyond that which is currently programmed isneeded to encourage rail travel and reduce pressure on the road network. It will also avoidthe financial and environmental costs of expanding the road network more extensively. Anumber of schemes are identified in Policy TP5/Table TP5. Some are outside theadministrative boundaries of Kent and Medway but are crucial to making the best use of therail network in Kent. One of the major problems facing traffic from Kent and the rest ofEurope trying to reach the rest of the UK is the way London tends to ‘block’ rail traffic. Thisparticularly affects long distance rail freight. Rail services are primarily focussed uponcommuting into London, often at the expense of orbital services that would avoid the need totravel into the capital and back out again. Policy TP5: Support for Strategic Rail Schemes Kent County Council and Medway Council will press Government to implement the railschemes listed in Table TP5 within the Plan period. Table TP5: Strategic Rail Schemes SCHEMES LINKS TO OTHER

POLICIES/COMMENTS POSSIBLETIMING

SCHEMES IDENTIFIED IN MULTI MODAL STUDIES Increased railcapacity/capabilityaround/through London

SS1, DG1, TP7, TP9, TP20 To help overcome the barrier effect ofLondon for freight and passengers

Post 2016

South Coast Corridor railcapacity improvements(including Ashford – Hastings)

SS1, AS1, TP9 To improve the accessibility ofAshford from the South Coast

2011-2015

OTHER SCHEMES Domestic passenger servicesvia the CTRL from/to East andNorth Kent towns as far asThanet and Dover

SS1, DG1, ME1, SW1, CA1, DO1, TH1,AS1, SH1, TP4, TP9, TP21 To help areas in need of regenerationand to service the growth areas

From 2009

Thameslink 2000: extension ofservices to Gravesend andMaidstone

SS1, DG1, MA1, TP4, TP9 To extend services to Gravesend andEbbsfleet as a regional transport hub.Also to Maidstone to improveconnectivity of this regional transporthub to London

From 2012

Crossrail: extension of services SS1, DG1, ME1, TP9 From 2013


to Ebbsfleet and Medway To extend services to regionaltransport hubs of Ebbsfleet andChatham and to stimulate economicregeneration in the Thames Gateway.

Integration of Ebbsfleetmainline, Ebbsfleet North Kentline platforms, possibleCrossrail station and NorthfleetStation (1)

SS1, DG1, TP9 By 2009

Ashford –Thanet journey timeimprovements on existing line

SS1, AS1, TH1, TP9, To increase the attractiveness of railto serve the Ashford Growth Area andThanet regeneration priority area

Post 2016

North Kent Line (Dartford –Slade Green and RochesterBridge) rail capacityimprovements

SS1, DG1, ME1, TP9 To increase the number of railservices to/from the Thames GatewayGrowth area

Post 2016

Medway Valley Line - improvedjunctions at Strood and PaddockWood

SS1, TP9 To improve connectivity of railservices and link possible LowerThames Rail Crossing to the ChannelTunnel for rail freight services

Post 2016

Rail Access to Manston Airport(1)

SS1, TH1, TP9, TP24 To connect Manston Airport directlyto the rail network.

Post 2016

Dover Western Docks RailFreight Link (1)

SS1, DO1, TP13, TP20, TP22, TP23 To promote transfer of freight fromroad to rail and provide additional railconnection across the Channel tocompete with and complement theChannel Tunnel

2006 –2010

Sheerness Docks Rail FreightCapability Improvements (1)

SS1, SW1, TP13, TP20, TP22, TP23 To promote transfer of freight fromroad to rail

Post 2016

Thamesport – London RailFreight Capability Improvements(1)

SS1, ME1, TP13, TP20, TP22, TP23 To promote transfer of freight fromroad to rail

2011-2015

Holborough – rail connection toMedway Cement Works (1)

TP13 Post-2011

(1) Schemes funded in whole or in part by development Investment in major transport corridors 8.17 There is a need to tackle existing and potential points of congestion on the majortransport corridors (formed by the motorway and trunk road network) that are not the subjectof current proposals within the Highways Agency’s Targeted Programme of Improvementsnor of other potential transport solutions. Integrated transport studies will play a key part indeciding how best to deal with particular parts of the network, and there will be a need toconsider improvement to public transport, traffic management and local accessibility. Factorsto consider in determining the extent of the required improvements include the increase incongestion over time and the future funding made available to rail schemes, as this willreduce the pressure on roads. Policy TP6/Table TP6 identifies locations at which positiveaction for improvements is now required.


Policy TP6: Major Transport Corridors Kent County Council and Medway Council will press Government, the RegionalAssembly and, where appropriate, the Highways Agency to identify and implementintegrated transport solutions to the existing and predicted congestion problems onthe sections of the Motorway & Trunk Road network listed in Table TP6. Table TP6: Existing or Predicted Problems on the Motorway & Trunk Road NetworkRequiring Integrated Transport Solutions TRANSPORT CORRIDOR LINKS TO OTHER

POLICIES/COMMENTS POSSIBLESTART

SCHEMES INCLUDED IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY (2004) A2 Bean Interchange SS1, DG1, EP2, EP4, HP1, TP12

To provide access between themajor development sites in KentThameside and the A2

2008-2010

A2 Lydden – Dover SS1, DO1, TP20, TP22, TP23 To regenerate Dover and providereliable and safe access to the portvia the M2 corridor.

2011-2016

A21 Lamberhurst – Flimwell A21 Flimwell – Robertsbridge(Kent section)

TP2 To alleviate congestion, safety andenvironmental problems and tosupport the regional priority toassist the regeneration of Hastings

2011-2016

SCHEMES FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT (DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT JULY 2003) M25 Junction 5 ImprovementSevenoaks

TP2 To enable a direct link between theM26 and A21 trunk road and thusrelieve the settlements on the A25from through traffic

Post 2011

ROADS SUBJECT TO EXISTING CONGESTION (1) M20 Junctions 3 – 5

TP2, SS1, TP20 To alleviate significant congestionand safety problems on keyinternational gateway route.

Post 2011

A282 Dartford Crossing SS1, DG1, TP7, TP20 Solution could be provision of aLower Thames Crossing

Post 2016

ROADS SUBJECT TO HEAVY STRESS LEVELS IN 2010 (1) M20 Junctions 7 – 8

SS1, TP2, TP20 To alleviate significant congestionand safety problems on keyinternational gateway route.

Post 2016

M25 Junction 3-5 TP2 Post 2016 M20 Wrotham Hill TP2, TP20 Post 2016 ADDITIONAL TRANSPORT CORRIDORS POTENTIALLY UNDER PRESSURE IN THESUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN GROWTH AREAS OF KENT THAMES GATEWAYAND ASHFORD


A2 (M25 – M2) SS1, DG1 Future growth in the ThamesGateway could put this section ofthe improved A2 under pressure

Post 2016

M20 Junction 9 and Section 9 – 10 SS1, AS1, TP20 Future growth of Ashford could putthese parts of the M20 underpressure

Post 2016

OTHER NETWORK PROBLEMS M2/A2/A299 Brenley CornerJunction

SS1, TP2 To alleviate significant congestionand safety problems

Post 2011

M2 Junction 5, Stockbury SS1, SW1,TP2 To alleviate significant congestionand safety problems

Post 2011

A2 Canterbury Bypass Junctions SS1, CA1 To enable all movements at the threeinterchanges on the Bypassenabling redistribution of traffic inand around the city.

Post 2011

A20 Town Wall Street, Dover SS1, DO1, TP20, TP22 To regenerate Dover and providereliable and safe access to the port.

Post 2011

(1) Stress levels identified or forecast by Highways Agency Further Thames crossing 8.18 The concept of a new road and/or rail crossing of the River Thames east of Dartford hasbeen under consideration since a Highways Agency study in 1994. Such a proposition is anational and inter-regional issue. The Orbit and London-Ipswich multi-modal studiesrecommend that further investigative work should be undertaken, as does the RegionalTransport Strategy. This identifies strategic corridors within the South East that assist inregional and inter–regional movement, reduce the concentration of movement on the Londonarea and assist regeneration in sub-regional priority areas. One of these corridors linksmainland Europe (via Dover and the Channel Tunnel) to the east of London and into Essex. 8.19 A further crossing would have major economic, environmental and transportimplications for Kent. If a proposal were to be identified, Kent and Medway Councils wouldneed to appraise it fully in accordance with Policy TP2 of this Plan. Before this, Kent andMedway Councils wish to ensure that the need for, and location of, any further crossing ofthe Thames is investigated as a matter of urgency, taking full account of the keyconsiderations identified in Policy TP7. Policy TP7: Further Thames Crossing The strategic planning and transport authorities (Kent County Council and MedwayCouncil) will seek to ensure that Government investigates fully, and quickly, the needfor, and location of, a further multi-modal crossing of the River Thames forpassengers and freight, taking into account: • the transport, economic and regeneration benefits to Kent• the balance of beneficial and adverse impacts on Kent communities and the well

being of settlements including potential air quality and noise impacts


• the protection of the nationally and internationally important natural environmentto the east of Gravesend

• the ability to integrate a crossing with the existing road and rail network in Kentand the impacts associated with any consequential links with these networks.

In reaching a judgement as to whether there is a net benefit to Kent of a furthercrossing the strategic planning authorities will take into account the criteria of PolicyTP2. Local authority major transport schemes 8.20 A number of major transport schemes not currently in Local Transport Plans will need tobe carried out in order to improve traffic movement between towns, benefit the localenvironment or allow planned development sites to be brought forward. It is unlikely thatenough money will be available for all these schemes. Whether or not individual schemes goforward will depend on detailed feasibility studies, justification, environmental impacts andpotential financial contributions from developments. There may be circumstances whereschemes are identified in Local Development Documents as necessary to theimplementation of the strategic objectives of this Structure Plan or where master planningprovides for development and refinement of schemes in locations of major planned growth.Schemes listed in Table TP8 will need to be prioritised in accordance with the criteria set outin Policy TP2. Policy TP8: Future Strategic Transport Schemes The local planning authorities will safeguard land for the major transport schemeslisted in Table TP8, which may be promoted through the respective Local TransportPlans for Kent and Medway. These schemes will be subject to multi-modal schemeappraisal and will also be subject to Policy TP2. Table TP8: Other Strategic Transport Schemes to be Promoted Through LocalTransport Plans SCHEMES LINKS TO OTHER

POLICIES/COMMENTS EARLIESTPOSSIBLESTART

SCHEMES IN CURRENT LOCAL TRANSPORT PLANS A228 Colts Hill Strategic Link TP2

To complete improvements to A228Primary Route between A26 and A21and to relieve congestion and safetyproblems and to bypass severedcommunity

2008/9

East Kent Access Phase 2 SS1, DO1, TH1, HP1, EP2, EP4, EP5 To help regenerate Thanet and theSandwich Corridor

2008/9

A228 Ropers Lane to Grain

SS1, ME1, EP2, EP4, TP20, TP22 To complete improvements to A228between the A289 and Grain tofacilitate development at Grain andto improve road safety.

2008

SCHEMES IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN GROWTH AREAS OF KENT THAMESGATEWAY; ASHFORD # Kent Thameside: Fastrack Future SS1, DG1, EP2, EP4, HP1, TP9, TP3


Phases (including North Dartford,Stone, Eastern Quarry, NorthfleetRiverside, Ebbsfleet,Swanscombe Peninsula, ThamesWay)

To link new development in KentThameside to the Fastrack corenetwork provided by Phase 1,started in 2004

Phasing2005 to 2018

Kent Thameside: LondonRoad/St. Clements Way Junction

SS1, DG1, HP1, EP2 To facilitate development of EasternQuarry, Stone Castle, St ClementsWay and Swanscombe Peninsula

2009

Kent Thameside: Denton ReliefRoad

SS1, SS4, DG1, HP1 To help regenerate the Canal Basinin NE Gravesend

2008

Transport for Medway (IntegratedNetwork Development andprovision of substantial publictransport capacity)

SS1, ME1, EP2, EP4, HP1, TP9, TP3 To help regenerate the MedwayTowns

2008

Ashford: Smartlink bus priorityschemes

SS1, AS1, EP2, EP4, HP1, TP9, TP3 To facilitate development in andaround central Ashford and improvechoice of transport mode

2010

Ashford A28 Western Spine Road SS1, AS1, HP1, EP2 To facilitate development in andaround central Ashford

2010

Ashford: Major ring roadmodifications

SS1, AS1, EP2, HP1, To facilitate development in andaround central Ashford

2006

Ashford: Park and Ride sites SS1, AS1, EP4, HP1, TP3, TP9, TP10 To facilitate development in andaround central Ashford and improvechoice of transport mode

2007/08

Queenborough: Rushenden Linkto A249

SS1, SW1, HP1, EP2, EP4 To help regenerate Queenboroughand Rushenden

2006

Sittingbourne Northern ReliefRoad (between East Hall Farmand the A2)

SS1, SW1 2011 - 2016

OTHER SCHEMES #

A260 Hawkinge Bypass(completion)

SS1, SH1, HP1 To facilitate completion of thestrategic expansion of Hawkinge

2005

B2163/A274 Leeds/LangleyBypass

QL6, QL11 To provide high standard linkbetween M20/A20 and the south ofMaidstone and bypass sensitivevillages

2009/10

A227 (A25) Borough Green andPlatt Bypass

QL12 To reduce traffic in Borough Greenand St. Mary’s Platt on the A227 andA25

2007

A228 East Bank of theMedway/Snodland BypassDualling

TM1, HP1 To facilitate the proposeddevelopment of Peters Pit, on the

2011-2016


East Bank of the Medway forhousing and associated social andcommunity facilities

A228/A26 Kings Hill – Seven MileLane

TM1, HP1 To complete the improvement of theA228 Primary Route between theM20 and A26

2011 - 2016

A229 Maidstone: Upper StoneStreet Improvements and AllSaints Link Road

SS1, MA1, QL3, QL6, QL12 To improve traffic flows in the centreof Maidstone and to improve theenvironment and safety of thehistoric area around theArchbishop’s Palace and residentialareas south of the town centre

2011 - 2016

A26 Tonbridge: London Road –Hadlow Road Link

QL3, QL6, QL12 To improve traffic flows in Tonbridgeand relieve the historic High Streetand Bordyke areas.

2011 - 2016

Improved Links betweenHempstead and Walderslade

SS1, ME1, TP9 To improve public transport linkagebetween existing communities, withno increased highway capacity

2011-2016

# Schemes may be funded partially or fully by development Widening choice 8.21 Providing solely for the private car is no longer a sustainable long-term strategy,particularly in urban areas. The use of buses, rail, cycling and walking needs to beencouraged both to protect the environment and to offer greater accessibility for those whodo not have access to a car or who choose not to use one. Encouraging the use ofalternative modes of travel by managing the transport network, providing infrastructure,Travel Plans and partnership working with transport providers is also important. Public transport 8.22 People without access to a car depend on public transport to reach services that are notavailable locally. In urban areas, where journeys may be relatively short, good quality publictransport provides a more efficient and sustainable alternative to the private car for manytrips. In rural areas, however, public transport is usually less viable because the population ismore dispersed. 8.23 Buses can make travel by public transport accessible to a wider range of people andprovide the principal means of public transport across Kent. Although many bus services areoperated commercially, without the need for public subsidy, others need to be supported,particularly in rural areas, at evenings, on Sundays or when new routes are launched.Ensuring bus routes can serve larger developments will be crucial if their usage is to besupported. Smaller scale developments will also need good accessibility to the publictransport network. 8.24 There are more than 100 rail stations in Kent. While many of them are well used, others,particularly in rural areas, are not. Some rail routes are relatively slow while others arecongested. Better use could be made of the rail network by improving services, rolling stock,stations, access, car parks and other facilities. Improved signalling and maintenance would


also provide a more reliable and safer service. Physical and cost limitations mean that it isnot possible to provide rail access to all parts of the county, but Kent and Medway Councilswill continue to work together with the rail industry to make improvements wherever possible. 8.25 Public transport networks will need to be improved in response to new patterns ofdevelopment and to changes in travel behaviour. New bus interchanges or services shouldbe considered where a development is likely to generate sufficient demand. New railwaystations and services should be considered where they would provide greater opportunitiesto use public transport or improve links with other forms of transport. Policy TP9: Supporting Public Transport Public transport will be promoted by providing through partnership: • better interchange facilities between public transport and other transport modes,

including better car parking• better integration between bus and rail services, including through ticketing• the provision of improved and integrated public transport information• improved facilities for passengers, especially access for the mobility impaired• continued financial support for non-commercial but socially necessary bus

services• procuring Government grant for urban and rural services• greater use of bus priority measures• encouraging the improvement of the rail network and services using Government

funding streams and developer contributions• the development of quality partnerships, such as those already in Maidstone and

Thanet, and in other areas such as Canterbury. Table TP9 The following specific schemes to improve public transport services are envisaged: • refurbishment of Greenhithe Station including public transport interchange• redevelopment of Maidstone East station and interchange improvements, including

pedestrian links to Maidstone Barracks Station (1)• reconstruction of Strood station and interchange improvements (1)• enhanced bus/rail interchange at Gillingham, Tonbridge and Gravesend• A20 corridor: Medway Gap: bus priority measures (1)• improved rail interchange facilities at Ashford Station and in south Ashford• consolidated bus hub in central Ashford• access, parking and interchange improvements: West Malling Station (1)• Kent International (Manston) Airport: Parkway Station• rail service and infrastructure improvements on the Medway Valley Line• enhanced pedestrian facilities for Chatham station• enhanced access arrangements to Rochester station (1)• integration and improvement at Dover Priory Station. (1) Scheme to be funded wholly or partially by development Park and Ride 8.26 Park and Ride facilities help to reduce congestion in town centres and in other locations.Facilities can be appropriately located on the edge of towns, either adjacent to a rail station


or on the primary and secondary road network. It is important that Park and Ride facilities aresited so that they intercept existing or potential car journeys rather than generating additionalcar trips. Park and Ride should be provided as part of an overall transport strategy for anarea. This is particularly important when serving town centres, where the relationshipbetween parking fees and fares will strongly influence the use of Park and Ride. Bus prioritymeasures need to be provided to ensure that the benefits of bus travel for passengers aremaximised. Park and Ride facilities can fulfil a number of different functions, for example as: • a collection/delivery point for goods bought in town centres• an interchange for school transport• an interchange for rural bus services• a service for town centre workers. 8.27 Rail-based park and ride facilities in the form of ‘parkway’ stations may also beconsidered in connection with longer rail journeys. Enough parking will need to be providedaround the stations to avoid any inappropriate parking in nearby roads. Although theseschemes may cause an increase in local car journeys there are potential benefits in terms of: • reducing long distance car journeys• reducing congestion on routes to major town centre stations• improving the interchange between bus and rail services. Policy TP10: Supporting Park and Ride Bus and rail based Park and Ride facilities to serve both town centres and majortraffic generators will be supported where they form part of an overall transportstrategy for an area, including reduced parking in town centres, increased parkingcharges and bus priority measures linking the facilities to the town centre. Whereappropriate contributions towards the provision of such facilities will be sought fromdevelopers. Walking and cycling 8.28 On average, 25% of journeys in Great Britain are less than a mile long. Walking andcycling are healthy activities that are becoming increasingly popular not just as leisureactivities but also for day-to-day journeys. They can help reduce dependency on the car,particularly for short journeys but also for longer ones when integrated with public transport. 8.29 Life can be made safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists by keepingthem away from other road users, by introducing traffic calming and by improved crossingfacilities. Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained and improved throughLocal Transport Plans and by developing local transport strategies. The use of such facilitieswill be promoted through Travel Plans. 8.30 Proposals for new development can encourage people to walk and cycle by beingdesigned around good facilities for both means of transport. The aim should be to providepermeable, convenient and safe environments that will encourage walking and cyclingfacilities to be used. New developments should also complement or enhance existingpedestrian and cycle route networks locally and include at least the minimum standard ofcycle parking provision specified in Supplementary Planning Guidance 4.


Policy TP11: Facilities for Pedestrians and Cyclists Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists will be provided and their use promoted. Localauthorities should ensure that these are included in the design of all transportprojects and other developments. Land should be safeguarded to provide safe anddirect pedestrian and cycle routes where necessary. Development and access to primary and secondary routes 8.31 Where development is justified but is expected to generate significant car and goodsvehicle movements, it should have good links to the major transport networks to avoid long-distance movements on inappropriate routes. It is also important for safety reasons that newdevelopment avoids a proliferation of new access points onto primary and secondary routes(see maps TP1-TP3). Government policy is not to allow new accesses on to motorways orhigh quality trunk dual-carriageway roads. Policy TP12: Development and Access to the Primary/Secondary Road Network Development will not be permitted which involves either the construction of a newaccess onto the local transport authorities’ primary or secondary road network or theincreased use of an existing access, where a significantly increased risk of crashes ortraffic delays would result, unless appropriate measures to mitigate the effect ofdevelopment have been secured. No new accesses onto the Highways Agency’smotorway or high quality dual carriageway trunk road network will be permitted. Before proposals for development are permitted, the local planning authority will needto be satisfied that any necessary transport infrastructure, the need for which ariseswholly or substantially from the development, are in place or certain to be provided. 8.32 In deciding the most appropriate location for a development, it is important to have aclear understanding of the likely demand for travel that it will generate, along with anunderstanding of existing traffic flows and the choice of transport proposed to meet theadditional demand. The local authorities will expect a Transport Assessment to be carried outfor any proposed development large enough to have implications for local transportstrategies. A Travel Plan will also be required. The level of detail will depend on the scale ofthe development, but in general the Transport Assessment will need to show: • the demand for transport movements associated with the development• any investment required for sustainable forms of transport to meet the predicted travel

demand• the amount of parking to be provided• any highway improvements needed before the development can proceed. Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG4) provides further guidance on the circumstancesin which Transport Assessments and Travel Plans will be required. Distribution Rail freight 8.33 As much goods traffic as possible should be transferred to rail because it is moreenvironmentally sustainable and energy efficient than road transport. This is especiallyrelevant to the use of the Channel Tunnel for rail freight. It is unlikely that Kent’s road


network could be improved sufficiently to handle the growth in transport movementsexpected during the Plan period. This makes rail vitally important in moving goods. 8.34 Transfer of freight from road to rail will be encouraged through schemes that provideadditional rail freight capacity, improve road/rail interchanges and directly serve majordevelopment sites, unless there are overriding planning or environmental constraints. Betterrail freight access to ports in Kent would reduce the amount of freight moved by road. This isdealt with more fully under Policies TP20-23. The priorities for major investment in railinfrastructure in Kent are identified under Policies TP4/TP5. 8.35 The rail freight network in Kent has a number of routes which currently attract little or nofreight movements. Increased use of these routes will be encouraged. Completion of theChannel Tunnel Rail Link will remove Eurostar trains and some domestic services from theexisting rail network, making more slots available for freight. Policy TP13: Rail Freight and Handling Facilities Development which will encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail, includingthe development of freight handling facilities, will be permitted unless there isoverriding conflict with other planning and environmental considerations. Ifnecessary, conditions will be imposed on planning permissions in order to maximisethe amount of non-road borne freight movements. 8.36 Land adjacent to railway stations, former goods yards, railheads and marshalling yardsmay come under pressure to be used in other ways once it is no longer required for railwayuse. Such sites, though, may have an important role in broader transport terms, for example: • enabling better integration between rail and other modes of transport, such as by

providing bus stops/shelters, car parking, taxi ranks, or cycle parking• for development that could benefit from direct access to the rail network• to improve adjacent rail stations• to provide new passing loops• for new stations. 8.37 It is therefore important that this land is retained for a future transport use where atransport need has been identified. Any proposal for temporary use would need todemonstrate that it did not jeopardise the potential for future transport use. Where there isno prospect of land being used for transport purposes, though, alternative development maybe encouraged that achieves other Plan objectives such as urban regeneration and/orbrownfield development. Policy TP14: Safeguarding of Railway Land for Transport Purposes Land used formerly for the railways will be safeguarded from development whichwould preclude its future use to meet an identified transport need. Road freight 8.38 While rail has the potential to take some international freight away from the county'sroads, road haulage will continue to be predominant as it tends to be a more flexible andeconomic method of moving freight. An efficient road freight industry is essential for the UK’seconomy and competitiveness, to meet day to day needs and to service the workplace. TheFreight Transport Association (FTA) has developed its Delivering the Goods initiative topromote environmentally sensitive, economic and efficient deliveries of goods in towns andcities. Kent County Council and Medway Council support the work of the FTA and seek to


reduce the impact of lorries in sensitive urban and rural areas. This includes attempting toprevent ‘rat running’. Policy TP15: Development Traffic & Heavy Goods Vehicles Development which generates significant increases in traffic, especially heavy goodsvehicles, will not be permitted if it is not well related to the primary and secondaryroad network, or if it would result in a significant increased risk of crashes or trafficdelays unless appropriate measures to mitigate the effect of the development havebeen secured. Kent County Council and Medway Council will: • identify and signpost lorry routes so as to direct heavy goods vehicles away from

rural and residential areas;• work with others to achieve distribution of goods by sustainable means in the

urban areas in Kent. 8.39 Local transport strategies aim to provide a co-ordinated approach to transport planning.They should deliver a balanced and efficient transport system that offers a wider choice oftransport and meets future needs while avoiding unacceptable damage to the environment.The local transport authorities, in partnership with district councils, transport providers andlocal businesses, will develop these strategies in consultation with the local community. 8.40 The aims of the local transport strategies will be to: • address the transport needs of both rural and urban areas• ensure that major developments are served by a choice of transport• minimise the need to travel and encourage alternatives to the private car• require Transport Assessments and Travel Plans to be submitted for major workplace,

education, health care, leisure and other community developments• improve bus facilities and services by introducing, for example, bus priority measures,

interchanges and quality bus partnerships• encourage improvements in the capacity, use and quality of the rail network, including the

provision of new stations• provide Park and Ride facilities• provide for pedestrians, cyclists, those with impaired mobility, powered two wheelers and

taxis• manage parking controls effectively• manage traffic speed by measures which include traffic calming, ‘home’ and 20mph

zones and the Quiet Lanes concept• improve the local highway network• make efficient use of the local highway network through traffic management, signing,

width and weight restrictions and the use of high occupancy lanes• establish freight quality partnerships to improve the efficiency and sustainability of goods

deliveries• introduce measures to tackle congestion• reverse the deterioration of air quality caused by road traffic, especially in declared Air

Quality Action Plan areas• consult on elements within the strategy and market and promote the schemes introduced.


Policy TP16: Local Transport Strategies

Local transport strategies for urban and rural areas will be promoted in accordancewith the transport policies of this Plan and the Local Transport Plans for Kent andMedway. The prioritisation of investment in urban areas will have regard to theregional hubs and interchanges identified in the Regional Transport Strategy.

Minor roads

8.41 The existing and planned networks of motorways and trunk roads, other primary routesand secondary routes are shown in maps TP1 to TP3. The majority of through traffic will beguided onto these routes. All other roads are defined as “minor roads” and are not includedwithin the Inter Urban Route Hierarchy (Map TP1). Traffic movement should be kept to aminimum outside the main transport corridors and traffic management measures will be usedto guide traffic onto the most appropriate routes. Improving and maintaining the maintransport corridors to a high standard should reduce the need for traffic to use minor roadsexcept for access and leisure purposes.

8.42 It is important to ensure that the use of minor roads through, and between, settlementsis safe and compatible with the local environment. Improving minor roads by widening andstraightening them would encourage non-essential traffic to use them and result in fastervehicle speeds and worsening road safety, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians. Suchimprovements can also harm landscape and conservation interests. Traffic managementmeasures, on the other hand, can improve the quality of the environment if they are designedsympathetically.

Policy TP17: Traffic and Management of Minor Roads

Through traffic, particularly goods vehicles, will be discouraged from travelling onminor roads by the use of traffic management measures, regulatory measures, thecontrol of development and freight quality partnerships.

Minor roads will not be widened or realigned unless overriding safety considerationsrequire it and no alternative method to resolve the safety problems is deemedpracticable.

Roadside services

8.43 Suitable facilities should be provided to allow lorry and car drivers and their passengersto rest and take refreshments where a need is demonstrated. Such facilities enable drivers tobreak their journeys and reduce the risk of accidents. They are best located along themotorways, trunk roads and primary routes which cater for longer distance traffic. They helpto deter through traffic from diverting onto local routes in search of facilities. In view of theirpotential impact on the environment, facilities should be limited to a scale which is necessaryto meet the needs of drivers and passengers; more extensive commercial ventures in theopen countryside should be avoided. Justification for such schemes will depend on a numberof factors, including whether or not there are existing facilities along the route and whether ornot there is scope to upgrade existing facilities rather than develop greenfield sites.

8.44 There is currently a significant shortage of overnight lorry parking facilities in the county.This pressure is likely to increase with the growth in cross-channel trade, development inKent and the effect of the European Union Working Time Directive in limiting drivers’ hours.New lorry parking facilities should be provided to meet this demand and to enableinternational lorry traffic to be taken off the M20 when there is major disruption to ferry and/or


Channel Tunnel shuttle services, instead of using the motorway as a parking area (OperationStack). This will reduce inappropriate lorry parking in Kent and provide international driversand their freight with security and services.

Policy TP18: Roadside Services

New facilities and services for road users and development of existing facilities will bepermitted on the motorway, trunk road and primary route network where a need isestablished and where there is no overriding conflict with other planning andenvironmental considerations.

Parking

8.45 The strategy within this Plan is to reduce the need for people to travel by car. Thisshould, in turn, reduce the need for on-site parking. The availability or otherwise of parkingspace at either end of a journey has a significant influence on choice of transport. Managingthe supply of parking can encourage people to choose alternative means of transport, butthose alternatives must be available. Reducing the amount of parking available withoutproviding people with an alternative can result in inappropriate parking in nearby roads andmay adversely affect local businesses.

8.46 Both Kent County Council and Medway Council have adopted maximum standards forparking which cover different categories of land use. The county council’s standards arecontained in Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG4) to Policy TP19 of this Plan. Thisguidance will be regularly reviewed to take account of any changes in circumstances orchanges to national and regional guidance. The scope for adopting more stringent standardsfor specific areas should be considered and, where agreed with the local transport authority,brought forward and tested through the preparation of Local Development Documents. Localstandards for individual town centres that consider both transport implications and towncentre viability may be agreed with district authorities. In some cases it may be appropriatefor car parking to be provided away from the site as part of publicly-provided parking spaceor in conjunction with a Park and Ride scheme (see Policy TP10).

Policy TP19: Vehicle Parking Standards

Development proposals should comply with the respective vehicle parking policiesand maximum standards adopted by Kent County Council and Medway Council.Where agreed with the local transport authority, more stringent standards may beapplied in Local Development Documents.

Kent’s ports

8.47 The Channel ports, deep-sea ports and Channel Tunnel perform a vital gatewayfunction to allow the movement of goods and people into and out of the country. As well asthese main facilities, small wharves and ports around the Kent coast also create employmentand provide valuable functions, from the import and export of raw materials to commercialfishing and marine leisure. The continuing prosperity of Kent’s ports is important not justnationally and regionally but to individual towns and to the county as a whole.

Employment in Kent’s ports

• About 9,000 direct jobs in cross channel ports and the Channel Tunnel• A further 3 to 4,000 jobs supported by the three Medway ports of Thamesport, Sheerness

and Chatham


• Twelve operating ports and wharves on the Thames in Kent that are part of the Port ofLondon and support some 3,000 people

• Many others employed in supplier businesses or supported by the spending of theindustry’s workforce and travellers using the ports:

- Dover alone could support more than 12,000 such jobs - Indirect employment is more widely dispersed in the county but with concentrations at the ports. 8.48 Some ports have the opportunity to expand but others are constrained by being close toa built-up area or, in some cases, areas of environmental or landscape importance. Whilegood quality access to the primary road and rail networks is critical to the future success ofKent’s ports and their development, port traffic places substantial pressure on the county’stransport system. The rapid growth in international traffic has increased the amount ofcongestion on Kent’s trunk and primary roads and has had impacts on the environmentthroughout the county. If activity at the ports is to be promoted it must be done in a way thatdoes not harm the economic, social and environmental fabric of the county. 8.49 The Structure Plan strategy toward the ports includes the following elements: • qualified support for the expansion of international traffic, where it is supported by

improvements in the road and rail network (within and beyond Kent) which are able toreduce congestion and encourage more traffic movements by rail

• support for the development of short sea shipping services as an alternative to landtransport and greater use of the Thames and the Medway for moving freight andmaterials

• accommodating international traffic through Kent within the major international arteries(A2/M2, A20/M20, the CTRL and existing rail routes)

• supporting the parallel cross-channel options provided by the Channel Tunnel and theports in order to allow choice, competition, safety, flexibility, job opportunities and aspreading of the pressure on the transport network

• recognition of how important Kent ’s major deep sea ports are and support for the rightstandard of road and rail access to serve them

• support for proposals for port expansion to be assessed against criteria that includeeconomic, social and environmental impacts and the need to encourage freight traffic tomove from road to rail

• supporting redevelopment for other uses at ports and smaller wharves where portoperations are no longer viable or where transport access is inadequate

• support for proposals to produce energy from renewable sources such as wind power aslong as these do not harm the environment or conflict with port functions (see PolicyNR3);

• a determination that if the need for a second fixed Cross Channel link is demonstrated,any proposal should encourage a substantial switch of traffic from road to rail and notjeopardise a choice of cross Channel modes, as well as meeting environmental criteriaand minimising the impact on the county’s roads.

The major ports 8.50 The major ports are: • Dover, the UK’s principal ferry port, with substantial freight, car, coach and cruise

activities. It could expand within the confines of the existing harbour, with the greatestpotential lying within the Western Docks. A rail link needs to be reinstated into theWestern Docks. There is a need to improve access to the Eastern Docks by upgradingthe A2 (Lydden-Dover section) to dual carriageway standard, and a need to improve


traffic management on the A20 Townwall Street in Dover. Dover Harbour Board has putforward proposals for phased development within the harbour and for inland processingof freight vehicles to reduce congestion within the town. These proposals will beassessed against the policies in this Plan.

• The Channel Tunnel, which carries significant amounts of cars and road freight on its

vehicle shuttles. Eurostar rail passenger services and international rail freight also usethe tunnel, although the amount of rail freight carried is disappointing. The tunnel still hasconsiderable potential to encourage a transfer of freight from road to rail. Completion ofthe CTRL will encourage this, but the rail share of traffic would be helped by increasedrail capacity around London and better service quality for freight.

• Thamesport, the fourth largest deep-water container port in the country. It has the

opportunity for further landward expansion and port development, subject to theprotection of nature conservation interests. Further development at the port depends onimproved road links via the A228 and increased rail link capacity.

• Sheerness, the largest UK port for fresh produce and important for a number of bulk

commodities. Sheerness is a deep-water port with opportunities to intensify port-relatedactivity within its existing boundaries and, possibly, for port-related uses on nearbyindustrial land. There are, however, important nature conservation areas adjacent to theport. Although the second Swale crossing has significantly improved road access toSheppey, improved rail access is needed to allow the amount of rail freight to beincreased.

• Port Ramsgate. The existing ferry port has the capacity for further traffic growth and at

present provides only freight services to Ostend. Port Ramsgate now has a direct roadaccess, and traffic flows to and from the port increased to around 164,000 lorries during2005. There is scope for the port to reintroduce passenger ferry services, possibly linkingservices with the potential of Kent International (Manston) Airport nearby.

• Chatham, which has scope for new development within its existing site. • Folkestone, a small harbour which currently has no cross-Channel passenger or freight

services operating from it. There are proposals to redevelop the port area with mixed-useresidential and leisure development.

• Port of London (PLA). Thames Europort at Dartford is the largest of the 12 operating

ports and wharves in North Kent and Medway which are part of the Port of London.These ports and wharves handle some 7.5m tonnes of cargo per annum. Roll-on/roll-offfreight services currently sail from Thames Europort to Zeebrugge and Vlissingen.Although there have been a number of operators from the port since it opened, it hasgood access and the Port of London Authority considers that the site should remain inport use.

8.51 Under the terms of its franchise, Eurotunnel submitted a feasibility study for a secondcross Channel fixed link at the end of 1999. There is thought to be no current intention toproceed with the preferred option. It is unlikely that proposals will be brought forward before2010 at the earliest as there is still spare capacity in the existing link, but the long time scaleneeded to design and construct a new fixed link could mean proposals being brought forwardwithin the timescale of this Structure Plan. Policy TP21 provides for improvements to railaccess to the existing tunnel and sets criteria to be met by any future proposal for a secondlink.


Policy TP20: Gateway Function of the Ports The role of the following ports as deep water and/or gateways to Europe will beprotected and enhanced:• Dover• Channel Tunnel• Medway Ports, including Sheerness and Thamesport• Ramsgate. At the ‘core’ ports of Dover, Sheerness, Thamesport and Ramsgate, the priority will beto safeguard the port function. Proposals for development which will enable the growth of trade at Kent and Medwayports and wharves will be supported provided that:• any measures required by the development to improve local access by road and

rail are brought forward as part of the proposals• the proposals maximise the potential for passenger and freight traffic to be

accommodated by rail• the proposals achieve a high standard of design; and• there are no overriding adverse economic, social and environmental impacts. Deep water frontage in the Thames Estuary will be safeguarded for port or port relateduses where good surface access by road, and preferably by rail, exists or can bereadily provided. Elsewhere proposals which will assist the diversification of trade,port operations or land uses will normally be supported. Policy TP21: Channel Tunnel Capacity and Second Fixed Link Improvements to the capacity of the Channel Tunnel and to the loading gauge andcapacity of the Channel Tunnel rail routes will be supported. In the event of a second fixed cross-Channel link being proposed, the local planningauthorities will consider the economic, transport, social and environmental impacts ofsuch a proposal. A proposal that substantially increases congestion on the county’sroad network will not be supported. Policy TP22: Kent Ports • Development of the Port of Dover will be supported to enable growth of freight and

passenger traffic. Any such development, outside of the existing harbour walls,will be subject to the reinstatement of the rail link to the Western Docks to enable asignificant proportion of freight to reach the port by rail. Improvements to theloading gauge between Dover Docks and Folkestone will be supported

• At Thamesport further expansion of the port will be encouraged within existingport confines and through inland expansion at Grain subject to improvements tothe capacity of the rail access to the port and improvements to the A228

• At the Port of Sheerness expansion should involve intensification of port usewithin existing port confines or expansion onto nearby land designated forcommercial use. Development that further expands the port will be subject to theavailability of, and opportunity for, improved transhipment and rail access and thecompletion of the A249 Second Swale Crossing scheme


• At the Port of Ramsgate proposals should assist the growth of port trade and notcompromise its role as a major gateway port. However within the area of the RoyalHarbour, diversification will be supported subject to the overriding need to protectthe historic character of the area

• At the Port of Folkestone, mixed use development which will assist in theregeneration of central Folkestone will be supported. This could include leisureand business uses as well as some retention of port and fishing activities; and

• On the Thames and Medway in North Kent, key deep-water wharves will beretained and a programme of investment in modern facilities, rail access and goodhighway linkages will be pursued. A programme of rationalisation andrestructuring of the wharves will be carried forward as part of the Thames Gatewayinitiative.

Major distribution and transhipment centres 8.52 Kent is a favoured location for distribution companies handling international goods andserving the important London market. Handling such freight efficiently is important to theeconomy as whole. The Ports White Paper and Regional Transport Strategy together providecriteria for developing major freight distribution and transhipment uses. This includes makingthe best use of existing infrastructure, encouraging the movement of freight by rail anddeveloping inter-modal interchange facilities. 8.53 The 1996 Kent Structure Plan supported the development of major distribution andtranshipment facilities at five locations. Each of these sites meets the criteria set out innational and regional policy, but only Dover has proceeded. Support is maintained for theselocations as follows: • Sheerness (Isle of Sheppey) and• North of Sittingbourne, on land with rail connections on which distribution uses linked to

the wharves and ports could be developed• Grain (Thamesport), where there is ample land with rail connection for distribution uses

linked to the container port• Dover, on inland sites where development to serve the port is proceeding• Manston, where land adjacent to the airport could be used for storage and transhipment

serving air and sea transport.

8.54 There is concern that an inland inter-modal freight interchange serving cross-Channeltraffic but located relatively near to the tunnel portal in Kent could fail to encourage freight toswitch from road to rail because of its planned location. It could also reduce the viability ofcross-Channel rail freight. Although rail freight is currently at a severe disadvantage becausetrain loads have to be assembled at Willesden in North London, new interchanges designedto alter this situation need to be well located in oreder to prevent increased traffic oninappropriate roads. The South East Plan proposes a small number of such facilities in theregion, and if well located they could help increase the volume of freight carried by rail – anobjective that this Plan supports, but their location outside urban areas may conflict withstrategic policies to protect the countryside and adversely impact on the highway network.Proposals in Kent will be weighed against their environmental and transport impacts togetherwith the need for the development and its viability. There will need to be firm evidence thatthe rail facilities at such sites will be used.


Policy TP23: Major Distribution and Transhipment Centres

Proposals which encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail, between road andair or between road and sea or river, which are designed and landscaped to a highstandard, will be supported. This will include the following locations:

• on the Isle of Sheppey (Sheerness) subject to the completion of the A249 secondSwale crossing

• north of Sittingbourne (Ridham and Kemsley area)• serving Thamesport on the Isle of Grain, subject to improvements to the A228 and

rail access• at Dover on allocated employment land to provide inland freight facilities for the

port• at Dover through extension of the Dover Western Docks to provide a road-rail

freight interchange, subject to economic and environmental considerations• at Kent International (Manston) Airport subject to Policy TP24. The provision of an inland inter modal interchange to serve the Channel Tunnel, or amajor new distribution and transhipment centre elsewhere in Kent, will be permittedonly where: • the site is easily accessible to the trunk road system and served by rail sidings

and/or water• strong evidence is provided that the proposal is necessary and viable, and will not

have any significant adverse impact on the local highway network• there are no significant adverse effects on the local economy, countryside

character or the environment, including the Kent Downs Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty.

The long-term use of the rail facility, as an integral part of the operation of the site,should be secured. Kent’s airports and airfields 8.55 There are 13 airfields/airports in Kent; 4 airports licensed by the Civil Aviation Authorityat Rochester, Manston, Lydd and Headcorn and 9 unlicensed, mainly private or farmairstrips. Unlicensed strips cannot accept public transport, training flights or aircraft flighttesting. Manston and Lydd are respectively the subject of Policies TP24 and TP25. The otherlicensed airports and the unlicensed airstrips are the subject of Policy TP26. 8.56 The past 50 years has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of air travel for businessand leisure. Good air links are important to businesses, providing access to new markets andattracting investment. Many of the UK’s major airports are reaching their capacity and theGovernment White Paper on airports policy sets out how growth is to be accommodated overthe next 30 years, including the scale and pattern of additional airport capacity needed in theSouth East. The White Paper notes that small airports have an important part to play in thefuture provision of airport capacity in the South East. While there are social and economicbenefits associated with expanding air services and regional airports can promoteregeneration, there is a need to safeguard environmental and community interests. While thisPlan supports expansion of aviation at Kent International (Manston) and Lydd, there aresignificant differences between them. Proposals for their expansion will be assessed againsta comprehensive range of criteria that will address environmental, transport and communityimpacts and their accessibility by a choice of transport modes (Policies TP24 and TP25).


Kent International (Manston) 8.57 Manston Airport in Thanet has the potential to develop into a regional airport andbecome one of the largest single generators of economic activity within the county. It iscurrently a much under-used asset despite having the fifth longest runway in the UK. Therehas been extensive recent investment in its runway, apron space and other operationalfacilities. Manston could handle between four and six million passengers per annum (mppa)by 2021 (comparable to the amount of passengers using Luton Airport in 2000) and up to400,000 tonnes of freight per annum by 2015, subject to the development of terminalfacilities, warehousing and apron space. The future growth of Manston depends upon itsability to attract passengers from the major London airports and to capture new markets. Itsexpansion will have a significant impact on the regeneration of East Kent’s economy, itslabour market, transport needs and urban development. 8.58 It is important to ensure that the airport’s growth does not have an unacceptable impacton the environment or on the quality of life of residents. Detailed proposals for expansionshould therefore address: • Surface access - Strategic road access to/from the west is good, but the local road

network will need to be improved to address potential congestion. The growth of theairport should be underpinned by the development of a choice of travel modes for bothpassengers and employees. An essential part of the process will be the phasedimprovement of public transport links to the airport. The airport will need a direct rail linkonce it reaches a critical mass in order to minimise congestion on the wider road network.The development of a Travel Plan should form an integral part of developing futureproposals for the airport (Policy TP3).

• Noise impact - Noise is likely to be a very important issue for communities living nearflight paths. The control of noise and the introduction of mitigation measures will beessential to ensure there is no significant impact on local amenity.

• Air quality - Expansion of Manston Airport will have a negative effect on local andregional air quality because of the increase in both air and road traffic. Air quality willneed to be monitored and mitigation measures put in place to protect the localenvironment.

Lydd 8.59 The airport at Lydd plays an important part in serving local business needs andproviding opportunities for recreational flying. Enhancing the airport’s existing facilities wouldimprove the airport’s ability to cater for general aviation and passenger traffic and capturescheduled and charter business. The operator’s own masterplan for the airport envisagesgrowth of capacity to approximately 2 mppa by 2011. The fact that there are internationalenvironmental designations immediately adjacent to Lydd Airport poses a specific test for thenature and degree of any expansion, including the relationship between the needfor/acceptability of a runway extension at Lydd and the attainment of a significantly higherpassenger capacity and throughput. Development proposals will be assessed against acommon set of assessment criteria to be applied to both Manston and Lydd, including harmto internationally or nationally designated environmental areas. Headcorn 8.60 The potential for further development at Headcorn is constrained by its location within asensitive environment. Despite this, Headcorn has an important role to play in meetingbusiness and general aviation needs, particularly for recreational flying and related activities,and there is potential to consolidate and improve existing facilities.


Rochester 8.61 The general aviation and business role of Rochester Airport is to be safeguarded. Thereis an opportunity to improve existing facilities at the airport. Proposals for development will beassessed against their impact upon the surrounding environment, landscape and localcommunities and their benefits for the local economy and the wider area. Policy TP24: Kent International (Manston) Airport The development of Kent International (Manston) Airport into a regional airport with acapacity of up to 6 million passengers per annum by 2021 will be supported.Proposals related to the development of the airport will be assessed for acceptabilityagainst the following criteria: • development being directly related to the operation of the airport unless otherwise

forming part of a proposal in a Local Development Document; and• no material harm on internationally or nationally designated environmental areas;

and• no significant detrimental impact on locally designated environmental areas; and• no significant adverse impact on the amenity of local communities which cannot

be satisfactorily mitigated; and• appropriate measures being secured to mitigate, and where appropriate

compensate for, the impact of development including noise control, air pollution,light pollution, water pollution, sewerage disposal, landscape, species and habitatmanagement; and

• the requirements for surface access being adequately accommodated within thecapacity of the existing or committed local transport network; and

• measures being identified and secured to improve access by public transportmodes including the provision of a direct rail link when the flow through the airportreaches three million passengers per annum.

Policy TP25: Lydd Airport The expansion of aviation at Lydd Airport will be supported. Proposals related to thedevelopment of the airport will be assessed for acceptability against the followingcriteria: • development being directly related to the operation of the airport unless otherwise

forming part of a proposal in a Local Development Document; and• no material harm on internationally or nationally designated environmental areas;

and• no significant detrimental impact on locally designated environmental areas; and• no significant adverse impact on the amenity of local communities which cannot

be satisfactorily mitigated; and• appropriate measures being secured to mitigate, and where appropriate

compensate for, the impact of development including noise control, air pollution,light pollution, water pollution, sewerage disposal, landscape, species and habitatmanagement; and

• the requirements for surface access being adequately accommodated within thecapacity of the existing or committed local transport network; and

• measures being identified and secured to improve access by public transportmodes.


Policy TP26: Other Airports and Airfields Proposals for the development of new facilities for commercial and recreational flyingat existing airfields will be permitted only where they do not have an unacceptableadverse social and environmental impact on local communities and where there is apositive impact on the local and wider economy. Rochester Airport will be safeguarded against development which would prejudice itsoperation for general and business aviation.


CHAPTER 9: MANAGING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES Climate Change - Energy Production - Clean Environment - Water Resources -Flood Risk Key issues 9.1 The earth’s natural resources such as air, water and sources of energy are essential inmeeting our day to day needs. Our stewardship of the county and contribution to widernational and international objectives relies upon using resources wisely, especially wherethey are not renewable. Key issues for Kent • Understanding and tackling the effects of global climate change.• Moving to greater use of renewable sources of energy and greater energy efficiency.• Reducing pollution and improving air quality.• Prudent management of water resources for the future.• Managing flood risk. Climate change 9.2 There is growing concern about the pace and implications of climate change around theworld and the problems that could result from it. The most significant cause is considered tobe the release of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmospherefrom industrial activities, heat and power generation and traffic. Although levels of carbondioxide fell by 19% between 1970 and 2003, the proportion caused by road transport hasrisen by almost 90% over the same period and accounted for 28% of the total in the 2003.1 9.3 Scenarios for the UK produced in 2002 suggest that average annual temperature couldincrease by 2 to 3.50C by 20802. There will be more extreme weather conditions, morestorms, and wetter winters with an estimated increase in annual rainfall of between 10 and20% by 2050, together with a 20% increase in peak river flows. Summers will be hotter anddrier. This will mean lower river flows and less water reaching underground aquifers. Relativesea level is expected to rise by 6mm per year. These changes could have a number ofimpacts: • Property and heritage – an increased risk of flooding and run-off which could damage

property, including listed buildings and sensitive features.• Landscape and habitats – possible increased coastal erosion. Beaches may need to be

more regularly maintained to protect settlements and habitats may be lost or becomefragmented. Species may migrate or become extinct due to changing habitats andweather conditions.

• Agriculture and forestry – changes in crops and livestock, greater demand for water,increased risk of pests and storm damage.

• Recreation and tourism – Kent may become a more popular holiday destination and theremay be increased opportunities for outdoor leisure and water based activities.

• People and health – increased risk of skin cancer and worsening air quality.• Water resources – reduced quality, less of it and increased demand for it.

1 DEFRA 20052 DEFRA 2005


• Energy requirements – less energy will be needed for heating in winter but more energymay be needed for air conditioning in summer.

Reducing emissions 9.4 Following the Kyoto Summit the UK has a legally binding target to reduce emissions ofgreenhouse gases by 12.5% below 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. The UK aims tomove beyond the Kyoto target and a domestic goal has been set to cut carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. The Kyoto targets are only a start and theEnergy White Paper (2003) contains a long term goal that CO2 emissions will be reduced bysome 60% by about 2050. 9.5 Responding to climate change will require concerted action at local, national andinternational levels. Kent must play its part and adapt to the changes already underway. ThisPlan will help to achieve this by ensuring development decisions take account of climatechange by: • providing for reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions,

principally through greater efficiency in the use of resources; and• responding to the risks and opportunities that climate change presents. This will entail: • securing the more efficient use of land and a pattern and form of development that

reduces the demand for travel and ensures good accessibility;• encouraging sustainable design and construction;• encouraging greater efficiency in the use of energy and water;• promoting the development and use of renewable energy;• promoting more sustainable solutions for protection against flooding and coastal erosion

and management of water resources;• promoting land uses that contribute to CO2 reduction (‘carbon sinks’).

Conserving resources and reducing demand

9.6 Encouraging greater energy and water efficiency through the design and layout of newdevelopment is an effective means of reducing our use of natural resources, cuts down onemissions of carbon dioxide (C02) and helps in achieving a wide range of other sustainabledevelopment objectives. Planning can make a significant contribution by influencing thelocation and land use mix within development and its layout, access arrangements, buildingorientation and form, spacing and landscaping. Optimising the use of natural heat and lightand reducing the need to travel can replace energy that would otherwise have been requiredfrom fossil fuel sources. Policy NR1 and other policies within this Chapter and elsewherewithin the Plan (e.g. QL1, TP3) provide the framework for this. New development needs toadopt rigorous standards for sustainable construction that provide for wider use of recycledmaterials, less consumption of energy and water per unit and reduced generation of waste.In applying Policy NR1 best practice standards such as the BRE’s EnvironmentalAssessment Method (BREEAM) (‘very good’ standard) should be used as a benchmark inassessing development proposals and as a basis for policy in Local DevelopmentDocuments. Local authorities should also consider whether other standards directed atspecific resource use issues e.g. water conservation, should be identified in LocalDevelopment Documents. In line with Policies SP1 and QL1 of this Plan, Local DevelopmentDocuments also have a key role in providing detailed guidance on the location, form, designand mix of development that will minimise energy and water demands.


Eco-Homes and BREEAM standards [BRE]

Eco-Homes and BREEAM is a quality assured scheme that independently assesses theenvironmental performance of buildings. The Eco-homes standard is designed to coverresidential development whilst the BREAM standards cover other types of buildings includingoffice and industrial development and public buildings. The scale of the assessment extendsfrom ‘Pass’, ‘Good’ and ‘Very Good’ to ‘Excellent’. This assessment allows developersflexibility to achieve better environmental performance within their developments acrossseven categories:

EnergyPollutionTransportHealth and Well- BeingWaterMaterialsEcology and Land Use

Policy NR1: Development and the Prudent Use of Natural Resources

Proposals for development should incorporate sustainable construction techniquesand demonstrate that their design and layout contributes to:

(a) the conservation and prudent use of energy, water and other natural resources,including provision for recycling facilities, water conservation and energyefficiency; and

(b) a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through re-use, or the more efficientuse, of resources.

Energy production

Power generation

9.7 Energy is essential for industry, employment and transport and to run our homes.Lifestyles are energy intensive and while most people can afford this, some cannot. Fuelpoverty affects the quality of people's lives as well as their health. There is a fine balance tobe struck between ensuring that energy is affordable and ensuring that it is used wisely andnot wasted. It must also be provided in a way which uses proven technologies and does leastharm to the environment.

Power production in Kent

9.8 Energy generation in Kent is important for supply both locally and further afield. Sometwo thirds of the power generated in the county is exported via the National Grid to otherareas. This partly reflects Kent’s proximity to London with its significant energy requirements.Energy production in Kent is currently dominated by a number of fossil fuel based powerstations along with nuclear production at Dungeness. Some power plants have ceased orsuspended production. Dungeness A nuclear fuel plant is also planned for decommissioning.The life of Dungeness B has been extended by 10 years to 2018. A new offshore wind farmhas recently been completed off the North Kent coast at Herne Bay and plans for furtherwind farms in the Thames Estuary have been put forward. Consent has also been grantedfor an onshore wind farm in the Romney Marsh area.


Promoting alternatives to fossil fuels

9.9 Fossil fuels are currently the major source of fuel for energy production, although nuclearenergy makes a significant contribution. Petrol is the main fuel for transportation and naturalgas accounts for a significant proportion of the domestic heating market. Dependence onfossil fuels raises a number of concerns:

• They are not renewable and reserves will eventually be exhausted. They need to be usedwisely and plans made for their replacement.

• Burning fossil fuels to create energy makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gasemissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) which contribute to climate change.

Renewable and sustainable energy

9.10 Promoting a switch to alternative renewable sources for energy production can reducefossil fuel use.

9.11 Renewable energy involves harnessing energy from sources that occur naturally andcontinuously in the environment. Sources include energy from heat (including biomass, solarand geothermal), water (including tidal, hydro and wave action) and wind. The technology toharness these energy flows is continuing to develop and the potential to take advantage ofthem in Kent is set out below. Energy sources that are not economically viable now may wellbecome more cost efficient in the future, allowing them to be used more widely. Regulatoryand fiscal measures aimed at encouraging the development of renewables are important andalready in place. The Renewables Obligation (2002) requires all licensed suppliers to supplypart of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Coupled with the Climate ChangeLevy which is charged on non-domestic energy derived from non-renewable sources, andthe availability of capital grant schemes, these measures are helping in the development ofnew technologies and the creation of long term markets.

The Renewables Obligation (2002) requires licensed electricity suppliers to source specifiedpercentages of the electricity they supply from renewable sources. The percentage target isset to increase each year from a level of 4.9% in 2004/2005 to 10.4% in 2010/11 and 15.4%by 2015/16.

The Energy White Paper (2003) proposes a target of 10,000 MW of combined heat andpower (CHP) capacity being installed by 2010.

Small-scale and community renewable energy proposals

9.12 There are significant opportunities to integrate renewable energy technologies into newand existing developments, particularly small scale schemes, which can provide a proportionof their heat, cooling, or electricity needs. The incorporation of solar water heating andphotovoltaic systems, biomass heating, small scale wind turbines and ground source heatpumps complement measures to increase energy efficiency. Community renewable energyprojects can demonstrate wider benefits including employment creation and diversificationand landscape management, and may be appropriate in more sensitive areas of countrysideand rural locations. Within large scale developments, particularly mixed use schemes, thereis the opportunity to incorporate other technologies such as wind energy and biomass drivenheat or CHP with district heating.


The potential for renewable energy generation in Kent

Solar energy

9.13 South East England enjoys the highest number of daylight hours in the UK. Solarenergy can be harnessed through panels attached to buildings, or integrated with materials,which convert light to energy (photovoltaic cells). Any surplus can be exported to the localnetwork. Stand-alone systems can be used for powering communications equipment inremote locations, or for powering parking meters and street lighting and signage. Solarwater heating can reduce energy consumption. Passive solar design, which uses the naturalenvironment, can assist the heating, lighting and ventilation of buildings.

Geothermal energy

9.14 South East England, like the rest of north-western Europe, is not an active geothermalarea and it is therefore unlikely to be suitable for strategic scale power generation. However,smaller applications are possible which can be used for ground heating systems.

Wind energy

9.15 Wind levels in Kent, particularly around the coast, are relatively high. The use of windturbines, particularly offshore, provides the most viable option to reduce our dependence onfossil fuels. Every 1 MW of power generated by a wind turbine is sufficient to provide powerfor some 600 homes year. Due to the inconsistent nature of wind this is lower than, say,1MW of power generated by a biomass plant, which could provide power for 1,000 homes.

9.16 Much of the Kent coastal plain along with the North Downs have wind energy potentialwith annual mean wind speeds of 6.5 to 7.5 metres per second, which may be conducive tocommercial wind energy production. Some of these areas include nationally or internationallyimportant areas for wildlife and strategically important landscapes (Areas of OutstandingNatural Beauty and Special Landscape Areas), the impact on which will need to be carefullyconsidered in assessing the acceptability of proposals. An onshore wind farm at LittleCheyne Court, Walland Marsh, has consent. Its 26 turbines will generate 78 MW - enoughelectricity to power 32,000 homes. This will contribute to regional and sub regional targets(see Table NR1).

9.17 Onshore potential may lie in small scale opportunities involving clusters of turbines,single turbine developments and micro scale turbines fitted to roofs. Prospective semi-offshore locations should also be considered including harbour walls and jetties - there are anumber around Kent that are potentially suitable including Dover, Folkestone and Ramsgate.They could also be used as a temporary resource as turbines can be removed quickly andeasily from the landscape.

9.18 The consenting of leases for offshore wind is managed by the Crown Estate and theDepartment for Trade and Industry, although onshore land use issues may arise. Thepotential for offshore wind generation around Kent’s very extensive coastline is substantialand with scope for less visual impact than onshore facilities. The Kentish Flats wind farm inthe Thames Estuary off the coast of Herne Bay was completed in 2005 and comprises 30turbines with a generating capacity of 90MW. A further two offshore proposals are beingpromoted where the landfall for the power generated would be in Kent.

Hydro energy (wave and tidal)

9.19 Wave energy around Kent is not as significant as other parts of the UK but it could stillmake a contribution to energy requirements. The tidal range can be harnessed by tidal


barrages. There are a number of places which may have suitable tides, including theGoodwin Sands, Deal and from Dover to South Foreland. The viability of tidal barrages canbe enhanced if combined with other facilities such as flood prevention and wind power.

Hydro energy (rivers and streams)

9.20 Kent’s geography means that it is not suitable for large-scale hydro-electric powergeneration. However, there may be potential for smaller scale systems including micro-hydropower turbines situated in rivers and streams, possibly providing power for associatedor nearby buildings or agriculture. Larger scale systems could provide a power source fordevelopment close to faster moving rivers and streams. Prospective locations have beenidentified in Kent on the Rivers Medway and Stour.

Bio fuels

9.21 Using coppice and similar woodlands for power generation can help to reduce carbonemissions and is often described as being ‘carbon neutral’ (the carbon produced incombustion is absorbed by the woodland growth). Other bio-fuel sources include energycrops, crop residues, wood residues, animal manure and other organic agricultural andputrescible wastes. There is also potential for co-firing existing plant/power stations withbiomass material. Biomass has been identified as one of the renewable energy sources withthe greatest potential in the region. Their potential role in helping to support agriculturaldiversification and rural employment is a significant consideration. As a result of EUDirectives and government incentives it is likely that liquid transport fuels produced frombiomass sources (such as biodiesel and bioethanol) will become more common. An EUDirective requires that Member States ensure that a minimum proportion of biofuels andother renewable fuels is placed on their markets - reference targets for this are a 2% share ofall petrol and diesel by the end of 2005 and 5.75 % by the end of 2010.

Sustainable energy

Energy from waste

9.22 Energy can also be produced from biomass waste which includes agricultural, forestryor wood waste or residue as well as biodegradable municipal, commercial and industrialwaste (derived from plant or animal matter). Energy generated from these sources isdeemed to be renewable energy but energy from other waste sources is not.

Landfill gas

9.23 Landfill gas (methane) can be used to produce electricity rather than being released intothe atmosphere. This is not a renewable fuel as waste is not naturally occurring and willdecrease over time but it is an efficient use of waste as a resource.Combined heat and power (CHP)

9.24 Combined heat and power (CHP) plants and associated district heating systems useexcess heat from electricity generation or industry to heat or cool buildings in the surroundingarea. It is a highly fuel efficient means of producing heat. CHP can be very effective whenincluded in new development but needs to be planned into development from an early stage.It may be particularly relevant where large scale and concentrated new development is


planned, such as in Kent Thames Gateway and Ashford. CHP should be assessed as ’goodquality’ under the CHP quality assurance scheme.3

Production targets for renewable energy

9.25 RPG9 (2004) includes an indicative regional target for the share of electricity generatedfrom renewable sources (5.5% by 2010 rising to 16% by 2026). There are also regional andsub regional targets for the potential deployment of land based sources of renewable energyincluding a target of 111 MW capacity by 2010 and 154 MW by 2016 for Kent. There is astrong emphasis on the role of wind energy. A separate regional target for offshore wind hasbeen set (200MW by 2010 and 300MW in 2016). The potential supply from wind farminstallations in the Thames Estuary is significant.

Table NR1: Indicative targets for renewable and sustainable energy

Kent – Potential renewable energy production by 2010BiomassThermal

BiomassAnaerobicDigestion

OnshoreWind

Solar(Photovoltaics)

Small scaleHydro

LandfillGas

Total

Installed Capacity (MW)7 2.5 75 3.2 0.3 23 111

Kent – Potential renewable energy production by 2016Installed Capacity (MW)

17 7.5 100 5.6 0.3 23 154

Source: GOSE: RPG9 (2004): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Policy INF7Map 1: Indicative Sub Regional Land Based and Offshore Potential 2010-2016

9.26 The prospective pattern of renewable energy facilities that might secure this potential isvery varied but an indication of the scale and type of facility that might be involved by 2016 isset out below.

BiomassCombustion/Thermal

BiomassAnaerobicDigestion

OnshoreWind

Solar(Photovoltaics)

Small scaleHydroPower

Waste toEnergy

1 x large(15+MW)biomass plantfuelled bycombustion ofenergy cropsand/or up to3 small plants(5-10MW)fuelled bywood

12 x anaerobicdigestion plantsfuelled bysewage, farmslurry orputresciblewaste

1 x large(50+MW)windfarm;5 small clustersof 4-10 turbines(6MW);6 large singleturbines;30 small singlewind turbines

Photovoltaicsincorporated in asignificantproportion (50%)of newdevelopment.Approximately1340 domesticcommercial andmotorwayinstallations

3 schemes(0.3 MW)

12 CHP orelectricityplants fuelledby landfill gas,municipal orindustrial solidwastes;1 AnaerobicDigestion plantfuelled bysewage gas

Source: South East Regional Renewable Energy Targets: Future Energy Solutions/ FPDSavills 2003.

3 The CHP Quality Assurance Programme (CHPQA) launched in May 2000 provides a method forassessing all types and sizes of CHP scheme. Good Quality CHP refers to CHP generation that isenergy efficient in operation.


Energy facilities (locational considerations)

9.27 Power production, whether from renewable or non-renewable sources, has anenvironmental impact. It can give rise to traffic generation, visual impact, smells and noise.Offshore facilities can impact on shipping lanes and the use of radar and will still requiredevelopment onshore to allow connection to the power grid. Some production methods suchas wind farms and barrages can only be sited where appropriate conditions exist and thismay cause tensions with other strategic interests, such as visually important landscapes andecology. A balance has to be struck between the benefits of certain types of production andthe local impacts they cause. There may be scope to mitigate those impacts either by sitingstructures carefully or providing screen planting. It may be possible to compensate for wildlifeimpacts by providing offsite mitigation. Where appropriate, proposals for energy productionshould be supported by environmental and health impact assessments.

9.28 Under the Electricity Act 1989 the DTI is responsible for granting planning permissionfor new power generation proposals with a generating capacity greater than 50 megawatts(MW). Local authorities are consulted on these applications. District planning authoritiesdetermine energy proposals of less than 50 MW. Local Development Documents will play animportant role by identifying suitable sites and establishing the detailed assessment criteriaby which proposals for renewable and sustainable energy production will be assessed. Localplanning authorities should undertake an assessment of renewable energy potential in theirarea as part of producing Local Development Documents and to inform the setting of localrenewable energy targets.

9.29 In the light of these issues the aim of the Structure Plan is to: • Assist the production of a continuous supply of energy;• bring about lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and

promoting renewable energy through positive development plan policies;• ensure that the type, location and design of energy production facilities and its means of

transportation minimises any detrimental impact on the environment and people’s health;• encourage the harnessing of local energy sources to supply nearby communities and

support new development;• foster patterns of development and design which are sustainable and need less energy

(Policies SP1, QL1 and NR1);• promote clean production and decommissioning. Policy NR2: Energy Generation Proposals for energy generation will be assessed by the local planning authorities interms of: • their impact on landscape and nature conservation, health, built environment, air

quality, atmosphere (including the level of emissions) and water resourceinterests; and

• the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures; and• the proximity of proposals to the energy source and their contribution to meeting

the energy needs of local communities; and• the prospective life of energy plants and, where appropriate, the site restoration

measures proposed.


Policy NR3: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Production Development necessary for the production of energy from renewable sources will besupported where there would be no overriding conflict with environmental interestsand Local Development Documents will include criteria for their location. Provision of renewable and sustainable energy production as an integral componentof new development and in small-scale and community projects will be supported.Local Development Documents will include renewable energy production targets insupport of sub regional targets for individual energy sources, and will identify sitesfor renewable and sustainable energy facilities where viable proposals have been putforward. Policy NR4: Combined Heat and Power Generation Proposals for combined heat and power generation and district heating systems willbe supported particularly where they are based on the harnessing of renewableenergy sources and can be integrated with new development. Local DevelopmentDocuments should assess, and where viable, provide for such schemes in theplanning of major development proposals. A clean environment Sources of pollution 9.30 Pollution adversely affects our environment and our quality of life:

• water pollution affects the quality of Kent’s water resources and can impact on wildlife;• ground and soil pollution can affect agriculture and blight development opportunities;• air pollution can affect the environment, as well as the health and well being of residents

and can lead to premature illnesses and deaths;• noise pollution, such as that from airports and motorways, can cause a serious nuisance

to local residents;• light pollution from development projects can be visually intrusive. 9.31 Industrial developments, major road schemes, waste treatment and disposal facilities,sewerage treatment and energy generation, are all capable of causing pollution but may beneeded to sustain economic development or to support day to day life. Whether or not thepollution caused will give rise to specific problems depends on a number of factors includingthe: • scale of development;• background levels of pollutants that already exists;• cumulative impacts of developments;• type and level of pollution involved;• sensitivity of nearby land uses. 9.32 A number of agencies are responsible for controlling and preventing pollution.Environmental health legislation governs noise pollution at local level. Pollution arising fromindustry or waste disposal is a matter for the Environment Agency and the local authorities.Development plans should not duplicate controls which are the responsibility of other bodiesbut they can reduce the impact of pollution by influencing the location and design of newdevelopment and encouraging better practice. The Structure Plan can contribute by:


• promoting ‘clean’ production methods;• ensuring that all development is designed in a way that minimises the risk of pollution;• promoting a pattern and mix of development that reduces the need to travel and

promoting means of transport that cause less pollution;• ensuring that existing and potential sources of pollution are taken into account when

development decisions are made;• ensuring that sensitive development is not allowed in areas exposed to significant levels

of pollution and that existing sensitive uses or areas are protected;• ensuring that developments that could cause pollution are located where they will have

least adverse impact on local communities and the environment. Air quality 9.33 Since 1992 the Kent and Medway Air Quality Partnership has been monitoring andmodelling air quality. Air Quality Management Areas in Kent are primarily related to homesnear to the major traffic routes but some are also related to port and industrial activity. As at2006 ten local authorities in Kent have declared 28 AQMAs. Others may be declared at alater date following further modelling and monitoring. Locations include sections of the A2,M2, A28, A20, M20, A25, M25, and M26 corridors as well as parts of Canterbury,Gravesham, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells town centres and the DartfordTunnel Approach Road. National priorities for air quality: • The UK Air Quality Strategy (2000) aims to meet a series of air quality objectives for eight

priority pollutants by 2010. It establishes a range of measures to support theseobjectives, including stricter vehicular emission limits and discouraging the use of highsulphur fossil fuels.

• The Environment Act 1995 gives local authorities the responsibility for reviewing andassessing air quality and identifying where additional measures may be required. If oneor more of the national air quality objectives is not met the local authority must designatean Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan(AQAP). An AQAP should set out a cost effective package of planning and trafficmanagement measures to improve air quality and help meet the national objectives, suchas, encouraging the use of public transport, improving facilities for pedestrians andcyclists and reducing public parking. These AQAPs should be integrated into the LocalTransport Plans for Kent and Medway.

9.34 It may not be appropriate to prevent any development in an AQMA as this could steriliseeconomic growth and inhibit social improvements. The impact of proposed development isthe key consideration and the action that could be taken to mitigate that impact. Longer termbenefits for air quality may be achieved through a switch to more sustainable travel patternsand this should be considered alongside any adverse impacts on air quality in the short term.Development proposals should be supported by sufficient information to allow them to beassessed. This should include monitoring and modelling data and, if required, identification ofpotential mitigation measures to offset any increase in local pollution as a consequence ofthe proposed development, demonstrating how the effect such measures will be assessed.Developer funding for mitigation measures may be appropriate.

Policy NR5: Pollution Impacts

The quality of Kent’s environment will be conserved and enhanced. This will includethe visual, ecological, geological, historic and water environments, air quality, noiseand levels of tranquillity and light intrusion.


Development should be planned and designed to avoid, or adequately mitigate,pollution impacts. Proposals likely to have adverse implications for pollution shouldbe the subject of a pollution impact assessment.

In assessing proposals local authorities will take into account:

(a) impact on prevailing background pollution levels; and(b) the cumulative impacts of proposals on pollution levels; and(c) the ability to mitigate adverse pollution impacts; and(d) the extent and potential extremes of any impacts on air quality, water resources,

biodiversity and human health.

Development which would result in, or significantly contribute to, unacceptable levelsof pollution, will not be permitted.

Policy NR6: Development Sensitive to Pollution

Development which would be sensitive to adverse levels of noise, air, light and otherpollution, will not be supported where such conditions exist, or are in prospect, andwhere mitigation measures would not afford satisfactory protection.

Policy NR7: Air Quality Management Areas

The local authorities are required to:(a) review and assess air quality and, where necessary, declare Air Quality

Management Areas;(b) work towards improving air quality in Air Quality Management Areas through

preparation of an Air Quality Action Plan.

The scale and character of development in, or adjoining such areas, should becontrolled so as not to adversely affect this improvement.

Water resources

9.35 Water supply and wastewater disposal are essential for domestic, commercial andindustrial uses. The natural environment needs water to support wildlife. Rivers needsufficient water flows to dilute discharges. Protecting the water quality of rivers, groundwaterand around the coast is essential to health and to protect Kent’s fauna and flora.

9.36 Demand for water and for wastewater treatment is not just increasing because of newdevelopment but also because people are consuming more water. Society also expects ahigher quality of water and wastewater treatment. As an example, all wastewater treatmentworks are now required to provide primary and secondary treatment. A substantial proportionalso incorporate tertiary treatment. The EU Water Framework Directive promotes a moreintegrated approach to water management, increased water quality standards and betterenvironmental protection.

9.37 The Structure Plan needs to ensure that the water supply and wastewater disposalrequirements of existing and future development can be met. It promotes the sustainable useof water resources and high standards of wastewater treatment. Ensuring adequate supply,reducing demand by promoting water conservation, making the best use of existingresources (for example, by locating development where water supply is or could be readilyavailable) and planning for new resources, where and when required, in a way whichreduces the overall impact on the environment are integral elements of this approach.


9.38 Water supply and treatment have been taken into account in deciding on the scale anddistribution of development in this Plan. The planning and construction of water supply andwastewater treatment facilities have long lead times. The development strategy set out in thisPlan is designed to inform the agencies involved where new or improved facilities are likelyto be required. Future investment should allow for the ability to respond flexibly to changingcircumstances, make the most effective use of resources and minimise environmentalimpacts. Local Development Documents will need to consider the detailed requirements forincreased water supply and wastewater treatment, including reservoirs, pipelines ortreatment works, together with any likely impacts on the environment.

Water Demand and Supply Balance

9.39 There is considerable uncertainty in the factors that influence the balance betweenwater supply and demand. These factors include:• growth in consumption per head;• growth in summer peak demand;• the impact of climate change on both the supply of, and demand for, water;• the impact of the European Habitats and Water Framework Directives on the

management of the water environment;• the level and pattern of future development;• changing industrial and agricultural practices. Water supply in Kent The key sources of water supply in Kent are: • abstraction from Bewl reservoir in East Sussex• abstraction from underground aquifers• transfer of resources from other areas• abstraction from surface water - mainly from the River Medway. Kent is strongly dependent on groundwater for water supplies which accounts for aboutthree-quarters of total supply. 9.40 The Environment Agency's South East Water Resources Strategy (2001) envisages thetransfer of water between supply areas in Kent to meet deficits in the short term. Thesecross-catchment transfers can provide an important means of balancing surpluses andshortfalls in different parts of the region and provide flexibility within the overall network.Transporting water over long distances, however, can have environmental impacts such asallowing the movement of alien species. 9.41 Managing the demand for water has a key role to play in the overall supply and demandequation. Even if water were plentiful, treating, supplying and disposing of it is a costlyprocess. The design of new development can play an important part in reducing the demandfor water, for example, by promoting the use of water efficient appliances, collecting rainwater and recycling ‘grey’ water. New developments should meet high standards of waterefficiency (Policy NR1) as an essential element of a twin track approach involving bothdemand management and prudent planning for the necessary development of additionalwater resources. 9.42 If metering and/or other water efficiency measures do not make enough impact, thenthere is likely to be a need to develop new resources. As demand increases over the mediumto long-term the Agency’s strategy suggests that new sources of supply will be needed. Theextent and timing of these will depend upon the distribution of development, how well water


demand is managed and other factors such as the control of leakage. It is anticipated that by2015 Bewl reservoir will need to be enlarged to provide the operational flexibility to satisfydemand in Kent. 9.43 Beyond this there may be a need to develop new resources before the end of the periodcovered by this Plan (2021). This may include the need for new water supply facilities in EastKent to meet demand from new development, particularly the Ashford growth area, and tofacilitate reductions in abstraction levels in the River Stour. This new supply may be providedby a new strategic scale reservoir at Broad Oak near Canterbury but further studies arerequired to ascertain the appropriate scale and type of facility as well as the specific timing ofthis requirement. Additionally transfers of water from areas with a surplus, effluent re-use anddesalination will need to be explored as means of augmenting resources. All options willhave environmental impacts and significant costs. 9.44 The demand/supply relationship for individual parts of Kent is summarised on theaccompanying map which illustrates the forecast situation in a dry year. The map takesaccount of new housing growth and any new water resources development and infrastructureincluding that being planned or already being implemented by 2005. For 2005 resourcedevelopment and infrastructure funded in the 1999 periodic review and due forimplementation by 2005 has been included. For the map representing 2025, resourcesdevelopment and infrastructure improvements included in water companies’ 2004 waterresources plans have been included. 9.45 The implications of existing and planned housing development on the supply-demandbalance of Kent are described below. These are split into short term (2005-2010) and longerterm (2010-2025) perspectives. 2005 – 2010 • Medway, Sheppey and other parts of Swale have adequate resources from the strategic

surface water and groundwater resources of the Medway catchment, together with localgroundwater resources.

• Thanet is dependent on local groundwater and, in dry years, transfers from boreholes inneighbouring areas west of Canterbury.

• Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells will continue to rely on local groundwaterand small transfers from neighbouring areas.

• Canterbury and Maidstone and parts of Swale will rely on groundwater and smalltransfers from neighbouring areas.

• Ashford will be dependent on additional transfers from Weald/Canterbury and NorthDowns. The capability to transfer from the Weald is to be increased by the construction ofa new 5Ml/d transfer main. This will provide some support to Ashford from surface water(Bewl Reservoir) and so move Ashford away from total dependency on groundwater.

• Dartford will continue to rely on water transfers from the neighbouring parts of theThames catchment. If a transfer of water from the Thames region remains unavailable,Gravesham will be supported from the strategic surface water and groundwaterresources of the Medway catchment and local groundwater supplies.

• Dover and Folkestone are dependent on aquifers that are close to their sustainable limitsand small transfers from a Southern Water groundwater source in Thanet and a Mid KentWater groundwater source south of Ashford.

2010 - 2025 • A large strategic shared resource such as enlargement of Bewl reservoir and/or Broad

Oak reservoir, is likely to be needed in Kent to satisfy increased demand. This resource


would provide direct and indirect supply benefits throughout the county and possiblybeyond.

• Transfers between areas will increase with the development of a large strategic resource.This will enable a number of areas to benefit directly or indirectly from the new resource.

• A small number of groundwater enhancements may be developed around Maidstone andTonbridge, subject to environmental constraints.

• Kent also needs to be at the forefront of progress in water use efficiency and demandmanagement with encouragement for a high level of domestic water metering to beimplemented as soon as possible. All new homes need to be water efficient.

• With additional resources and increased water efficiency, Kent is in balance or in surplusfor public water supply by 2025.

• The transfers referred to above do not necessarily represent the direct movement ofwater from one area to another. In many cases the transfers are created through a‘domino’ effect within the supply system. An actual physical link between two areas is notalways necessary although the security of supplies in Kent can generally be improved bygreater integration of the resource and supply infrastructure, providing more flexibility insupply-demand management.

Water supply and the environment 9.46 Abstraction licences in many parts of Kent allow too much groundwater to be abstractedduring dry months. This can impact adversely on wildlife. Peak demand causes particularproblems, as this is when summer groundwater, rivers and streams are receding. CatchmentAbstraction Management Strategies (CAMS), prepared by the Environment Agency aim tofind the right balance between the needs of those who abstract the water, water users andthe environment. Water quality Groundwater quality 9.47 Groundwater quality can be affected by pollution from nearby developments andagricultural practices. Protecting and monitoring water quality within aquifers is important.The impact of construction and the need to maintain aquifers over the long term need to beconsidered. The Environment Agency’s aquifer protection maps give broad guidance onwhere developments that could cause pollution should not be sited. Aquifers outside theprotected zones may also be sensitive. Applications for potentially polluting developmentsshould be supported by appropriate technical information. Water quality in rivers and estuaries 9.48 Water quality in rivers and estuaries is influenced by the quality of treated wastewaterand by pollutants carried in run-off and discharges from farms and industry. The EnvironmentAgency assesses the chemical and biological quality of water in rivers and estuaries. Kent'sriver quality can be described as 'good to fair' but there are still significant problems,particularly at times of low flow during the summer months. Any development whichpotentially affects the quality of these water courses will need to be discussed with theEnvironment Agency. Coastal water quality 9.49 Bathing water quality is important for tourism in Kent. Although about half of the effluentdischarged by Kent's sewage works is pumped into the sea, 97-100% of beaches complywith the EU mandatory standards and 30% meet EU guidelines. Schemes to improve thetreatment and disposal of wastewater can greatly improve coastal water quality. In many


coastal towns there are combined sewerage systems which can overflow in times of heavyrainfall carrying a mixture of rainwater and untreated sewage into surface waters. With morestringent EU requirements for the quality of water discharges at coastal locations, watercompanies are investing heavily in upgrading treatment processes provided at coastal sites.Coastal sewerage systems have been substantially improved at Dover, Folkestone andWhitstable. Wastewater treatment 9.50 Wastewater treatment and disposal includes the provision and maintenance of publicsewers and wastewater treatment plants. Some locations may benefit from sustainablewaste disposal systems in order to relieve pressure on main drainage. 9.51 Large volumes of sewage sludge arise from wastewater treatment and this willsignificantly increase with the introduction of secondary/tertiary treatment plants. Previouslythis sludge has been disposed of onto land but tighter standards may mean it has to be dealtwith in a different way. Treating effluent for indirect re-use may be costly but it could be auseful way of increasing water supply (e.g. during periods of drought) and of reducing thequantity for disposal. 9.52 The Ashford Discharge at Bybrook is operating close to the limits of its consent. Even atcurrent levels there is insufficient dilution available in the Stour to meet standards for riverwater quality. Continuing and accelerated growth at Ashford will require substantialinvestment in wastewater treatment capacity in the medium term if water quality is not to becompromised. Policy NR8: Water Quality Development will not be permitted where it would give rise to an unacceptable impacton the quality or yield of Kent's watercourses, coastal waters and/or groundwaterresources. Policy NR9: Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment The development of new or expansion of water supply or wastewater facilities will berequired and supported where: • there is a demonstrable need to serve existing development and/or development

proposed in accordance with the development plan; and• this represents the best environmental option; and• land use and environmental impacts are minimised through appropriate mitigation. Land required for expanded or new facilities for water resource management orwastewater treatment will be identified and safeguarded in Local DevelopmentDocuments. This will include provision for the enlargement of Bewl reservoir andadditional wastewater treatment facilities in the Ashford area. Flood risk 9.53 Flooding, particularly along rivers and the coast, is a natural process which is essentialto maintain many ecological systems and to enhance soil fertility. But it can also have farreaching effects on people by damaging property, isolating communities and restrictingtravel. It can affect farming, industry, leisure, housing and transport and can also damagefeatures of cultural and environmental importance. In extreme conditions it can lead to injury


and loss of life and places heavy demands on the emergency services. Flooding can alsooverload sewerage and drainage systems and increase the risk of pollution and nuisance.This Plan seeks to reduce the risk of flooding. Causes of flooding River flooding - Flooding from rivers occurs following excessive rainfall (or snow melt)where run-off from land and discharges from drainage systems exceeds a river's capacity.Flooding is more likely to occur if the ground is already saturated, if development has createdimpermeable areas through which water cannot pass or if channels are obstructed. Coastal flooding - Inundation by the sea is largely due to a combination of high tides, stormsurges and wave activity. It may also result from structural failure of flood defences. Coastaldefences may deteriorate at a faster rate if climate change means storms becomeincreasingly severe. ‘Flash’ flooding - Flooding can take place away from the coast and rivers. Intense rainfallmay cause localised flooding if surface flows exceed the capacity of drainage systems tocope. Flooding can also occur where the local geology is unable to absorb water and theland becomes saturated. Roads can transfer floodwater into areas beyond the flood plain.Local topography can also concentrate surface flows and cause flooding. 9.54 Flood plains fulfil an important natural role by absorbing water during times of heavyrainfall. Flood risk can be made worse by: • building on flood plains which reduces the land available for storing flood water, obstructs

its flow, increases the rate or volume of run-off and creates additional risk elsewhere;• inadequate maintenance of flood defence systems;• inadequate maintenance of watercourses, surface water sewers, culverts and road

gullies which can allow channels to become blocked;• modifying, culverting and diverting watercourses;• agricultural practices such as removing trees and ploughing at right angles to contours

rather than parallel with them;• sewerage systems that become overloaded by surface water run-off and cause pollution. 9.55 Large parts of Kent are naturally at risk of river or coastal flooding (see map above),which also shows that many developed areas are already protected by flood defences.Although defences reduce the risk of flooding they do not remove it completely. Theprotection they offer will diminish over time unless they are improved to take account of theimpacts of climate change. Responses to flooding 9.56 Catchment Flood and Shoreline Management Plans and River Basin ManagementPlans are prepared by the Environment Agency. These will be the key mechanisms foridentifying how to deal with flood risk in a particular area. These plans assess natureconservation as well as property and cost when considering flood risk and defences. Theymay include proposals for new or improved defences or recommend approaches to deal withland use change. The Structure Plan seeks to develop an integrated approach to flood riskmanagement and ensure that these polices are reflected in Local Development Documentsand in planning decisions.


Flood risk mapping 9.57 The Environment Agency’s indicative flood plain maps show the limits of the flood plain.They show the area which could be affected by 1 in 100 year river floods and 1 in 200 yeartidal floods. The maps represent the best available information on the extent of flood risk at agiven point in time. They are however only indicative and are not intended to be the solebasis on which decisions are made. Local issues will also need to be considered such as theeffects of culverts or other man made obstructions. The flood plain maps do not make anyallowances for flood defences, as these are not infallible. Planning applications and potentialland allocations for development should be considered on a case by case basis. Identifying flood risks Flood risk issues are likely to arise for developments: • within a river flood plain or washland, or a coastal flood area, identified as Flood Risk

Zone 3 in PPS 25 (see below);• of significant size or importance within Flood Risk Zone 2 as defined in PPS25;• within, or next to, any watercourse, particularly where there might be potential for flash

flooding - this includes flood banks or other flood control structures;• situated in an area where the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board or local

authority have indicated that there may be drainage problems;• likely to involve the culverting or diverting of a watercourse; or• of such a size or nature relative to the receiving watercourse/drainage system that there

could be a significant increase in rate or volume of surface water run-off from the area. Draft PPS25 defines flood risk as follows:

• Zone 1: Low Probability – less than 1 in 1000 chance of river and sea flooding in any year (<0.1%)

• Zone 2: Medium Probability – River: 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000 (1% - 0.1%) Tidal and Coastal: 1 in 200 and 1 in 1000 (0.5% - 0.1%) • Zone 3: High Probability River: 1 in 100 or greater (>1.0%) Tidal and Coastal: 1 in 200 or greater (>0.5%).

A risk of 1% means there is a 1% probability of a flood occurring in a year.

Avoiding development in the flood plain

9.58 PPG25, and emerging PPS25, require the application of a risk based, sequentialapproach to flood risk in the preparation of development plans and in taking developmentcontrol decisions. Strategic Flood Risk Assessments should inform the application of thesequential approach as part of the preparation of Local Development Documents. Planningapplications should be informed by site specific Flood Risk Assessments for proposalssituated within Zone 2 or 3 or which raise flooding or run-off issues. Local authorities shouldconsult the Environment Agency and other relevant bodies such as Internal DrainageBoards, Parish Councils, sewerage undertakers and navigation authorities.


Managing flood risk

Flood Defences

9.59 Coastal flood defences are generally composed of large sea walls or the managementof beach deposits by groynes and recharging shingle. These can have a significant visualimpact and can make the risk of erosion worse elsewhere. They can also be costly tomaintain. In some cases sea walls can benefit the environment, for example, by protectingvaluable fresh water grazing marsh. However, they can also prevent the natural shift ofcoastal habitats. ‘Softer’ solutions include setting defences back from the sea front in order toallow habitats to shift. Defences against river flooding may include building up riverbanks andproviding storage reservoirs and sluices. Softer engineering solutions may include channelwidening or creating meadows, swales and wastelands into which river flows can bediverted. These can also help to create new wildlife habitats.

Drainage Systems

9.60 To reduce the risk of flooding from surface run-off it is important to ensure that alldevelopments are adequately drained and, in particular, can cope with intense storms.Culverting of open streams should be avoided as this can contribute to flood risks. It is theresponsibility of a developer to make proper provision for surface water drainage to groundwatercourses or surface water sewers. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs), whichallow water to percolate into the ground, can help to recharge groundwater, lessen run-offand reduce the need for flood risk management elsewhere. They may include waterattenuation ponds which can have wildlife benefits, infiltration basins, porous surfaces andsoakaways. These systems may have long term maintenance implications that need to beconsidered at the outset.

Mitigation by Design

9.61 Where it is essential that development takes place in an area which is at risk of floodingit is important to minimise the impact of that risk. This can be done through detailed designmeasures such as raising ground levels or building on stilts. Planning conditions can alsohelp to reduce the impact of flooding by controlling occupation, removing permitteddevelopment rights or ensuring that prospective occupiers are given information about floodrisk.

Policy NR10: Development and Flood Risk

Development will be planned to avoid the risk of flooding and will not be permitted:

(i) if it would be subject to an unacceptable risk of flooding or where it wouldincrease the risk of flooding elsewhere;

(ii) where it would prejudice the capacity and integrity of flood plains or planned floodprotection or coastal defence measures;

(iii) where it will hinder the implementation of future flood protection or coastaldefence measures;

(iv) if it would adversely affect the ability of the land to drain.

Where development is necessary in areas at risk of flooding it should be designed andcontrolled to mitigate the impact of flood risk.


Local Development Documents will include policies to:

(a) ensure that a risk based sequential approach, reflecting degrees of flood risk, isadopted in guiding specified categories of development away from flood riskareas;

(b) secure the provision and maintenance of appropriate drainage systems in newdevelopments to mitigate flood risk;

(c) ensure that proposals for development are accompanied by flood riskassessments appropriate to the scale and nature of the development and the risk;

(d) Seek to create new or improve existing wetland wildlife habitats where thesecomplement flood risk reduction measures.

Policy NR11: Flood Protection

The development of new or replacement flood protection or coastal defence measuresthat are in accordance with a Catchment Management Plan, Shoreline ManagementPlans or Coastal Defence Strategies will be supported. Where these are required toservice a development their provision and maintenance should be funded as part ofthat development.


CHAPTER 10: MANAGING OUR WASTE AND MINERALRESOURCES

Waste Management

10.1 The people and businesses of Kent produce major volumes of waste. Unlessadequately managed and treated, it can have the potential to cause significant environmentaland health problems. On the other hand it has potential value as a resource if it can be re-used or recycled. Long term provision needs to be made to manage waste in an efficient andenvironmentally sound manner. Measures must also be taken to counter the trend of year onyear increases in the amount of waste generated.

10.2 National strategy and guidance seeks a more integrated approach to wastemanagement. This is driven by European Union regulations – particularly the LandfillDirective 4which aim to prevent, or reduce as far as possible, the negative effects both on theenvironment and on human health of sending waste to landfill. Other key influences includenational and regional planning policy guidance and Kent and Medway Councils’ own wastestrategies. For the KCC area the Kent Waste Forum has developed the SustainableManagement of Household Waste – Joint Strategy for Kent (2003). This is currently beingrevised.

Key waste management issues

• Household waste in Kent has grown since April 2001 at an average annual rate of 3.4%.• In 2004/05, each household in Kent produced an average of 1.4 tonnes of waste.• Volumes of waste are likely to increase, at least in the short to medium term because of

population growth, the increase in the number of one-person households and growth inthe economy.

• The number of homes in Kent is due to increase by 14% (93,800) over the 2001-2016period following the proposals in this Plan.

• The 25.2 million tonnes of waste arising in the South East in 2000/2001 is projected torise to nearly 35 million tonnes by 2025 (an increase of almost 40%).

• There are reduced opportunities for landfill.• Environmental impacts of waste disposal.• Kent has traditionally taken waste from neighbouring areas and exported to others.• Kent currently recycles or composts around 30% of household waste. The National

Waste Strategy seeks to increase this rate to 33% by 2015. Regional Waste Management Strategy5

‘One of the most significant issues facing the South East is the growing amount of wasteproduced and how to manage it now and in the future. Historically waste production hasgrown as the economy and consumption have grown. A throwaway society has developed,discarding materials with little thought for the environmental impact or the waste of valuableresources, including energy, this represents. This must change.’ A new approach is needed. Growth in waste needs to be reduced. History shows that this willnot be easy and will take time. Disposal of materials should be the least preferred optionafter ensuring as much value as possible has been recovered from them.

4 1999/31/EC. Other relevant EU regulations include the Waste Electric and Electronic EquipmentDirectives (2002/96/EC and 2003/108/EC) and the End of Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC5 GOSE : RPG for the South East ( RPG9) Chapter 10 Waste : June 2006


The Regional Waste Strategy aims to reduce the growth of all waste to 1% per annum by2010 and 0.5% per annum by 2020, increase the diversion of all waste from landfill to 86%,as well as achieving a recycling and composting target of 65% (all waste streams) by 2025. The majority of existing waste management capacity in the South East is landfill, which isexpected to decline over time as sites are filled. Existing recycling, composting and energyfrom waste facilities provide only a small proportion of overall capacity at the present time.Increasing the diversion of waste from landfill to recovery will require rapid and large scaleprovision of additional recovery facilities. Land use planning can contribute only some of the change required. It will need to beaccompanied by changes in practice and behaviour and complemented by other initiatives,for example development of markets for recycled goods. The Structure Plan strategy for waste aims to: • promote an integrated approach to waste management;• provide for the necessary facilities to manage Kent’s waste in a sustainable way;• reduce the overall amount of waste produced;• allow some flexibility to cope with variations in the pace of waste reduction;• promote the principles of the best practicable environmental option when disposing of

waste; and• promote the re-use, recycling and recovery of waste. Integrated waste management 10.3 The application of the principles of ‘Best Practicable Environmental Option’ (BPEO) isessential if Kent is to achieve a sustainable pattern of waste management. ‘Best Practicable Environmental Option’ (BPEO) seeks to ensure that waste is dealt with in a way that considers environmental impactsalongside social and economic considerations and represents the most efficient andenvironmentally sound method. In particular, proposals will be expected to show that theyaccord with the following principles:• The Waste Hierarchy;• The ‘Proximity’ principle; and• ‘Self-Sufficiency’. Prior to the publication of PPS10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management andassociated changes to Waste Strategy 2000 in July 2005, Government advice in PPG10required planning authorities to consider whether waste management proposals constitutedthe BPEO. The approach was designed to assist in establishing the optimum and mostsustainable form of waste management for any given waste stream. PPS10 no longer requires such assessments. The principles that underlay BPEO are to bedelivered through plan led strategies in Waste Development Frameworks which will besubject to sustainability appraisals. The Kent Waste Local Plan (1998) was adopted prior tothe requirement to complete a sustainability appraisal. The Structure Plan (Policy WM2)requires that consideration is given in the assessment of proposals for waste management inDevelopment Documents and in planning applications as to whether they accord with theprinciples of BPEO. This issue will be addressed further in the preparation of the Kent andMedway Waste/Local Development Documents.


The waste hierarchy 10.4 The waste hierarchy set out in the National Waste Strategy seeks to promote anintegrated approach to waste management. It reflects the fact that the best option for dealingwith waste is to reduce the amount created, followed by re-use and then recovery whichincludes recycling, composting and energy from waste. Only when these options have beenexhausted should waste be disposed of to landfill. The appropriate waste managementoption will vary according to the type of waste and local considerations. The aim is to moveup the hierarchy to ensure better environmental protection and meet statutory targets. Asignificant increase in the number of facilities for materials recycling, composting, thermaltreatment and landfill will be required to comply with the waste hierarchy and national targets. The Waste Hierarchy

Source: Defra: Review of England’s Waste Strategy: A Consultation Document: Feb 2006 The proximity principle 10.5 This requires waste to be disposed of as close as possible to where it was created andreflects the fact that transporting waste has an environmental impact of its own. Types ofwaste that require specialist management facilities may justify transportation over longerdistances if there are no local facilities capable of dealing with it. It would be preferable forlonger distance transport of waste to be by rail or water rather than by road. 10.6 The location of waste management facilities within the Green Belt may be appropriatewhere consistent with the ‘proximity principle’ for locating waste management capacity closeto its source and where facilities could contribute to increased recycling/recovery of waste(for example small scale composting). This is recognised in Policy WM2. Disposal of wasteon land, where this reflects the Best Practicable Environmental Option need not beinappropriate development in a Green Belt context if it maintains openness and does notconflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt. Self -sufficiency 10.7 Waste Planning Authorities should attempt to deal with their own waste so as to supportregional self-sufficiency, that is, treating or disposing of waste within the ‘region’ in which it isproduced. However, the geographical proximity of areas needs to be taken into account


alongside the local circumstances. For example parts of West and North Kent are close toregional boundaries and are also subject to nationally important planning constraints such asthe Green Belt. 10.8 In 2004/05, approximately 25% of Kent’s and 60-65% of Medway’s household wastewas exported to Essex (in the East of England Region). Whilst this Plan seeks to ensure thatKent and Medway manage the equivalent of their own waste (Policy WM4) some discretionmay be required. There could be occasions where applying the self-sufficiency principlewould clash with the proximity principle, for example if waste needed to be transported longdistances across the county in order to keep it within the same region. Need 10.9 The assessment of need for a waste management proposal should take account of theamount of waste that needs to be dealt with, the level and nature of management capacitythat is committed, the projected growth in the amount of waste, and statutory recycling anddiversion targets. Policy WM1: Integrated Waste Management Provision will be made for the integrated management of waste reflecting theprinciples of Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO), the national wastehierarchy and national and regional targets for waste management. Waste or Local Development Documents will identify the range, scale and location offacilities to provide for rapid growth in capacity for recycling, composting andrecovery from waste of all controlled streams in Kent. Energy from waste proposals will be considered only as part of an integratedapproach to increase waste recovery rates and should incorporate other wastemanagement facilities including recycling, composting and materials recovery. Wherever practicable facilities should be located to enable the use of rail and/or waterbased transport. Policy WM2: Assessment Criteria for Waste Proposals Proposals for the treatment, storage, transfer, processing or disposal of waste will berequired to show that they represent the best balance between the most efficient andmost environmentally sustainable method of managing a specific type of waste. Proposals should demonstrate that they: • meet a demonstrable need that overrides material agricultural, landscape,

conservation, traffic and other environmental or land use concerns; and• reflect the principles of the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) and

thereby accord with the waste hierarchy, the proximity principle (taking intoaccount the environmental impact of the mode of transport proposed) and thecontribution made to self sufficiency.

Small scale composting facilities within the Metropolitan Green Belt will be supportedwhere these criteria are fulfilled, where a local need is met, and where they can beaccommodated without severe impact on the purposes of the Green Belt.


Waste reduction

10.10 The most efficient way of tackling Kent‘s waste is to reduce the quantity produced inthe first place. Local authorities should seek ‘site waste management plans’ to be producedin association with major development proposals. These should detail how waste is to bedealt with during both construction and subsequent occupation. They might, for example,detail proposals for shared waste collection points, to allow waste to be separated andtransferred for recycling or re-use. Local Development Document policies should alsoencourage manufacturing using recycled waste as an alternative to raw materials.

Policy WM3: Securing Waste Reduction

Development proposals will be required to demonstrate they are able to make acontribution to reducing growth in the volume of waste generated in Kent.

Local Development Documents will include policies:

1) requiring the submission of a waste minimisation and recycling plan alongsidemajor development proposals and, where appropriate, provide for the use ofconditions or agreements to secure waste minimisation;

2) providing for the development of manufacturing or processing facilities to recycleand/or recover waste.

Provision for waste management facilities in Kent

10.11 Kent and Medway need to provide enough appropriate facilities to deal with wastewithin their respective areas. While it would be impractical for each area to achieve absoluteself-sufficiency each authority should seek to achieve its equivalent after cross bordermovements have been taken into consideration.

10.12 In the past, waste management policy has planned ahead on a ten-year basis.However finding alternatives to landfilling requires significant levels of capital investment andinvolves long lead times in planning and development. A longer forward planning period of15 years is proposed.

10.13. The Regional Waste Strategy provides estimates of the annual average tonnages forMunicipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Commercial and Industrial Waste (C and I) to bemanaged in the region and its sub regions, including Kent and Medway, in the period to2025. These figures are forecasts, providing benchmarks for the preparation of WasteDevelopment Documents and are subject to testing, monitoring and review as part of thatprocess. The Regional Waste Strategy also considers there to be an immediate and acuteshortfall in the waste management capacity required to achieve targets for recycling,composting and other forms of waste recovery. The amount of additional waste managementcapacity to be identified in Kent and Medway will be calculated by considering the existingand committed capacity for dealing with a specific waste type and comparing it with theamount of that type of waste expected to arise.


Annual Average Tonnages to be Managed: 2005-2025: (thousand tonnes)

WasteStream

2005-2009 2010-2014 2015-2019 2020-2024 2025

MSW 1038 1163 1271 1369 1431KentandMedway

C and I 2019 2262 2472 2637 2716

Source: GOSE: Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9) Chapter 10 WasteTable 3:June 2006

10.14. In the past the South East has been a major importer of waste from London and Kenthas contributed to this. The Regional Waste Strategy assumes that London’s exports ofwaste to the South East will decline over time and generally be limited to landfilling of wasteresidues that have been subject to prior recycling or other recovery. Provision for disposal ofexported waste from London is to be made in the region on this basis. The emerging SouthEast Plan (2006) includes proposals for the regional apportionment of this provision forlandfill capacity .For Kent and Medway this is 2million tonnes 2006-2015 and 1.2 milliontonnes 2016-2025. If confirmed this will be taken into account in planning for wastemanagement capacity in Kent and Medway.

Policy WM4: Planning for Waste Management Capacity

Waste or Local Development Frameworks in Kent will make provision for, andmaintain, integrated waste management capacity sufficient for 15 years ahead.

Through their Waste or Local Development Frameworks, Kent and Medway Councilswill each make provision for the management of the equivalent of the waste arising intheir areas.

10.15 The type of waste facilities provided will largely reflect the need to divert waste awayfrom landfill in order to meet national targets within the National Waste Strategy, therequirements of the EU Landfill Directive, and statutory Best Value Performance Indicatorsfor household waste recycling and composting. These set targets for:

• Slowing down the growth in the amount of waste produced;• Reducing the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled;• Reducing the quantity of industrial and commercial waste landfilled;• Recovering value from municipal waste and for recycling or composting household

waste.

10.16 The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 now places strict limits on the amount ofbio-degradable municipal waste permitted to be landfilled. These thresholds reduce year onyear from 2005 to 2020, to ensure that by 2020 the amount landfilled shall be no more than35% of that landfilled in 1995.

10.17 Kent sends about 74% and Medway c. 60-65% of their household waste to landfill(2004/05). This level must be reduced to meet statutory requirements and contribute tonational targets. Rapidly diminishing landfill space adds to the pressure to identify alternativeways of disposing of our rubbish. It is anticipated that by the end of 2006, there will only bethree landfill sites in Kent and Medway receiving non-hazardous wastes (Shelford atCanterbury, Greatness at Sevenoaks and Shakespeare Farm in Medway). The steady movetowards integrated waste management techniques will reduce the county’s dependency on


landfill. But while disposing of waste in this way is seen as a last resort, there will be acontinuing need to deal with residual wastes by landfilling.

10.18 Landfilling is likely to continue on sites used for mineral extraction where this goeshand in hand with restoring the site. Kent’s geology dictates that some mineral workings areonly suitable for filling with inert material such as construction and demolition waste. Toreinstate sites with non inert material would carry a high risk of ground contamination. Inertwaste material is however, becoming less common following the success of nationalinitiatives to reduce waste such as the Landfill Tax. For this reason where disposal to landfillis justified under the provisions of Policy WM2, the material involved should be directed toappropriate mineral workings to allow them to be restored. In some areas the nature of theunderlying geology may prohibit the disposal of even inert waste to mineral workings.

10.19 Although the disposal of non-inert waste to landfill may be justified if it is considered tomeet the principles of the BPEO, finding suitable landfill sites can prove difficult because ofthe need to prevent groundwater pollution. Where waste is disposed to land a beneficialafter-use and/or environmental enhancement should be sought. Landraising, a form ofdisposal that changes existing land profiles, may offer an alternative means of disposal fornon-inert waste. Landraising can be visually intrusive and needs sensitive treatment but itcan offer advantages over landfill as it enables pollution to be more easily managed.Sensitive landraising at existing landfill sites could offset the need for the use of furthergreenfield sites. Landraising, like landfill, should only be used as a last resort when othermethods of disposal, higher up the hierarchy, have been exhausted.

Policy WM5: Waste Disposal to Land

Where disposal of waste to land can be demonstrated to represent the BestPracticable Environmental Option in terms of Policy WM1:

1) For inert waste, priority will be given to using suitable mineral workings rather thanother land disposal sites where this will facilitate the reinstatement of land to abeneficial after-use and/or secure improvement of the environment;

2) For non-inert waste, subject to Policy WM2, Kent and Medway Councils willconsider landraising as an option for waste disposal. Provision should be madefor the re-instatement of land to a beneficial after-use.

Location of future waste management facilities

10.20 Kent and Medway presently export more than a third of their household waste forlandfilling. New facilities are needed to allow waste to be dealt with more sustainably. PolicyWM6 indicates the types of waste management facility which may be required over the Planperiod. Detailed requirements for the scale and type and location of such facilities are to bedetermined through Kent and Medway’s Waste/Local Development Documents.

10.21 Kent and Medway will seek to maximise opportunities for new recycling facilities,particularly where waste can be transported by means other than by road. Sites that offergood access by rail or water could contribute significantly to the development of sustainablewaste management.

10.22 Biological treatment of waste by such methods as composting offers an effective wayof achieving recycling targets. Treatment plants usually take in green waste from a variety ofsources, compost it and then take it off site for sale as a soil conditioner. Two industrial scaleplants already exist in Kent – at Dunbrik near Sevenoaks and at Shelford near Canterbury -and a further plant has permission but is yet to be implemented at Blaise Farm near WestMalling. There is also a handful of small, farm based composting facilities located


sporadically throughout the county. These smaller facilities tend to use the compost onadjacent farmland. While such facilities reduce the need to transport waste, it is unlikely thatthey will make a significant contribution to recycling targets. Further industrial scalecomposting capacity is likely to be required to ensure that all parts of the county areadequately served.

10.23 Recycling alone will be unable to deal with Kent‘s waste management requirements inthe short to medium term. This is because of the time needed to secure the significantinvestment required and changes in public attitudes and behaviour.

10.24 National policy regards facilities that derive energy from waste as a valid option lowerdown the waste hierarchy for those wastes which cannot be realistically treated in otherways. The new facility at Allington, near Maidstone will be capable of accepting up to500,000 tonnes of household, industrial and commercial waste each year primarily arising inMid and West Kent.

Policy WM6: Assessment of Strategic Waste Management Facilities

Waste or Local Development Frameworks in Kent will assess a pattern of wastemanagement facilities over the plan period that will include consideration of:

(i) strategic recycling facilities;(ii) industrial scale composting facilities;(iii) waste reprocessing plant providing energy production both for the plant and

wider use and incorporating provision for materials recycling;(iv) further landfill capacity to meet the need to dispose of residues to land; and(v) other facilities that may be required to meet integrated waste management

targets.

They will also determine the need for, and pattern of, small scale waste processingand composting facilities.

Construction projects

10.25 Construction projects such as new transport schemes and major developments canrequire significant quantities of aggregate minerals or give rise to significant quantities ofsurplus spoil. As a result they can have a major impact on land use and transportation.Planning authorities considering large projects will seek to ensure that any resource ordisposal requirements are dealt with either on site or adjacent to it. Where this is not possiblethey will seek agreement on appropriate routes for vehicles bringing material into, or out of,the site and on where materials should be sourced and taken to. Use of the rail network willbe promoted wherever possible.

Policy WM7: Construction Related Spoil

In order to minimise the environmental impact of construction projects which requiresignificant quantities of construction aggregates or give rise to significant amounts ofsurplus spoil, a scheme for the transport and routing of such materials, together withproposals for the disposal or reuse of surplus spoil, will be designed into the projectitself.

Minerals

10.26 Minerals make an essential contribution to economic prosperity and provide rawmaterials for many everyday needs – homes, community buildings, schools, roads,


glassware, household goods and much more. With continuing development the need foraccessible sources of minerals remains strong.

10.27 Minerals can only be worked where they occur naturally and their extraction can havesignificant impacts on the environment. Kent is rich in minerals containing a variety of sandsand gravels as well as chalk, ragstone, clays and brickearth. Given the high environmentalquality of much of Kent’s undeveloped land there is a need to balance the demand forminerals with protection of the county’s distinctive natural features. There is also a need tobalance the benefits of mineral extraction with the well being and amenity of communitiesliving nearby.

Mineral resources: key issues

• Maintaining a sufficient supply of minerals for the development industry• The environmental impact of mineral extraction and transportation• Safeguarding mineral resources for the longer term• Maintaining sufficient capacity for the importation of minerals The strategy for minerals is to: • maximise the use of secondary and recycled minerals• maintain a continuity of supply either locally or by importing a range of mineral types• avoid unacceptable environmental impacts• make sure land is worked and restored satisfactorily• safeguard strategically important minerals and protect import facilities Supply of minerals 10.28 Kent relies upon a range of sources for its minerals, including: • Locally extracted virgin (primary) materials;• Imported virgin (primary) materials;• Virgin (primary) marine dredged material (sand and gravel only);• Recycled materials such as road scalpings and planings and construction and demolition

waste;• Secondary materials – material which can be used instead of a primary material and

which usually arise as a by-product of other quarrying, mining or industrial processes.Examples include pulverised fuel ash, blast furnace slag and incinerator residues.

10.29 It is national policy to move towards a more sustainable use of resources by usingfewer land-won ‘primary’ minerals and more alternative materials taken from secondary orrecycled sources. Regional strategy indicates that the supply of construction aggregates inthe South East should be met from a significant increase in supplies of secondary andrecycled materials, a reduced contribution from primary land-won resources and an increasein imports of marine dredged aggregates. It sets a target of an increase from 6.6mtpa to atleast 7.7mtpa in the use of secondary and recycled materials in the South East by 2016.This can be encouraged by influencing construction/building specifications and by makingprovision for facilities that treat and process potential sources of recycled and substitutematerial. The apportionment of this figure between minerals planning authority areas isunder consideration through the draft South East Plan (2006).


Policy MN1: Sources of Minerals Supply Subject to environment, transport and other material planning considerations,including appropriate after-use, proposals for the provision of minerals throughrecycling, the use of secondary materials, facilitation of imports and the acceptableextraction of local sources of supply will be permitted. Policy MN2: Use of Secondary/Recycled Materials Kent County Council and Medway Council will seek to maximise the use of recycledand secondary materials through: • the Councils’ own material specifications in setting contracts;• encouraging other contractors to use, and specify the use of, recycled materials;• permitting recycling proposals at appropriate locations consistent with Waste or

Local Development Documents.

Consideration of minerals proposals

10.30 Extracting and supplying minerals has the potential to cause significant harm to theenvironment. Community and environmental interests will be protected by imposingappropriate conditions on planning permissions and monitoring operations at sites oncepermission has been granted. Suitable restoration and aftercare will also be required atmineral sites. Restoration provides a unique opportunity for mineral development to enhancethe environment and contribute to nature conservation and biodiversity objectives. Scope forbiodiversity enhancement should be examined as part of the evaluation of prospectivebeneficial after uses in support of the objectives of Policy EN8.

Policy MN3: Assessment Criteria for Minerals Proposals

Proposals for minerals extraction and/or associated plant and buildings and mineralsrecycling facilities will be permitted only where they do not have an unacceptableadverse impact on agricultural, landscape, conservation or environmental interests ofacknowledged importance, or on residential and business communities.

Permission will only be granted if any physical constraints on the land have beenproperly taken into account and if there are adequate access proposals, measures tominimise harm to the landscape and environment, to protect local communities, tolandscape the site, remove plant or buildings after workings have ceased and torestore the land to an appropriate after use, normally as working progresses.

Wherever appropriate a period of aftercare will also be required.

Rail and wharf facilities for minerals handling

10.31 Geological and environmental constraints within Kent mean that approximately twothirds of primary aggregates are imported via rail and wharf facilities (2001 figures). Largereserves of marine aggregate have been identified in the eastern English Channel. There area number of deep-water berths along the Thames and the Medway which are suitable formineral importation and some are already used for this purpose. The ability to accommodatelarger ships means that these deep water facilities play an important part in the supply ofminerals to Kent and to the wider region, particularly where they have good, or potentiallygood, rail links.


10.32 River frontage has become increasingly attractive for a range of development andsuitable sites for wharves have already been lost. Since imported materials will continue tocontribute to Kent’s overall minerals requirement, it is important to make sure that Kent’swharf and rail facilities are safeguarded from inappropriate development and, wherepossible, enhanced. As well as maintaining sources of supply this will also maximise theamount of bulk material transported in ways other than by road. It will be particularlyimportant where good surface access to wharves exists or can be provided. The authoritieswill need to consult river and port authorities on navigational and conservancy matters.

Policy MN4: Provision and Safeguarding of Marine Wharves and Rail Depots

Existing marine wharves and rail depots that receive and process minerals will beprotected generally from development that would inhibit their continued operation orpotential expansion. This will be achieved through the identification of buffer zonesaround such sites in Minerals or Local Development Documents.

Wharves on the Thames and Medway will be subject of study and potentialrationalisation in accordance with Policy TP22.

Proposals for new marine wharves and rail depots, to receive and process imports ofminerals, will be permitted on appropriate sites. In assessing whether a site isappropriate, Kent County Council and Medway Council will consider all materialplanning interests including those relating to agriculture, landscape, conservation,environment, traffic and access.

Mineral supply

Construction aggregates

10.33 Construction aggregate – sand, gravel and rock - is the main type of mineral found andextracted in Kent. It is used by the construction industry in concrete, road stone and asphaltand for such things as construction fill and railway ballast. Building sands, concreting sandsand gravels and ragstone make up the main types of aggregates found in the county.

10.34 Guidance on the level of provision that should be made for construction aggregates isset out in National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England, 2001 –2016 (June 2003). This sets out a level of provision for each region which is thenapportioned to each Mineral Planning Authority. These authorities must then reflect theserequirements in their Development Plans. The regional minerals strategy apportions2.53mtpa to Kent and Medway for land-won sand and gravel and 1.2mtpa for land-woncrushed rock. These figures take into account an anticipated reduction in land-won primaryaggregates production due to a substantially greater role for secondary and recycledaggregates.

10.35 Authorities are also expected to maintain a stock of planning permissions for primaryaggregates (a landbank) which will provide at least seven years’ reserves. Minerallandbanks are calculated by dividing the amount of reserves by the average annual sales togive a figure for the number of year’s reserves remaining. For construction aggregates,average sales are taken over the last seven years, with the highest and lowest sales yearsomitted from the calculation. This is in line with the apportionment methodology used inRegional Guidance. Landbanks for other minerals may be calculated using average salesover the last three years where historical sales information over a longer time period isunavailable. The current apportionment figure for Kent and Medway would extend the life ofthe current landbank for sand and gravel and suggests a reducing impact on the environmentfrom primary aggregate production. Proposals for aggregate extraction will be assessed in


the light of these considerations and the criteria set out in Policy MN3. In terms of PolicyMN5 there are no occurrences of ragstone within the Medway area.

Policy MN5: Provision for Construction Aggregates

Kent County Council and Medway Council will review and maintain:

1) a supply of aggregates sufficient to contribute to national, regional and localneeds, in accordance with their agreed share of regional aggregates supply.

2) a landbank of permitted reserves of (i) sand and gravel and (ii) ragstonethroughout the period of the Plan sufficient for at least 7 years at agreedapportionment levels.

10.36 In terms of crushed rock, a major potential limestone resource has been identified inEast Kent. If local environmental and highway issues can be dealt with satisfactorily thenfavourable consideration will be given to proposals for limestone mining in this area. Thiswould secure a major source of quality hard rock to help meet the community’s requirementsfor construction aggregates in a way that would be less environmentally damaging comparedto other methods of winning aggregates from the land.

Policy MN6: Limestone Extraction in East Kent

Subject to the requirements of Policies MN1 and MN3, Kent County Council will givefavourable consideration to limestone mining in East Kent. When assessing thelandbank for Kent’s land won construction aggregate requirements, no account will betaken of this option until planning permission has been granted.

Other minerals

10.37 When considering the need to identify or permit additional reserves of non-aggregateminerals, the mineral planning authorities will take into account recent levels of national andregional production and the extent of current permitted reserves. The need to identifysufficient mineral reserves to justify substantial new investment in existing and new fixedplant will also be recognised.

Silica sand

10.38 Silica (or industrial) sand, is an essential raw material used in many industrialprocesses including glass manufacture, the production of foundry castings, ceramics,chemicals manufacture and for water filtration. There is specific national planning policyguidance relating to silica sand (MPG15) which stresses the need to recognise the scarcity ofeconomically workable silica sand deposits and the high capital cost of investment in theindustry. Policy MN7 establishes landbank reserves in line with this guidance. There is nosilica sand in the Medway area. Proposals will be subject to the criteria set out in Policy MN3.

Policy MN7: Silica Sand

Kent County Council will seek to maintain a landbank of permitted reserves of silicasand sufficient for at least 10 years supply for each production site, or at least 15years at sites where significant capital investment is required.

Building stone

10.39 Some minerals found in Kent, particularly local ragstone, can be used as buildingstone. This type of material is important for repairing local historic buildings and monuments.


Workings of this kind are generally small scale. An adequate supply of local building stoneshould be secured in order to make sure that the high quality of Kent’s historic environmentcan be maintained.

Policy MN8: Building Stone

Kent County Council and Medway Council will seek to ensure that there is anadequate supply of building stone available for the repair of local buildings ofarchitectural and historic importance.

Brickearth

10.40 Government policy emphasises the need to make suitable provision for brickearth,which is used to make stockbricks (often known in Kent as London Stocks).

Policy MN9: Brickearth

Proposals for the extraction of brickearth will be permitted which will enable eachstockbrick works to be maintained with at least 15 years reserves of brickearth.Proposals for brickearth extraction on the best and most versatile agricultural landmust provide for the site to be progressively restored.

Chalk and clay

10.41 Chalk and clay provide raw materials for specialist uses and support industries that areimportant to the national and local economy. Chalk is used in the building industry and isworked for agricultural purposes such as liming, and in manufacturing, e.g. in the paperindustry. It is also used in the cement industry and for other engineering purposes. Clay isextracted for use in the brick and cement industry, for sea defences and other engineeringpurposes such as lining landfill sites.

Policy MN10: Chalk and Clay

Kent County Council and Medway Council will seek to maintain throughout the Planperiod:

(a) at least 25 years of permitted reserves of chalk and clay for cement production;(b) at least 15 years of permitted reserves of clay for brick and tile production;(c) at least 10 years of permitted reserves of chalk for agricultural uses;(d) adequate permitted reserves of chalk and clay for engineering, pharmaceutical and

whiting manufacture.

Oil, gas and coalbed methane

10.42 Government regards the exploration and production of oil, gas and coalbed methaneas important for the long-term national interest. Proposals to investigate commercialproduction of oil, gas or coalbed methane workings for commercial production will beconsidered on their merits against Policy MN3 of this Plan. As well as the need to obtainplanning consent, licenses must be obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry atvarious stages, including exploration, before wells or boreholes can be drilled for productionof onshore oil, gas and coalbed methane.


Policy MN11: Oil, Gas and Coalbed Methane

Proposals for the exploration and appraisal of oil, natural gas and coalbed methanewill be permitted. Permission for any production of on-shore oil, gas and coalbedmethane which would require a gathering station, export terminal or distributionnetwork will only be given if there are adequate proposals for:

(a) the screening, landscaping and design of production well sites, gathering stationsand export terminals; and

(b) access and routing for vehicular traffic; and(c) avoiding nuisance to any sensitive development in the vicinity; and(d) transport of oil, gas and coalbed methane within the plan area (for which there will

be a presumption in favour of rail transport and/or underground pipelines so far asthis is practicable); and

(e) the testing or disposal of gas; and(f) the clearance of plant, equipment and buildings and the restoration and aftercare

of all areas affected by the production operations at the end of the permittedperiod.

The siting of gathering stations and export terminals in locations protected by theStructure Plan’s countryside and coast policies, or in locations close to substantialbuilt development, will be refused, unless it can be shown that there is no suitablealternative location.

Safeguarding mineral resources

10.43 Mineral resources should be protected against sterilisation by other forms ofdevelopment. MPG1 General Considerations and the Development Plan System, givesguidance on declaring Mineral Consultation Areas (MCAs). In such areas Minerals PlanningAuthorities have to be notified of any proposed surface development which would sterilise aneconomically important deposit and are given the opportunity to object. Consideration will begiven to the identification of MCAs in Kent and Medway’s Minerals/Local DevelopmentDocuments.

Policy MN12: Safeguarding of Strategically Important Minerals

Development proposals which would sterilise the future availability of strategicminerals identified and safeguarded in Minerals or Local Development Documents willbe refused. Where possible, known sources of secondary and recycled materials willbe safeguarded from sterilisation.

Where development is necessary, extraction of the mineral resource prior to, or inconjunction with, development will be encouraged.

Wherever practicable, proposals for development should provide for the use ofsecondary and recycled materials.


CHAPTER 11: IMPLEMENTING THE KENT AND MEDWAYSTRUCTURE PLAN AND MONITORING ITS EFFECTIVENESS

The Structure Plan: Implementation Context

11.1 This Structure Plan sets out long term strategic planning policy for Kent. If it is to besuccessful it needs to be implemented effectively through a wide range of mechanisms andorganisations across the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

11.2 The Plan seeks to improve the economic, social and environmental well being of Kent,principally by guiding the scale, general location and phasing of development. To be mosteffective, its policies and proposals need to b translated quickly and efficiently into LocalDevelopment Documents. Although local planning authorities will lead this process it will beimportant for them to consult a wide cross section of stakeholders, including localcommunities.

11.3 Local Plans/Local Development Documents and decisions upon individual planningapplications should be consistent with policies in the Structure Plan. This ensures that theStructure Plan takes effect through the day to day policy and development control work of theCounty and District Councils and the Medway Unitary Authority. Given the transition to newplanning arrangements as a result of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 aprimary indicator of the Structure Plan’s effectiveness will be the extent to which its policiesare followed through in subsequent Local Development Documents.

11.4 The private sector will play a major role in implementing the Plan, both by bringingdevelopment forward and in managing Kent’s land resource. Much of what is currentlycherished about the county’s countryside has been preserved over the years by thestewardship of the farming community and land-based industries.

11.5 Implementing the Structure Plan will require wide partnership and support. The localauthorities in Kent will work closely with partners to achieve the objectives of the Plan.

11.6 The Structure Plan is part of a wider family of policy and implementation documentswhich includes community strategies, investment programmes, Government plans and thoseof other public agencies and private sector interests. It is an important tool for delivering thespatial and development related elements of community strategies produced by LocalStrategic Partnerships across Kent. It informs and responds to other policy frameworks.Local Transport Plans for Kent and Medway will translate the transport policies andproposals of the Structure Plan into rolling five-year plans for tackling transport issues. Publicsector policy making which affects areas such as the environment, health, education andcommunity services must be consistent with the Structure Plan in view of the potential impactthey have on the location and accessibility of services and the demands placed upon thetransport network.

11.7 Supplementary planning guidance (SPG), brought forward with this Plan, will help toarticulate the objectives of the Plan in more detail. Specific supplementary guidance supportspolicies of this Plan relating to design and construction (the Kent Design Guide supportingPolicies QL1 and NR1), archaeological heritage (Policy QL7), landscape and countrysidecharacter (Policies EN3-5), biodiversity conservation and enhancement (Policies EN6 - EN9)and parking standards (Policies TP3 - TP19).


Resources

11.8 The Structure Plan is a strategic planning tool which belongs to the organisations andcommunities of Kent. It is a policy rather than a programming document but under section31(6) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 the Plan must have regard to the likelyavailability of resources. The resources needed for its implementation will be considerableand will come from a variety of sources. This will include funding from Government agenciesand investment generated by public and private sector development. Development itselfshould make a substantial contribution to the resources required to meet the demands itplaces on physical and community infrastructure. Such contributions are currently primarilysecured through Section 106 Agreements.

11.9 Kent needs to play a full part in contributing to the economic prosperity of the nation andregion. These roles and the needs of the area should be fully recognised in wider strategiesand funding programmes. To manage change effectively and to address economicdisparities across the county will need sufficient resources from central Government, itsagencies and others. Timely investment in transport and community infrastructure isparticularly important. Those parts of the county where property and investment markets areweak, such as the Priority Areas for Economic Regeneration in North and East Kent and/orwhere accelerated growth is intended (Kent Thames Gateway/Ashford) are particularly inneed of additional funding if the key objectives of the Structure Plan and Government are tobe delivered.

11.10 There will need to be significant shifts in key areas of investment by both the publicand private sectors in order to effect the changes and priorities set out in this strategy.These will be particularly important in respect of:

• investing in high quality development and design;• fostering sustainable access to jobs and services;• securing provision of high quality public services;• providing for mixed use development;• conserving and enhancing landscape character and biodiversity;• securing adequate and timely funding and provision of physical and community

infrastructure to support planned development. 11.11 There is a variety of programmes involving a range of agencies which will assist indelivering this Plan and its strategic infrastructure requirements. These will change overtime. Current examples include the Highways Agency’s Targeted Programme ofImprovements, DCLG’s Growth Area funding and DfT’s Community Infrastructure Fund,water companies’ Asset Management Plans and the Housing Corporation’s ApprovedDevelopment Programme. Regional funding allocations, introduced in 2005, bring togethercapital financing for major transport schemes under the Local Transport Plan system andmajor schemes on the Highways Agency’s trunk road network other than schemes on routesof strategic national or international importance which will continue to be funded throughnational transport budgets. New programmes or funding streams may come into play as aresult of Government proposals for the introduction of planning ‘tariffs’ or, alternatively, a‘planning gain supplement’. Arrangements are needed, especially within the regional growthareas, to ‘forward fund’ key elements of infrastructure serving major development including,where appropriate, the Strategic Development Locations identified by this Plan. 11.12 In the growth areas new delivery arrangements are an important tool in managing thedelivery of the levels of growth and/or the comprehensive regeneration envisaged by theStructure Plan. They will need to be effectively supported by central Government and itsimplementation agencies on a sustained basis. These local delivery structures are:


In Kent Thames Gateway:• Kent Thameside Delivery Board• Medway Renaissance• Swale Forward and at the Ashford growth area:• Ashford’s Future Delivery Board Meeting the costs of new development 11.13 One of the keys to improving well being in Kent will be to ensure that economic orhousing development is supported with the necessary physical and social infrastructure suchas schools, transport, health, recreation facilities and open space. The SustainableCommunities Plan recognises the key role of good quality community services andinfrastructure and a range of housing to the delivery of sustainable communities. What makes a sustainable community? Key requirements include: • A safe and healthy local environment with well designed public and green space;• Sufficient size, scale and density and the right layout to support basic amenities in the

neighbourhood and minimise use of resources (including land);• Good public transport and other transport infrastructure both within the community and

linking it to urban, rural and regional centres;• A well integrated mix of decent homes of different types and tenures to support a range

of household sizes, ages and incomes;• Good quality local public services, including education and training opportunities, health

care and community facilities, especially for leisure;• A diverse, vibrant and creative local culture encouraging pride in the community and

cohesion within it;• A ‘sense of place’. Source: ODPM (2003): Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future, page 5. 11.14 While the Structure Plan seeks to make the best use of available infrastructure andfacilities, implementation of the overall strategy will require the funding and provision ofadditional infrastructure. This must be addressed before development can proceed (seePolicy QL12 (b)) if timely and balanced development of sustainably based communities is tobe secured. The local authorities will work with service providers and regeneration agenciesto establish what new community services are required, particularly in areas undergoingmajor change and renewal. 11.15 The demand for new services cannot necessarily be met from the tightly constrainedbudgets of local authorities and other agencies. The costs should normally be borne by thedevelopment unless there are exceptional circumstances why this should not be the caseand alternative funding is available. Developers may also be asked to make a contribution toaffordable housing, including social, intermediate and key worker housing, where there is aclearly identified community need for this (see Chapter 7, Housing Provision). 11.16 Through the KPOG Good Practice Guide on Development Contributions Kent localauthorities have put in place detailed guidelines for negotiating development contributions tothe cost of community facilities. Contributions for educational facilities, affordable housing,highways and public transport are the most common. This ‘tariff’ approach, consistent with


Government guidance on planning obligations in ODPM Circular 5/05, will be developedfurther to aid the implementation of Policies QL12 and IM1 and the preparation of LocalDevelopment Documents. 11.17 The size of contributions and the way they are used must have regard to local prioritiesand be appropriate and proportionate to the demands generated by development. Theyshould also take into account evidence of exceptional costs incurred in developing sitesparticularly where previously developed land is involved. Cost-effective solutions to meetingneeds, such as the shared use of buildings, will be encouraged. Ongoing management andmaintenance of facilities and infrastructure must also be considered. The rapid pace ofdevelopment envisaged for the growth areas presents particular challenges in ensuring thatthe supporting infrastructure is brought forward in a timely way. Masterplanning and theproactive use of Local Development Documents have an important role to play in identifyinginfrastructure needs and the balance of uses appropriate to a particular locality. Policy QL12on planning for the provision of new community infrastructure defines the spectrum ofcommunity services to be considered and this will apply to the implementation of Policy IM1. Policy IM1: Meeting the Costs of Community and Other Infrastructure NeedsGenerated by New Development The local planning authorities will require appropriate and proportionate contributionsfrom developments to meet the costs of providing community, transport and otherinfrastructure necessary to provide for the needs arising from the development. Suchcontributions will be agreed before planning permission is granted and the facilitiesand/or services will be provided in accordance with an agreed phasing programmeand, where appropriate, ongoing management and/or maintenance arrangements. The Monitoring Framework 11.18 The framework for assessing the effectiveness of the Structure Plan needs to bestraightforward and focused. Local planning authorities are required to keep under reviewcertain factors in their area. These include population dynamics (the size, composition anddistribution of population), physical and economic characteristics and the communications,transport system and traffic conditions within the area. These factors provide importantcontext for both the development and evaluation of the Structure Plan’s policies. 11.19 The Plan’s policies have a number of associated quantifiable targets notably inrelation to housing supply, housing density, housing development on previously developedland, business and industrial floorspace, minerals land banks and waste managementcapacity. The Plan also identifies spatial priorities for development and investment, aportfolio of strategic transport schemes allied to the Plan’s strategy and a number of keylocations for development (Strategic Development Locations) Progress across these mainelements of the Structure Plan will need to be measured. 11.20 Monitoring will need to draw upon a range of data and information sources includingassessment of Local Plan and Local Development Document proposals, analysis of planningdecisions and well established county wide surveys monitoring the supply and take up ofhousing and commercial land. A number of indicators can be supported from publishedsources available nationally and regionally. Implementation of certain essential indicatorswill require closer attention and examination e.g. delivery of affordable housing, theaccessibility of new development to key services and capacity for minerals recycling. 11.21 Monitoring indicators need to reflect the Plan’s goals and core principles. The Plan’sprimary purpose is to protect and enhance the environment and achieve a sustainablepattern of development. While no single indicator can demonstrate such a wide-ranging


concept as ‘sustainability’, the degree of sustainability attained will reflect the net impact of allthe Plan’s policies. Indicators are inherently illustrative and have been selected to provide asnapshot of how Kent is performing in relation to some of the Plan’s key aims. 11.22 Planning authorities within the Structure Plan area are required, through production ofAnnual Monitoring Reports to provide monitoring information to support monitoring of LocalPlans and Local Development Frameworks. This will also inform monitoring of RPG9 andthe emerging South East Plan (including its sub regional elements). Government hasidentified a number of core output indicators for regional and local planning purposes in itsGood Practice Guides on monitoring. There are advantages of consistency and economy ofdata collection in ensuring, as far as possible, that there is compatibility and synergybetween monitoring indicators used for regional, sub regional and local purposes.Determination of the Structure Plan performance indicators has taken this into account. 11.23 A number of indicators supporting the Structure Plan will draw upon monitoringarrangements established for other plans and strategies. For example, indicators andtargets on economic, environmental and transport issues, reflecting Structure Plan principlesand policy objectives, support: • Kent Prospects (KCC’s Economic Development Strategy)• Kent Environment Strategy• Kent and Medway’s Local Transport Plans

There will also be scope for common ground in the monitoring requirements for the StructurePlan, and the Minerals and Waste Development Frameworks of Kent County Council andMedway Council’s Local Development Framework in respect of minerals and waste matters. 11.24 The role of the Structure Plan is to provide the strategic planning framework which willguide decisions on development, transport and environmental matters in Kent over the next15-20 years (paragraph 1.1). A key measure of its enduring effect will be the extent to whichits policies are taken forward within Local Development Frameworks emerging within thearea with the transition to new strategic and local planning arrangements as a result of thePlanning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Accordingly an associated indicator for thePlan is that LDFs within the Plan area should incorporate or reflect, as appropriate, relevantKMSP policies in their core strategies or other Local Development Documents. 11.25 This Plan contains the aims, objectives and vision for strategic land use planning inKent. Policies provide the direction that development and environmental managementshould take to help realise that vision. An assessment of the way in which the Key Themesand Core Principles, set out in Chapter One, are carried into policies is set out in Table IM1:From Vision to Policy. It demonstrates the strong relationship between the objectives of thePlan and the policies it contains. Table IM2 sets out the measures for monitoring progresswith the Plan and the effectiveness of its implementation. Regular monitoring of the Plan willensure that local authorities in Kent and other stakeholders can respond in an informed wayto the performance and robustness of the Plan’s policies as well as wider change in theeconomic, social and environmental circumstances in which the Plan has been developed. Indicators 11.26 Table IM2 outlines the proposals for monitoring the Plan. It draws upon therelationship between the Core Principles of the Plan and its policies (Table IM1) andidentifies, where appropriate, policy related targets and associated output/outcomeindicators. Overall three broad types of indicator are identified consistent with Governmentguidance:


Output/Outcome Indicators – quantify the performance of Structure Plan policies i.e. thedirect results of the implementation of Structure Plan policies e.g. the scale and location ofland allocated for housing or business development in a Local Development Document Contextual Indicators – provide understanding of the wider social, economic andenvironmental background to the Plan and inform assessment of its implementation andeffects

Process Indicators – these take account of process related objectives that are integral to thedelivery of Structure Plan policies e.g. the completion/review of urban capacity studies, localhousing needs assessments, development and design briefs for major developmentlocations.


Table IM 1: From vision to policy

This table relates the Key Themes and Core Principles contained within Chapter One to thespecific policies contained within the succeeding chapters.

THEME/PRINCIPLE SUPPORTED BY PLANPOLICIES

Key Theme 1: Nurturing Kent’s environment and resources

Protecting the countryside, minimising greenfield development andmaking the most of opportunities for re-using previously developedland and previously used buildings especially within existing townsand other substantial communities.

SP1, SS2, SS3, SS4,HP2, HP3, HP4, HP5,EP3, EN1-8, EN14

Anticipating and reducing the impact of future climate changeincluding stronger protection and management of areas of potentialflood risk, reducing demand for energy and moving towardsrenewable energy sources.

SP1, QL1, NR1-4, NR10-11

Protecting and enhancing Kent’s land, air and water environments.Ensuring that development does not create unacceptable levels ofpollution and that development that would be sensitive to pollution isprotected from it.

SP1, NR5–NR9,

Protecting high quality agricultural land. EP9Conserving and enhancing Kent’s natural habitats and biodiversity. SP1, EN1-EN3, EN6-

EN13Promoting sensitive and comprehensive approaches to theassessment and protection of the countryside that reflect itscharacter and biodiversity as well as its natural beauty.

EN1-EN5, EN8

Conserving and enhancing Kent’s historic environment. SP1, QL6-10Using and managing water and other natural resources wisely,including safeguarding viable mineral reserves from sterilisation.

SP1, NR1, NR8-NR9,MN1-3, MN5-12

Reducing disposable waste to a minimum and disposing of it in away that achieves maximum benefits from recycling and reducesharmful impacts on the environment.

WM1-7

Taking care in the way that the natural environment is used toprovide leisure, recreational, cultural and educational opportunitiesfor local communities.

QL15-QL18, EN10-EN12

Key Theme 2: Fostering prosperity

Increasing economic opportunity and reducing economic disparitieswithin Kent by working towards regeneration and improved economicperformance in North Kent, the coastal towns of East Kent and theformer East Kent Coalfield.

SS1, DG1, ME1, SW1,CA1, DO1, TH1, SH1,EP1-2, EP4

Pursuing targeted economic development, including support for highvalue added activities and skills development, business clusters andknowledge-based industries to boost the competitiveness of the Kenteconomy and existing businesses.

EP1-EP2, EP4-5

Securing employment led growth and development, especially withinthe areas in North and East Kent that require regeneration.

SS1, EP2, EP4-5

Helping existing businesses to grow and provide new jobs EP4-EP6Providing for sustainable growth in the economically successful partsof Kent, while addressing the pockets of deprivation that occur withinthem.

SS1, WK1, SE1, TM1,TW1, MA1

Sustaining and improving the economic health and vitality of Kent’s SS7, EP6–EP8, HP8


rural communities and helping the rural economy to diversify.Making the most of the role of Thames Gateway as a national andregional priority for economic growth, regeneration and infrastructureinvestment and recognising, in this respect, the pivotal role of themain urban areas of North Kent and Medway.

SS1, SS4, DG1, ME1,SW1, EP2, EP4, EP5,HP1

Promoting Ashford as a regional growth point whilst ensuring that theeconomy of East Kent, in particular, also benefits.

SS1, AS1, EP2, EP4,HP1

Promoting sustainable tourism that capitalises on Kent’s assets. EP10-13Key Theme 3: Securing quality, investment and infrastructure for regeneration anddevelopmentProviding attractive new communities that are safe, secure andconvenient places in which to live and work and which encourage asense of place and local distinctiveness.

SP1, SS6, QL1-3, QL11-13, QL17, IM1

Regenerating and revitalising Kent’s major/ principal urban areasthrough neighbourhood renewal and redevelopment and byimproving key inner urban locations.

SS1, SS4-6, EP14-16,EP18, HP2-4, HP6-7,QL1-QL5, QL11-13, IM1

Balancing the provision of homes, jobs, infrastructure and communityservices and making sure they are provided at the right time.Ensuring development brings with it improvements in services andinfrastructure.

SP1, SS1, HP1, QL11-12, IM1

Promoting and investing in efficient transport that will serve futureneeds, tackle congestion, avoid unacceptable environmental damageand make best use of the existing road and rail infrastructure.

SP1, EN13, TP1-26,MN4

Insisting on high quality design that uses land, water, energy andother resources more efficiently and provides for changing lifestylesand preferences.

SP1, QL1-2, NR1

Maintaining the character and separation of settlements by retainingthe Green Belt and defining ‘strategic gaps’.

SS2, SS3, QL1, QL4

Key Theme 4: Enhancing choice, opportunity and accessibility

Ensuring that planning policies and practice in Kent promote socialindependence and take into account the needs of all sections of thecommunity.

SP1, SS1, SS5–SS7,QL1-3, QL11-18, EP1-8,EP14-18, HP1, HP6-9,TP1-3, TP9-11, IM1

Providing sufficient housing of a suitable range, quality and diversityfor people in Kent.

SP1, HP1, HP6-9

Concentrating development at the major/principal urban areas thatare the main focal points for jobs, public services and transportfacilities.

SS1, SS4, EP3, HP2,EP14-16, EP18.

Promoting more mixed use developments of the right pattern anddensity that use land efficiently, increase accessibility, reduce theneed to travel, particularly by car, and are planned to meet social,cultural and economic needs.

SS5, QL5, QL12

Ensuring that decisions on development and transport make it easyfor people to reach local services and jobs and provide a choice oftransport for people and goods.

SP1, SS1 ,SS4, SS7,EP3, EP10, EP15, HP2,TP2-3, TP9-11

Ensuring that access to all buildings, transport and services isimproved for everyone while avoiding undue impact on buildings ofimportant heritage value.

SP1, QL1, TP1,


Table IM2: Measuring progress and monitoring effectiveness of the Structure Plan

Policy Structure PlanTarget

Indicator Type ofIndicator

Data Source Links with otherstrategies /CoreOutput Indicators

SP1: Conserving andEnhancing Kent’sEnvironment and Ensuring aSustainable Pattern ofDevelopment

Policy SP1 will be monitoredusing the full range of outputand contextual indicatorspresented for the Plan.

Community strategiesfor Kent and Medway;Kent Agreement;Local Transport Plansfor Kent and Medway;Kent EnvironmentStrategy;Kent Prospects;Medway EconomicDevelopment Strategy.

KEY THEME 1: Nurturing Kent’s environment and resourcesCore Principle:Protecting the countryside, minimising greenfield development and making the most of opportunities for re-using previouslydeveloped land and previously used buildings especially within existing towns and other substantial communitiesPolicy Structure Plan

TargetIndicator Type of

IndicatorData Source Links with other

strategies /CoreOutput Indicators

SS4: Priority for PreviouslyDeveloped Land and aSequential Approach to theLocation of Development

HP2: Housing Provision:Phasing , Assessment andSequential Approach toLocation

HP3: Contribution ofPreviously Developed Landand Previously Used Buildingsto Housing Provision 2001-16

E1: Protecting Kent’s

70% of housing provision inKent (Policy HP1) to belocated on previouslydeveloped land or withinpreviously used buildings

Proportion of housing provision(net completions post 2001and future supply) located onpreviously developedland/buildings

Amount of (a) previouslydeveloped land and (b)greenfield land in thecountryside and within existingsettlements newly committedin the Structure Plan period tohousing development throughdevelopment plan allocationsor planning permissions.

Output

Output

Kent and Medwayannual HousingLand Surveys

Planningdecisions andLDDs

Core Output Indicator2b.

RPG9 (2001) Policy Q1


CountrysideAmount of (a) previouslydeveloped land and (b)greenfield land newlycommitted in the StructurePlan period to business andindustrial development (UseClasses B1-B8) throughdevelopment plan allocationsor planning permissions.

Timing and coverage of up todate urban capacity studiesprepared in accordance withthe Kent Protocol for suchstudies.

Output

Process

Kent and MedwayEmployment LandSurveys andplanningdecisions

Kent localauthorities

Core Output Indicator 1c

HP4: Housing: Quality anddensity of development

Average net density ofhousing development to be30+ dwellings per hectare

An increasing proportion ofhousing development in thecentral parts of the major/principal urban areas and/orclose to major publictransport nodes to reflect anet density of 50+ dwellingsper ha.

Percentage of new dwellingsby district and within major/principal urban areascompleted at a net density of:(i) Less than 30

dwellings per ha.(ii) 30 – 50 dwellings per

ha.(iii ) Above 50 dwellings per ha.

Output Kent and MedwayHousing LandSurveys andplanningdecisions

Core Output Indicator2c.

EN4: Areas of OutstandingNatural Beauty and theHeritage Coast

EN5: Special LandscapeAreas

No net loss of land within, ordamage to, the naturalbeauty of areas of nationalor strategic landscapeimportance as a result ofnew commitments todevelopment.

Area of land of national orstrategic landscapeimportance lost or damaged asa result of new commitmentsto development.

Output Planningdecisions

LDDs


Core Principle:Anticipating and reducing the impact of future climate change including stronger protection and management of areas of potentialflood risk, reducing demand for energy and moving towards renewable energy sourcesPolicy Structure Plan




NR1: Development and thePrudent Use of NaturalResources

Emissions of CO2 Contextual NationalAtmosphericEmissionsInventory

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator L.

NR1: Development and thePrudent Use of NaturalResources

QL1: Quality of Developmentand Design

Percentage of new buildhomes meeting EcoHomes‘Very Good’ standard

Percentage of commercialbuildings meeting BREEAM‘Very Good’ standard.

Output

Output

BRE

BRE

NR3: Renewable andSustainable EnergyProduction

Installed renewable energycapacity in Kent:111MW by 2010154 MW by 2016

Installed capacity of sources ofrenewable energy in Kent bytype

Output Kent EnergyCentreSouth EastRenewableEnergy Statistics

Core Output Indicator 9;RPG9 (2004) EnergyEfficiency andRenewable EnergyPolicy INF7;Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator M.

NR10: Development andFlood Risk

No development allocationsmade or planningpermissions grantedcontrary to the advice of theEnvironment Agency onflood defence grounds.

Development allocations madeand planning permissionsgranted (with associated land/development quantities)contrary to the advice of theEnvironment Agency.

Output EnvironmentAgency

LDDs

Core Output Indicator 7.


Core Principles:Protecting and enhancing Kent’s land, air and water environmentsEnsuring that development does not create unacceptable levels of pollution and that development that would be sensitive to pollutionis protected from it.Policy Structure Plan




NR5: Pollution Impacts Number of days when airpollution (levels of NO2, SO2,PM10 or CO) moderate or high.

Contextual Kent Air QualityPartnership

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator D

NR8: WaterQuality

NR9: Water Supply andWastewater Treatment

No development allocationsmade or planningpermissions grantedcontrary to the advice of theEnvironment Agency ongrounds of adverse impacton water quality

Development allocations madeand planning permissionsgranted (with associated land/development quantities)contrary to the advice of theEnvironment Agency.

Extent of inland and coastalwaters of ‘good’ or ‘fair’chemical and biological waterquality.

Number and proportion ofwastewater treatment facilitiescapable of meeting EU andnational water qualityObjectives.

Output

Contextual

Contextual

EnvironmentAgency

LDDs

EnvironmentAgency

EnvironmentAgency

Core Output Indicator 7

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator Y

Core Principle:Protecting high quality agricultural landPolicy Structure Plan




EP9: Protection of AgriculturalLand

High quality agricultural land(DEFRA Grades 1 and 2)newly committed to builtdevelopment in the StructurePlan period

Output LDDsPlanningdecisions.


Core Principle:Conserving and enhancing Kent’s natural habitats and biodiversityPolicy Structure Plan




EN6: International andNational Wildlife Designations.

EN7: County and LocalWildlife Designations.EN8: Protection, Conservationand enhancement ofBiodiversity.

Condition of Sites of SpecialScientific Interest, SpecialAreas of Conservation andSpecial Protection Areas

Change in areas covered byinternational, national orcounty wildlife designations.

Extent, condition and changein priority habitats and species(by type) for which BiodiversityAction Plans have beenprepared.

Contextual

Outcome

Outcome

NaturalEngland

Planningdecisions.KentBiodiversityPartnership.

KentBiodiversityPartnership

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator F



Core Principle:Promoting sensitive and comprehensive approaches to the assessment and protection of the countryside, that reflect its characterand biodiversity as well as its natural beautyPolicy Structure Plan




EN3: Protection andEnhancement of CountrysideCharacter

Land covered by CountrysideStewardship Scheme orEnvironmentally SensitiveArea management schemes.

Number and coverage of locallandscape characterassessments.

Contextual

Process

Defra


Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator J


Core Principle:Conserving and enhancing Kent’s historic environmentPolicy Structure Plan




QL6: Conservation Areas Number of Conservation areaAppraisals adopted by localauthorities.

Output Kent localAuthorities

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator N

QL7: Archaeological Sites Number of significantarchaeological excavationsundertaken in advance ofdevelopment.Number of significantarchaeological sites adverselyaffected by new development.

Output

Output

KentArchaeologyService

KentArchaeologyService.Planningdecisions/ LDDs

Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator O

Core Principle:Using and managing water and other natural resources wisely, including safeguarding of viable mineral reserves from sterilisation.Policy Structure Plan




MN1: Sources of MineralsSupply:

MN2: Use of Secondary/Recycled Materials

Production of primary land wonaggregates in Kent.

Production of recycledconstruction, demolition andminerals waste – amount andproportion of total aggregateproduction.

Number of sites identified forthe handling of secondary andrecycled minerals.

Output

Output

Output

AggregatesMonitoring Survey

AggregatesMonitoringSurvey/ DCLG

KMWDFMedway LDF

Core Output Indicator 5a

Core Output Indicator 5b

MN5: Provision forConstruction aggregates;MN7: Silica Sand;

Adequate land banks inrelation to regional andStructure Plan policy

Extent of land banks forstrategic minerals.

Output KMDF: AnnualMonitoring Report


MN9: Brickearth;MN10: Chalk and Clay

requirements for strategicminerals.

M12: Safeguarding ofStrategically ImportantMinerals

No strategic mineralreserves sterilised as aresult of alternativedevelopment.

Extent of strategic mineralreserves safeguarded by theDevelopment Plan.

Built development proposalsaffecting safeguarded mineralreserves.

Output KMDFMedway LDF

Planningdecisions.

NR1: Development and thePrudent Use of NaturalResource/

NR9: Water Supply andwastewater treatment

Per capita consumption ofwater.

Contextual EnvironmentAgencyWaterCompanies

Kent EnvironmentStrategyIndicator X

Core Principle:Reducing disposable waste to a minimum and disposing of it in a way that achieves maximum benefits from recycling and reducesharmful impacts on the environment.Policy Structure Plan




WM1: Integrated WasteManagementWM3: Securing WasteReduction

WM4: Planning for WasteManagement Capacity

Secure net self-sufficiencywithin Kent and in Medway inwaste management capacity.

Provision of a network ofsites and facilities for wastemanagement sufficient tomeet objectives for increasedrecycling, diversion fromlandfill and capable ofsupporting waste treatmentand disposal capacity for 15years ahead.

Volume and growth ofmunicipal waste and otherwaste stream arisings in Kentand Medway.

Net movement of municipaland other waste streams intoand out of Kent and Medway.

Management of municipalwaste by type and thepercentage eachmanagement type representsof the waste managed

Capacity of new waste

Contextual

Contextual

Output

Output

Kent CC; MedwayCouncil;EnvironmentAgency.

Kent CC;Medway Council;EnvironmentAgency.

Kent CC;Medway Council;EnvironmentAgency;

Kent CC;


Kent EnvironmentStrategy Indicator T

Core Output Indicator 6bKent EnvironmentStrategy Indicators Uand V

Core output Indicator


management facilities by type. Medway Council;EnvironmentAgency.

6a

KEY THEME 2 : Fostering prosperityCore Principles:Increasing economic opportunity and reducing economic disparities within Kent by working towards regeneration and improvedeconomic performance in North Kent, the coastal towns of East Kent and the former East Kent coalfield.Securing employment led growth and development especially within the areas in North and East Kent which require regeneration.Making the most of the role of Kent Thames Gateway as a national and regional priority for economic growth, regeneration andinfrastructure investment.Promoting Ashford as a regional growth point whilst ensuring that the economy of East Kent also benefits.Policy Structure Plan




SS1: Spatial Priorities forDevelopment and Investmentin Kent and the role of thesettlement hierarchy

EP1: Land , Workforce,Education and Skills

An increased rate ofemployment growth in KentThames Gateway, East Kentand Ashford

Reduction in unemployment/long term unemploymentdifferentials between KentThames Gateway/ East Kentand rest of Kent.

Change in total employment

Change in unemployment/long term unemployment bydistrict

Proportion of people ofworking age qualified to NVQlevel 4 or equivalent.Percentage increase/decrease in the number ofVAT registered businesses.

Contextual

Contextual

Contextual

Contextual

Annual BusinessInquiry

NOMIS/ ClaimantCount

NOMIS

NOMIS

Kent ProspectsMedway EconomicDevelopment Strategy


Kent ProspectsMedway EconomicDevelopment StrategyKent ProspectsMedway EconomicDevelopment Strategy

EP2: Employment LandProvision

EP4: Locations of StrategicImportance for Business,Industrial or Distribution Uses

Increased average annualgross and net gain in thedevelopment of employmentland and floorspace in KentThames Gateway, East Kentand Ashford

Gross and net development ofemployment land andfloorspace by type (UseClasses A2, B1-B8):(a) by district(b) by Structure Plan spatialpriority areas.

Output Kent and MedwayEmployment LandSurveys

Core Output Indicators1a ,1b and 4a (part)


Take up of development atstrategic employment sites.

Supply of employment landand floorspace by type (UseClasses A2, B1-B8) by districtand Structure Plan spatialpriority areas.

Amount of employment landlost to residentialdevelopment by district.

Output

Output

Output

“

“

Kent and MedwayHousing LandSurveys.Planningdecisions

Core Output Indicator 1d

Core output indicator 1f

Core Principle:Pursuing targeted economic development, including support for high value added activities and skills development, businessclusters and knowledge based industries to boost the competitiveness of the Kent economy and existing businesses.Policy Structure Plan




EP1: Land, Workforce,Education and Skills

EP5: Land for Technology andKnowledge Clusters

Change in GVA per capita inKent and other parts of theSouth East

Proportion of employees inthe knowledge economy: Kentand districts.

Development committed andimplemented at thetechnology and knowledgeclusters identified by theStructure Plan.

Contextual

Contextual

Output

NOMIS/ONS

Annual BusinessInquiry

LDDs/ Analysis ofplanningdecisions




Core Principle:Sustaining and improving the economic health and vitality of Kent’s rural communities and helping the rural economy to diversifyPolicy Structure Plan




EP7: Development ofEmployment Uses in RuralAreas

EP8: Farm Diversification

HP8: Affordable Housing onRural Exception sites

Change in the number of VATregistered businesses in ruralKent

Business floorspace permittedfor change of use /conversionof buildings in rural Kent

Proportion of average farmincome derived from‘diversified activities’: Kent

Affordable housingcompletions in rural Kent andproportion delivered on ruralexception sites

Contextual

Output

Contextual

Contextual

NOMIS

Planningdecisions

Defra: FarmBusiness Survey

Kent localAuthorities

KEY THEME 3: Securing quality, investment and infrastructure for regeneration and developmentCore Principle:Balancing the provision of homes, jobs, infrastructure and community services and making sure they are provided at the right time.Ensuring development brings with it improvements in services and infrastructurePolicy Structure Plan




SS1: Spatial Priorities forDevelopment and Investment

Private sector provision/funding secured for social,

Process Analysis of S106planning


in Kent.

QL12: Provision for NewCommunity Services andInfrastructure.IM1 Meeting the Costs ofCommunity and OtherInfrastructure NeedsGenerated by NewDevelopment.

community, transport andother physical infrastructurethrough planning agreements.

Public investment in physicaland community infrastructureallied to development.

Provision made in LocalDevelopment Documents fornew community facilities.

Process

Process

agreements

Analysis offunding andinvestmentprogrammes

LocalDevelopmentDocuments

Core PrinciplesProviding attractive new communities which are safe , secure and convenient places for people in which to live and work and whichencourage a sense of place and local distinctivenessInsisting on high quality design that uses land, water, energy and other resources more efficiently and provides for changinglifestyles and preferences.Policy Structure Plan




NR1: Development and thePrudent Use of NaturalResourcesQL1: Quality of Developmentand DesignQL2: Priorities for the PublicRealm

QL17: Green Space Networksand Rights of Way

SS6: Enhancing ExistingCommunities

Provision of adopteddevelopment/ design briefs formajor development sitesincluding the Plan’s StrategicDevelopment Locations.Number and extent of areaswithin the major/principalurban areas covered bydesign guidance/area actionplans.

Progress with development ofopen space strategies anddefinition of green spacenetworks.

Process

Process

Process





Core Principle:Promoting and investing in efficient transport that will serve future needs, tackle congestion, avoid unacceptable damage to theenvironment and make best use of the existing road and rail infrastructure.Policy Structure Plan




TP2: Assessment Criteria forTransport ProposalsTP5: Support for Strategic RailSchemes.TP6: Major TransportCorridorsTP8: Future StrategicTransport SchemesTP9: Supporting PublicTransport

Secure phasedimplementation of strategictransport schemes identifiedby the Structure Plan inaccordance with rolling LTPprogrammes

Evaluation of strategictransport schemes againstassessment criteria (PolicyTP2) and progress with theirimplementation.

Outcome Kent CC;Medway Council;Department forTransport

Local Transport Plansfor Kent and Medway

Core Principle:Maintaining the character and separation of settlements through retention of the Green Belt and definition of Strategic GapsPolicy Structure Plan




SS2: Extent of theMetropolitan Green Belt inKent

SS3: Strategic Gaps.

Previously undeveloped landwithin the Metropolitan GreenBelt or designated StrategicGaps in Mid and North Kentlost to built development.

Output PlanningdecisionsLDDs

KEY THEME 4: Enhancing choice, opportunity and accessibility

Core Principles:Ensuring that planning policies and practice in Kent promote social independence and take into account the needs of all sections ofthe communityProviding sufficient housing of a suitable range, quality and diversity for the people of KentPolicy Structure Plan




HP1: Housing Provision anddistribution 2001-2016

Cumulative average annualrate of net housing

Average annual rate of nethousing completions post

Output Kent andMedway Annual

Core Output Indicators2a ( i) – (ii)


completions and plannedhousing provision for Kentand Districts to accord withPolicy HP1.

2001 [ Kent and Districts]

Net additional dwellingsrequired overall and as anannual average to meetresidual housing requirementsderived from the StructurePlan [Kent and Districts]

Future annual rate of nethousing completionssupported by identifiedhousing supply and urbancapacity for the remainingStructure Plan period [ Kentand Districts]

Output

Output

Housing LandSurveys

“

“

Core Output Indicators2a (iv) – (v)

Core Output Indicator2a (iii)

HP6: Range and Mix ofhousing provision

Coverage and time horizon oflocal authorities’ housing needand market assessments

Size profile of housingcompletions from 2001.

Contribution to housingcompletions from shelteredand extra care housing

Process

Output

Output


Kent localauthoritiesDCLGKent localAuthorities

HP7: Affordable HousingProvision

Site size thresholds and sitespecific targets for affordablehousing adopted within LocalPlans /Local DevelopmentDocuments

Contribution to housingcompletions from socialrented and intermediate formsof affordable housing.

Process

Output

Local Plans/LDDs

Kent localauthoritiesHousingCorporation

Core Output Indicator 2d


Core Principles:Concentrating development at the major /principal urban areas that are the main focal points for jobs, public services and transportfacilitiesEnsuring that that decisions on development and transport make it easy for people to reach local services and jobs and provide achoice of transport for people and goodsPromoting more mixed use developments of the right pattern and density that use land efficiently, increase accessibility, reduce theneed to travel particularly by car, and are planned to meet social, cultural and economic needs.Policy Structure Plan




SS1: Spatial Priorities forDevelopment and Investmentin Kent and the role of thesettlement hierarchy

HP2: Housing Provision:Phasing, Assessment andSequential Approach toLocation

EP3: Location of New orReplacement EmploymentLand

Proportion of housing andbusiness developmentcompleted and committed (a)within or at the major/principalurban areas (b) within or atRural Service Centres (c)within or at other ruralsettlement (d) elsewhere

Output Kent and MedwayHousing andEmployment LandSurveys

Planningdecisions

EP14: Development at thenetwork of strategic centres

EP15: Sequentialconsideration of sites for retailand leisure development

EP18: Urban and RuralService Centres.

Amount of completed retail,office and leisuredevelopment by district andproportion located withincentres forming the strategicnetwork of retail and servicecentres in Kent

Output Kent and MedwayEmployment landand commercialdevelopmentsurveys

Core Output Indicator 4aand 4b

TP3: Transport and theLocation of Development

HP2: Housing Provision:Phasing, Assessment and

Number of travel plansprepared and secured inconjunction with majordevelopments.

Amount of new residential

Process

Outcome


Planning

Kent Local TransportPlan Policy DM1



Sequential Approach toLocation

development within 30minutes public transport traveltime of a GP, hospital, primaryschool, secondary school, amajor employment locationand a major retail centre.

decisionsAccessibilityisochrones

Kent and MedwayLocal Transport PlanAccessibility Strategies

TP9: Supporting PublicTransport

Number of annual buspassenger journeys in Kent.

Contextual Kent CC;Medway Council

Kent and MedwayLocal Transport Plans

TP11: Facilities forPedestrians and Cyclists

Number of cycling trips inKent (annualised index).

Contextual Kent CCMedway Council


TP19: Vehicle ParkingStandards

Amount of completed non-residential development withinthe A, B and D Use Classescomplying with Kent andMedway ‘s car parkingstandards.

Output Kent localauthorities

Core Output Indicator 3a



Appendix 1: Road hierarchy – criteria for classification

The following Structure Plan policies make reference to the primary or the primary andsecondary road network:

EN13: Environmental Enhancement of Primary Routes

TP12: Development and Access to the Primary/Secondary Road Network

TP15: Development Traffic and Heavy Goods Vehicles

TP18: Roadside Services

A: INTER-URBAN HIERARCHY

Designation Description Classification(i) PrimaryRoutes

Inter urban routes which Kent and Medway Councilshave selected, in agreement with the Departmentfor Transport, to provide access to within 5 miles ofthe larger urban centres in Kent and Medway (thosewith populations of 25,000 or more) and otherstrategic centres of traffic generation such as thecounty’s ports and the Channel Tunnel terminal.These roads support the national road network incarrying substantial international and inter-regionaltraffic.

Motorways

Trunk Roads

Primary ‘A’Roads

(ii) SecondaryRoutes

The preferred routes linking urban centres withpopulations of 25,000 or more to the Motorway andPrimary Route Networks and providing access towithin 5 miles of smaller urban centres withpopulation exceeding 10,000. Routes which do notmeet these criteria but which provide a parallelalternative to a Motorway or Primary Route mayalso be selected as Secondary Routes.

Other ‘A’ Roads

(iii) LocalRoutes

The preferred routes linking urban centres withpopulations larger than 3,000, or connecting them toa higher category of road, where an alternativeaccess does not exist, are classified as B roads.Those routes linking together, or providing accessto, smaller settlements are classified as C roads.

‘B’ roads or ‘C’roads

(iv) AccessRoads

The remainder of the inter-urban network whichprovides access to, and from, the higher classes ofroad.

Unclassifiedroads


B: URBAN HIERARCHY (Based on the distributor road system of Local Plans)

Designation Description Classification(i) PrimaryDistributors

• Through routes to the urban area

• Linking separately identifiable communities withpopulations greater than 10,000

• Linking separately identifiable communities withpopulations of between 3,000 and 10,000

Continueclassification ofinter urban road

A’ Road

‘B’ Road

(ii) District/SecondaryDistributors

• Linking separately identifiable communities withpopulations of between 3,000 and 10,000 witheach other or to the Primary or SecondaryRoute Network

• Linking separately identifiable communities withpopulations of less than 3,000 with each other orto the Primary or Secondary Route Network

‘B’ Roads

‘C’ Roads

(iii) LocalDistributors

• As shown on Local Plans

• Not specifically mentioned in Local Plans

Unclassified

Unclassified

(iv) AccessRoads

Unclassified

MINOR ROAD ‘C’ class and unclassified roads.


Appendix 2: Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms

Abbreviations in alphabetical order

AONB Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – nationally designated landscapesidentified by the Countryside Agency and confirmed by the Secretary of State.

AQMA Air Quality Management Area.

AQAP Air Quality Action Plan.

BAP Biodiversity Action Plan.

BPEO Best Practicable Environmental Option.

BRE Building Research Establishment.

CAMS Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies.

CFMP Catchment Flood Management Plan.

CHP Combined Heat and Power.

CTRL Channel Tunnel Rail Link – high-speed rail route linking the Channel Tunnelwith Ashford, Ebbsfleet and London.

DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government

DEFRA Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DfT Department for Transport

DTI Department for Trade and Industry

EU European Union

GOSE Government Office for the South East – regional office integrating severalGovernment Departments

IPS International Passenger Station (Ashford and Ebbsfleet)

KWT Kent Wildlife Trust

LDD Local Development Document

LDF Local Development Framework

LNR Local Nature Reserve – declared and managed by the local authority

LTP Local Transport Plan

MGB Metropolitan Green Belt – The Green Belt surrounding Greater London.

MSW Municipal Solid Waste


mppa million passengers per annum.

mtpa million tonnes per annum.

NNR National Nature Reserve established by English Nature.

ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (replaced by DCLG on 5th May 2006)

PAER Priority Areas for Economic Regeneration identified by Regional PlanningGuidance (RPG9 March 2001)

PPG Planning Policy Guidance Notes published by the Department forCommunities and Local Government.

PPS Planning Policy Statements – statements of national planning policy which areprogressively replacing PPG Notes. Published by the Department forCommunities and Local Government.

PROW Public Rights of Way

RES Regional Economic Strategy prepared by the South East of England RegionalDevelopment Agency [SEEDA]

ROWIP Rights of Way Improvement Plan

RPG Regional Planning Guidance (RPG9 relates to the South East). Prepared bythe South East Regional Assembly but approved and issued by the Secretaryof State. Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 RPGs arereplaced by Regional Spatial Strategies which have statutory status. Withcommencement of the 2004 Act in September 2004 RPG9 became the RSSfor the South East.

RSS Regional Spatial Strategy - introduced by the Planning and CompulsoryPurchase Act 2004.

RTS Regional Transport Strategy – prepared as part of Regional PlanningGuidance/ the Regional Spatial Strategy.

SAC Special Area of Conservation – a site of the rarest and most threatenedhabitat types designated under the European Habitats Directive 1992 (92/43).SPAs and SACs collectively make up the European Union’s ‘Natura 2000’network of habitats of European wide nature conservation importance.

SEEDA South East England Development Agency. The regional development agencyfor the South East region.

SEERA South East England Regional Assembly.

SLA Special Landscape Area – an area in Kent designated through the StructurePlan where landscape value is of strategic, county wide significance. SLAspreviously overlapped AONBs but are now separate from them.

SMP Shoreline Management Plan


SPA Special Protection Area – area designated under EC Directive 79/409 on theConservation of Wild Birds requiring the UK government to take specialmeasures to conserve the habitats of rare or vulnerable species and of allregularly occurring migratory species.

SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest - a national designation of areas identified byEnglish Nature under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Countrysideand Rights of Way Act 2000 gives English Nature further powers to ensurebetter protection and management of SSSIs and safeguard their future.

SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage System. These provide for more environmentallysustainable urban drainage through systems designed to reduce run off, slowits rate or provide for filtering, sedimentation and biological degradation of thewater.

UKBAP UK Biodiversity Action Plan describes the UK’s biological resources andmakes a commitment to detailed plans for their protection.

Glossary of Terms

Affordable housingHousing provided with a subsidy to enable the price or rent to be substantially lower thanmarket prices or rents in the area concerned.

After-use The final use to which former mineral or waste disposal sites are returned.

Air Quality Management AreaA local authority designation (under the Environment Act 1995) for an area having potentialfor one or more of the national air quality objectives to be exceeded. The National Air QualityStrategy requires the local authority to prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for suchareas.

Ancient Semi Natural WoodlandWoodland likely to have existed prior to 1600 and containing trees and shrubs that arepredominantly native.

Best Practicable Environmental OptionAn efficient and environmentally sound solution which is the outcome of a systematic andconsultative decision making procedure. This establishes, for a given set of objectives, theoption that provides the most benefits or the least damage to the environment as a whole, atacceptable cost in both the short and long terms.

Biodiversity The variety of life on Earth. The term refers to all species of plants and animals, their geneticvariation and the complex ecosytems of which they are part.

Biodiversity Action PlanThree types of BAP have been developed in the UK to set priorities for nationally importantand locally important habitats and wildlife – Species Action Plans, Habitat Action Plans andLocal Biodiversity Action Plans (see UKBAP).

Brownfield landsee Previously Developed Land.


Bulky goodsRetail goods such as home improvement and DIY products, major electrical items, motoraccessories, furniture, carpets and garden products.

Catchment Abstraction Management StrategiesPrepared by the Environment Agency to make information on water resources and licensingpractice available and to provide a consistent approach to managing local water resourcesincluding public involvement in the process.

Catchment Flood Management PlansPrepared by the Environment Agency to assess and address flood risk issues within rivercatchments in a sustainable manner taking social, economic and environmentalconsiderations into account.

Climate change levyA tax on energy use in industry, commerce and the public sector to encourage energyefficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Cluster A geographical concentration of inter connected companies, specialist suppliers, serviceproviders, firms in related industries and associated institutions.

Combined heat and powerTechnology for energy recovery systems which provides both electricity and heat which canbe linked to community heating schemes or to individual premises.

Commitment A development proposal which is allocated in a development plan or for which planningpermission has been granted.

Community Infrastructure FundBespoke Government programme supplementing transport spending to support developmentand change in the Sustainable Communities Plan’s Growth Areas.

Community StrategyUnder the Local Government Act 2000 a plan, developed by a local authority in partnershipwith other public, private and community sector organisations, to promote economic, socialand environmental well-being of the area, and to contribute to the achievement ofsustainable development. A Vision for Kent and More to Medway provide these for the KCCarea and Medway areas respectively.

Comparison shoppingHigher value non-food goods (consumer durables such as clothing, footwear, jewellery,books, etc) – purchases tend to be less frequent than everyday items, and often involvecomparison between different items and brands. Traditionally associated with High Streetshopping.

Conservation AreaAn area designated under the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings andConservation Areas) Act 1990 on account of its special architectural or historic interest withthe intention to preserve and enhance its character and appearance.

Convenience shopping Food, drink and other frequently purchased lower value items e.g. household cleaningmaterials, newspapers, confectionery.


County Wildlife SitesNon-statutory sites of nature conservation interest identified by KWT and subject to publicconsultation through the local planning process.

Damaged landDerelict and/or despoiled land, or other land in a degraded condition.

Derelict land Land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial usewithout treatment.

Despoiled landLand which is temporarily damaged (e.g. an active mineral working or waste disposal site)but which will see some restoration (e.g. through enforceable planning conditions) to achievea beneficial use.

DevelopmentThe carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or underland, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land.

Eco-enterpriseA company or organisation which supplies technologies, products or services which help topreserve the natural environment.

Edge of centreA location that is well connected to, and within easy walking distance (up to 300 metres) ofthe primary shopping area of a centre.

Empty Housing StrategyA local authority led scheme that assists owners of empty properties to bring them back intoresidential use.

Energy from wasteThe burning of waste to create heat that can be used directly or to generate electricity.

Extra care sheltered housingOffers those who may otherwise need to go into care independent living in an environmentwith professional on-site staff, an alarm and shared community facilities.

Farm diversificationA broadening of the economic base of agricultural enterprises to include new crops, addedvalue processing of crops, farm shops, tourism or non agricultural commercial enterpriseswhich improve the viability of existing holdings.

Freight Quality PartnershipPartnership between local authorities, police, the freight industry and other interested partiesto co-operate in promoting efficient and sustainable means of distribution of goods to supporta strong economy and healthy environment.

Fresh land Land outside the confines of built-up areas, neither with planning permission nor alreadyallocated for new built development in a development plan.

Geothermal energyA method of heat production that uses the heat energy of the Earth.


Green Belt Predominantly open land around urban areas and other settlements with the strategic role ofpreventing the outward expansion of built up areas, safeguarding the surroundingcountryside from encroachment, assisting urban regeneration and providing areas foroutdoor recreation.

Green Corridors/Green GridA network of open spaces, often linear in nature, where possible linked and providingconnections between town and country.

Green tourismTourism projects and facilities based on environmental good practice.

Greenfield landPreviously undeveloped land within or beyond the confines of built up areas. Nationaldefinition of this (PPG3) includes former mineral working which has been the subject of anagreed restoration programme.

Greenhouse gasA gas in the Earth’s atmosphere (such as carbon dioxide) that absorbs infra-red radiationemitted by the Earth’s surface as a result of exposure to solar ultra-violet radiation, thusincreasing the mean temperature of the planet.

Health checkA health check for a small town or Parish Plan is a tool to help identify the strengths andweaknesses of the town and surrounding countryside, obtain information and ideas formanaging change and providing a basis for creating an Action Plan.

Household One person living alone or a family or group of people living at the same address and sharingdomestic facilities and housekeeping arrangements.

Informal recreationRecreation which does not require formal facilities or organisation (e.g. walking in thecountryside).

Innovation hubA location area designated as a focus for growth based on the co-location of research andbusiness activities.

Kent AgreementThe Kent Agreement comprises the Local Area Agreement and the Local Public ServiceAgreement and includes key targets agreed jointly between the Kent County Council, itspartners and government. It sets out the outcomes and targets that will need to be achievedto deliver better services to the public and how the agencies will work together in the drive tojoin up services across the county. Medway Council is developing its own Local AreaAgreement which will cover the Medway Council unitary area.

Knowledge EconomyThe share of income and employment produced by innovating organisations combining ICTand highly skilled labour to exploit scientific, technological and creative knowledge networks

LandbankA supply of land intended for a particular purpose. For minerals it relates to the mineralreserves associated with land that has planning permission.


Large food storesSuperstores or large supermarkets concentrating on the retailing of food and conveniencegoods and occupying at least 1000 sq. m gross floorspace.

Listed buildingBuilding of special historic or architectural interest listed by the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport under the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings & ConservationAreas) Act 1990.

Local Development DocumentsComprise both statutory Development Plan Documents and non statutory SupplementaryPlanning Documents within a Local Development Framework. LDDs include core strategypolicies, area action plans, a proposals map, site specific policies and a Statement ofCommunity Involvement.

Local Development FrameworkLocal Development Framework - a non statutory term describing the portfolio of LocalDevelopment Documents produced pursuant to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act2004, Over a transitional period LDFs will replace the framework of District Local Plans,Minerals and Waste Local Plans and Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Local Plans The lower tier of the statutory development plan prepared under the 1999 Development PlanRegulations prior to the new system of Local Development Frameworks introduced under thePlanning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Local Plans set out detailed policies andproposals for a local authority’s area, or for a particular subject (e.g. the Kent Waste andMinerals Local Plans prepared for the whole of Kent). Local Plans are required to be ingeneral conformity with the adopted structure plan for the area.

Local Strategic PartnershipA mechanism for community involvement, engaging a wide range of interests including localbusiness, residents, tenants and voluntary groups.

Low cost market housingHousing provided at a purchase price significantly below prevailing open market prices in thelocality. Does not mean either smaller housing or housing built to a lower standard.

Minerals and Waste Development FrameworkA ‘folder’ of Local Development Documents, which provides policies relating to minerals andwaste development.

Mixed use developmentAreas where a mixture of commercial, retail and residential uses predominate therebymeeting a range of social, economic and cultural needs in one area and contributing tocommunities with good access to a full range of services and reduced need to travel.

Natural Green SpaceNatural areas promoted by English Nature as part of a balanced policy to ensure that localcommunities have access to an appropriate mix of green spaces providing for a range ofrecreational needs.

Net density A measure of density which includes only those areas to be developed. Land for majordistributor roads, primary schools, open space serving a wider area and significantlandscaping areas are not taken into account.


Non-conforming useA land use that does not conform to a development plan designation and may have anadverse impact on an area’s principal use.

Operation StackOperation Stack provides for the emergency closure of the M20 motorway at Folkestone toaccommodate stationary cross-channel traffic when Kent's cross-channel services aredisrupted. It also involves the diversion of all non-heavy goods traffic onto Kent's local roadnetwork and is administered by Kent Police and the Highways Agency.

Passive solar designA method of designing buildings which aims to maximise the energy they are able to collectfrom the sun.

Previously developed landLand in urban or rural areas which is, or was, occupied by a permanent (non-agricultural)structure and associated fixed surface infrastructure, including the curtilage of thedevelopment. It includes defence buildings and land used for mineral extraction and wastedisposal where provision for restoration has not been made.

Out of centreLocations which are not in or on the edge of a centre within the strategic hierarchy of centresor within district and local centres defined in Local Development Documents

Quality Bus PartnershipA co-operative arrangement between local authorities and operators to improve bus services.

Ramsar sitesSites designated by the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands of InternationalImportance ratified by the UK government in 1976. English Nature have the responsibility foridentifying both Ramsar sites and SPAs. Both are required to be SSSIs.

RecoveryObtaining value from wastes through recycling, composting, other forms of material recovery(such as anaerobic digestion) and energy recovery involving direct or indirect use of theenergy produced.

Regional Growth AreasAreas identified by Government in its Sustainable Communities Plan (2003) as locations formajor growth. These areas include Thames Gateway (partly within Kent) and Ashford.

Retail floorspace headroomThe amount of new retail floorspace that can be supported by the anticipated growth in retailexpenditure within a given catchment area.

Retail warehousingLarger stores specialising in an aspect of comparison goods retailing; normally occupying asingle-storey warehouse-type building of 500 sq. m gross floorspace or more with adjacentground level car parking and frequently trading in bulky goods such as home improvementproducts, major electrical items, motor accessories, furniture, carpets and garden products.

Rural Service CentreSettlements within rural areas which provide an important service role (e.g. employment,shops, community facilities) to their local population and their immediate rural hinterland.


Scheduled Ancient MonumentAn archaeological site of national importance included within a schedule compiled by theSecretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the Ancient Monuments andArchaeological Areas Act 1979 (as amended by the National Heritage Act 1983).

Sequential approach to the location of development/ Sequential testA process that assesses categories of site in turn in order to give priority to certain types ofland e.g. previously developed land and/or to certain locations e.g. town centres/ areas wellserved by public transport.

Shoreline Management PlansPrepared by a grouping of agencies including local maritime authorities and the EnvironmentAgency. SMPs provide a large scale assessment of the risks associated with coastalprocesses and present a framework to reduce these risks to people, property and theenvironment.

Strategic GapAn area of predominantly open land between existing urban areas which serves to maintaintheir separate identity and prevent their coalescence with each other or with smaller nearbysettlements.

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)Elaboration and interpretation of the policies of a Development Plan prepared under the 1999Development Plan Regulations to assist their implementation. SPG is non-statutory but maybe taken into account as a material consideration in deciding planning applications. Underthe new Development Plan system the equivalent is known as a Supplementary PlanningDocument (SPD).

SustainabilityThe maintenance of social, economic and environmental systems in a way that avoids long-term damage to the environment and depletion of natural resources.

Sustainable developmentDevelopment which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their own needs.

Thames GatewayThe regional growth area on both sides of the Thames Estuary within North Kent, SouthEssex and East London which is of national and regional importance for economicregeneration, redevelopment of brownfield sites and the promotion of sustainabledevelopment.

Traffic calmingMeasures to reduce vehicle speeds to improve safety and enhance an area’s quality of life.

Transport HubsAccessible settlements where the provision of a range of multimodal transport servicessupports the concentration of land uses and a focus for employment, community, retail,leisure and cultural services

Travel Plans A package of practical measures to encourage staff and/or users of a development to choosealternatives to single occupancy car use and to reduce the need to travel.


Urban capacityThe assessment of the potential for additional housing that can be accommodated within anurban area.

Urban fringeLand on the periphery of urban areas often subject to development pressures or activitieswhich threaten the appearance/management of the countryside.

Urban renaissanceThe encouragement of renewal and redevelopment of the urban environment to raiseenvironmental quality and reduce the pressure for the decentralisation of people andeconomic activity from urban areas.

Use classes A classification of land uses for development control purposes defined by the Town &Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and subsequent amendment orders. Changesof use of buildings or land between uses within a single ‘use class’ are excluded from thedefinition of development in the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, thus making planningpermission unnecessary.

The uses referred to in the Employment and Prosperity chapter are defined asfollows:

A1 – shops

A2 – Financial/professional services

B1 – Business Use for all or any of the following purposes:(a) As an office other than a use within Class A2 (financial and professional

services)(b) For research and development of products or processes; or(c) For any industrial process, being a use which can be carried out in any

residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason ofnoise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot , ash, dust or grit

B2 – General industrial processes

B8 – Storage or distribution

Waste Refers to all types of waste including trade, commercial, industrial, construction anddemolition, agricultural, mineral and quarrying and household waste.

Windfall sitesSites which become available for development which were not previously identified asallocations or identified as commitments through previous planning permissions.

World Heritage SiteA site approved by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion on Unesco’s World HeritageList


Appendix 3: Kent and Medway Structure Plan: SupplementaryPlanning Guidance**

SPG1 Landscape Character (KMSP Policies E3-E5) [adopted July 2006]SPG2 Biodiversity Conservation (KMSP Policies E6-E9) [adopted July 2006]SPG3 Archaeology in Historic Towns (KMSP Policy QL7) [adopted July 2006]

Archaeology Annexes:AshfordCanterburyDartfordDoverGraveshamMaidstoneSevenoaksShepwaySwaleThanetTonbridge & MallingTunbridge Wells

SPG4 Kent Vehicle Parking Standards (KMSP Policies TP3 and TP19) **[adopted July 2006]

SPG5 The Kent Design Guide, Kent Design Initiative April 2006 (KMSPPolicies QL1and NR1) [adopted July 2006]

** Adoption as SPG relates to the Kent County Council area only


Appendix 4: Kent and Medway Structure Plan: Working Papers

WP1 Trend and Strategy Based Population , Household and DwellingsProjections 2001-2021 (September 2003)

WP1 (Revised) Revised July 2004WP2 Economy, Workforce and Employment Land 2001-2021 (September

2003)WP2 (Revised) Revised July 2004WP3 Retail Potential and Town Centres (September 2003)WP3 (Revised) Revised July 2004WP4 Strategic Transport Schemes: Evaluation Criteria (September 2003)WP5 Kent Ports (September 2003)WP6 Housing Provision : Kent Urban Capacity : Urban Character Overview

Report [ Land Use Consultants for Kent CC] ( September 2003) **Urban Capacity: Urban Character Reports (Principal urban areas) **

WP6a AshfordWP6b CanterburyWP6c DartfordWP6d DealWP6e DoverWP6f FavershamWP6g Folkestone and HytheWP6h Gravesend & NorthfleetWP6I Herne Bay & WhitstableWP6j MaidstoneWP6k Medway Gap urban areaWP6l Sevenoaks & SwanleyWP6m Sheerness, Queenborough & MinsterWP6n SittingbourneWP6o TonbridgeWP6p Thanet TownsWP6q Tunbridge Wells and SouthboroughWP7 Housing Development Information (including Housing Land Supply at

2003) (July 2004)WP8 Housing Provision : Affordable and Market Housing Need in Kent and

Medway [Cambridge University for Kent and Medway Councils](September 2003)

WP9 Special Landscape Areas : Designations Review (September 2003)WP10 Number not usedWP11 Mineral Resources (September 2003)WP12 Number not usedWP13 Water Supply and Waste Water Treatment (September 2003)WP14 Flooding and Flood Risk (September 2003)WP15 Sustainability Appraisal Overview (September 2003)

** Relates to Kent County Council area only

Other Documents

Statement of Pre Deposit Publicity and Consultation: September 2003

Sustainability Appraisal of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan: Final Report :Entec August2004


Appendix 5: Bibliography***

Chapter 1: Our Vision and Guiding Principles

Sustainable Communities: building for the future. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2003

Local Government Act 2000

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9). Government Office for the SouthEast, 2001

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9): Chapter 12: Ashford Growth Area.Government Office for the South East, July 2004

Vision for Kent. Kent Partnership, 2006

More to Medway: Medway’s Community Strategy 2004-2007. Medway Council 2004

Chapter 2: The Spatial Strategy for Kent

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9). Government Office for the SouthEast, 2001



Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (PPG2): Green Belts (1995 amended 2001). Department ofthe Environment

Chapter 3: Area Policies


Greening the Gateway – A Greenspace Strategy for the Thames Gateway. Defra and ODPMJan 2003.

Thames Gateway Planning Framework. Department for the Environment, 1995.

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9A): Thames Gateway PlanningFramework. Department for the Environment, 1995.


Ashford’s Future: The Overarching Report: Ashford Borough Council and Partners. 2002

Chapter 4: Protecting and Enhancing Our Natural Environment

Tidal Thames Habitat Action Plan. Thames Estuary Partnership Biodiversity Action Group

*** excluding Kent and Medway Structure Plan Working Papers (separately listed)


Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Medway Landscape and Urban Design Framework: Rumney Environmental Ltd for MedwayCouncil. 2001

Landscape Assessment of Kent. Kent County Council 2004

Kent Historic Landscape Characterisation Study. Oxford Archaeological Unit. 2001

UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Department of the Environment, 1994

Kent Biodiversity Action Plan. Kent County Council, 1997

The Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 HMSO

The Countryside In and Around Towns: A Vision for Connecting Town and Country in thePursuit of Sustainable Development. Groundwork and the Countryside Agency. 2005

Chapter 5: Promoting Quality of Life in Town and Country

Better Places to Live by Design: A Companion Guide to PPG3, DTLR. 2001

By Design - Urban Design in the Planning System: Towards Better Practice. DETR andCommission for Architecture and the Built Environment, 2000.

The Kent Design Guide: Kent Design Initiative 2005

Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. English Heritage.

Enabling development and the Conservation of Heritage Assets. English Heritage. 2001

Kent: The Champion County: The Strategic Framework for Sport in Kent 2003-2008, KentCounty Council.

Draft Developers’ Guide to Development Contributions for Community Facilities. Kent CountyCouncil, 2006

Accessible Natural Green Space Standards in Towns and Cities: A Review and Toolkit fortheir Implementation. English Nature Research Report No.526. : English Nature 2003

Chapter 6: Employment and Prosperity

Kent Prospects – Draft Economic Development and Regeneration Framework for Kent 2006-2012, Kent Partnership, March 2006

Medway Economic Development Strategy 1999-2010. Medway Council.1999

CTRL Domestic Services Consultation Document. Strategic Rail Authority, 2003

Review of Regional Economic Strategy for South East England 2006-2016, South EastEngland Development Agency. November 2005

UK Competitiveness White Paper ‘Our Competitive Future: Building the Knowledge DrivenEconomy’. Department for Trade & Industry. 1998


Our Countryside: The Future – A Fair Deal for Rural England (Rural White Paper).Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. 2000

Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas ODPM 2004.

The Land Based Economy of Kent: Final Report. Land Use Consultants, /KernonCountryside Consultants for Kent County Council and SEEDA. 2003

The Economic Impact of Tourism on Kent. Tourism South East, 2003 (2005)

Chapter 7: Housing Provision and Distribution


Mapping out the future: Policy Directions for the Kent & Medway Structure Plan. Kent CountyCouncil and Medway Council. 2002

Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 : Housing . ODPM 2000

Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas ODPM 2004.

Urban Capacity Study Protocol for Kent and Medway: Kent Planning Officers Group 2002

Circular 01/2006 ‘Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan sites’. ODPM

The Housing Act 2004. HMSO

Chapter 8: Promoting Quality, Choice and Accessibility in the Transport Network

Regional Transport Strategy (Chapter 9 of Regional Planning Guidance for the South EastRPG9) Government Office for the South East 2004

The Accessibility Strategy for Kent. Kent County Council March 2006

Transport 2010: The 10 year Plan: Department for the Environment, Transport and theRegions. 2000

The Future of Transport – a network for 2030. Department for Transport July 2004

Local Transport Plan for Kent 2001/02 - 2005/06 and subsequent Annual Progress Reports.Kent County Council.

The Local Transport Plan for Kent 2006-2011. Kent County Council

Local Transport Plan for Medway 2001/02-2005/06 and subsequent Annual ProgressReports. Medway Council.

Modern Ports: A UK Policy. Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.2000

The Future of Air Transport. Department for Transport. December 2003


Chapter 9: Managing Our Natural Resources

Energy White Paper: Our Energy Future – creating a low carbon economy: Department forTrade and Industry. 2003

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9): Chapter 10: Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy: Government Office for the South East, November 2004

South East Region Renewable Energy Targets : Future Energy solutions/FPD Savills forSEERA . February 2003

The Renewables Obligation Order. Statutory Instrument 2002 No 914 HMSO 2002

Electricity Act 1989. HMSO.

The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Department forEnvironment, Transport and the Regions. 2000

Environment Act 2005. HMSO.

South East Water Resources Strategy. Environment Agency. 2001

Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC: European Commission.2000

EU Directive 2003/30 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels fortransport.

Chapter 10: Managing Our Waste and Mineral Resources

Landfill Directive 99/31/EC. European Commission, 1999

Sustainable Management of Household Waste – Joint Strategy for Kent. Kent Waste Forum2003

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9): Chapter 10: Waste and Chapter 11:Minerals: Government Office for the South East, June 2006

Planning Policy Statement 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management. ODPM July2005

Waste Strategy 2000 - the National Waste Strategy for England and Wales. May 2000 Defra

Review of England’s Waste Strategy : A Consultation Document : Defra February 2006

Draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction. DTI consultation paper. February 2006

Strategic Waste Management Assessment 2000 – South East, Environment Agency, 2000

South East Regional Waste Management Statement (final report). South East RegionTechnical Advisory Board (SERTAB) 2003

National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England, 2001 – 2016. ODPMJune 2003


Minerals Planning Guidance Note 1: General Considerations and the Development PlanSystem (1996)

Chapter 11: Implementing the Structure Plan and Monitoring its Effectiveness

Good Practice Guide on Development Contributions, Kent Planning Officers Group, 1999,and Addendum 2001.

Circular 05/05: Planning Obligations: ODPM 2005

Regional Spatial Strategy Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide. ODPM 2005

Local Development Framework Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide ODPM 2005

Local Development Framework Core Output Indicators Update. ODPM 2005


Appendix 6: References to national and regional planning policyguidance

Planning Policy Statements (PPSs)

PPS1 Delivering Sustainable Development (2005)PPS6 Planning for Town Centres (2005)PPS7 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (2004)PPS9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (2005)PPS10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management (2005)PPS11 Regional Spatial Strategies (2004)PPS12 Local Development Frameworks (2004)PPS22 Renewable Energy (2004)PPS23 Planning and Pollution Control (2004)

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs)

PPG2 Green Belts (1995 amended 2001)PPG3 Housing (2000). Two updates published January 2005PPG4 Industrial and Commercial Development and Small Firms (1992)PPG5 Simplified Planning Zones (1992)PPG8 Telecommunications (2001)PPG12 Development Plans (1999). Replaced by PPS12 except for development

plans prepared under the 1999 Development Plan RegulationsPPG13 Transport (2001)PPG14 Development on Unstable Land (1990)PPG15 Planning for the Historic Environment (1994)PPG16 Archaeology and planning (1990)PPG17 Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (2002)PPG18 Enforcing Planning Control (1991)PPG19 Outdoor Advertisement Control (1992)PPG20 Coastal Planning (1992)PPG21 Tourism (1992)PPG24 Planning and noisePPG25 Development and Flood Risk (2001)

Minerals Policy Statements (MPS)

MPS2 Controlling and mitigating the environmental effects of mineral extraction inEngland (2005)

Mineral Planning Policy Guidance Notes (MPGs)

In particular:

MPG1 General Considerations and the Development Plan System (1996)MPG6 Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England (1994)MPG6 (Amendment)

National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England, 2001-2016 (2003)

MPG10 Provision of Raw Material for the Cement Industry (1991)MPG15 Provision of Silica Sand in England (1996)


Regional Planning Guidance (RPG)/ Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS):

RPG9 Regional Planning Guidance for the South East. Government Office for theSouth East, 2001

RPG9 Chapter 12: Ashford Growth Area. Government Office for the South East, July2004

RPG9 Chapter 9: Regional Transport Strategy . Government Office for the SouthEast. 2004 July 2004

RPG9 Chapter 10: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Government Office forthe South East : November 2004

RPG9 Chapter 14: Tourism and Related Sport and Recreation: Government Officefor the South East : November 2004

RPG9 Chapter 10: Waste and Chapter 11: Minerals : Government Office for theSouth East : June 2006

RPG9a Thames Gateway Planning Framework. Department for the Environment,1995.

45

1

37

28

1

1

45

1

37

28

145

1

37

28

1

East KentCoalfield

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

145

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1 45

1

37

28

1

H 45

1

37

28

1

Major Urban Areas

Other Principal Urban Areas

Rural Service Centres

Regional centre

Sub-regional town and city centres

Principal town centres

Urban Service Centres

Rural Service Centres

Motorways

Trunk and Primary roads (2021)

Freight/passenger rail network (2021)

Channel Tunnel rail link

Channel Tunnel Rail Terminal TP20

International Passenger Station

Core Ports TP20,22

Other Ports TP20,22

Manston and Lydd Airports TP24,25

Other airfields TP26

Distribution and transhipment centre

TP23

Transport Schemes (see list)

Policies illustrated on maps and diagrams within the ExplanatoryMemorandum: EP2 (b)+(c), EP9, HP1, HP3, EN6, TP4, TP5, TP6, TP8.

KENT AND MEDWAY STRUCTURE PLAN- Adopted

Key Diagram

Strategic Development Locations

(Para 2.19) (see list)

Metropolitan Green Belt SS2

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty EN4

Heritage Coast EN4

Special Landscape Area EN5

Strategic Gap SS3

Thames Gateway Regional Growth Area

DG1,ME1,SW1

Ashford Regional Growth Area AS1

Technology and knowledge clusters EP5

Priority Areas of Economic Regeneration in

Regional Planning Guidance (RPG9)

East Kent Coalfield DO1,CA1

Centres for Higher and Further Education

QL12(c)

New General Hospital QL12(c)

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

145

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

145

1

37

28

1

45

1

37

28

1

T

45

1

37

28

1

Settlement Hierarchy (SS1):

Strategic Hierarchy of Retail Centres (EP14):

comprises Dartford, Stone, Greenhithe,Swanscombe, Gravesend and Northfleet

45

1

37

28

1

KENT THAMESIDE

ESSEXLO

ND

ON

EAST SUSSEX

HERNE BAY AND WHITSTABLE

THANETTOWNS

CANTERBURY

DEAL

DOVER

FOLKESTONE/HYTHE

East KentCoalfield

SHEERNESS/QUEENBORQU OUGH/MINSTERSHEERNESS/QUEENBOROUGH/MINSTER/HALFWAY

T

T

SU

RR

EY

ChannelTunnel

SWANLEY

SE1, WK1

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

TONBRIDGE

Westerham

Edenbridge

Paddock WoodStaplehurst

Tenterden

Cranbrook

Kings Hill

EP4,TM1

EP4,EP11,SW1

Ridham/KemsleyIwade EP11,CA1

EP16b,CA1 Sandwich

New Romney

SH1

Lydd

SH1

ASHFORD

Hawkinge

EP4,EP11,EP16a,SH1

EP4,EP11,EP16a,DO1

EP11,DO1

Aylesham

DO1

WK1

TW1,WK1,EP16a

SW1

EP4,EP11,EP16d,TH1

Hawkhurst

Borough Green

Headcorn

Manston

Hoo St Werburgh

T

6

1733

17

17

17

17

382011

11

17

17

35

17

22

432

4645 44

24

17

10

9

37

16

825

29

2

29

50 5148

28

2

282614

2630

49 34

2117 36

23

23

347

3

15

17

17

17 19

43

13

1339

31

4242

6/3117

1 1740

16

16

7

19

12

315 622

1841 17 40

27197

8

9

2

10

24

4141

40,4240,423838

4444

3838

43433939

3131

4848

5353

6060

6060

5151

H

6161

4747

6363

65656464

4949

49495858

5757

505054544646

West Malling

Thamesport2

4545

47

1414

7

1

17175

Chattenden/Lodge Hill

8

20201616

2626 1919

9

3

24

21

35

34

36

25

2728

23

3337

39

4038

32

KENT THAMESIDE EP4,EP11,EP16a,DG1

GRAVESEND/NORTHFLEET

7

9Grain

11

12

19

20 17

15

168

64212122121

1

3

3130

3232

29

13

6262

22

1818

EP4,EP11,EP16a,SW1

SITTINGBOURNE

5959

FAVERSHAM

Westwood

7,11,237,11,232222

T

Hersden

T

10

MEDWAY TOWNSEP4,EP16aME1

5555

DARTFORD

26

6

1010

252518

10,12,1410,12,142424

1515

EP4,EP16a,AS1

3737

3838

T

6060

14

28,29,30,33,28,29,30,33,34,35,3634,35,36

MAIDSTONEEP16a,MA1

56565252

MEDWAY

GAPTM1

SE1, WK1SEVENOAKS

Ebbsfleet

5

10,12,13, 2110,12,13, 21

CA1

Southborough

2727

SandwichCorridor

EP4,DO1


Key Diagram

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

23

24

21

22

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

34

35

32

33

36

37

38

39

40

North Dartford (DG1,EP4)Crossways Business Park (DG1,EP4) Eastern Quarry (DG1,EP4)Swanscombe Peninsula (DG1)Ebbsfleet (DG1,EP4)Gravesend/Northfleet Riverside (DG1)North East Gravesend (DG1)Chattenden/Lodge Hill (ME1)Kingsnorth and Grain (ME1,EP4)Medway Waterfront (ME1)Chatham Maritime (ME1)Adjacent Rochester Airfield (ME1,EP4)Chatham town centre (ME1) Ridham /Kemsley (SW1,EP4) Iwade (SW1)Lappel Bank: Sheerness (SW1,EP4) North East Sittingbourne/Eurolink (SW1,EP4)Queenborough/Rushenden (Sheppey) (SW1)Neatscourt: Queenborough (Sheppey) (EP4)Milton Creek : Sittingbourne (SW1) Dover :White Cliffs Business Park (DO1,EP4)Dover Town Centre Investment Zone (DO1)Sandwich Corridor (Richborough) (DO1,EP4) Aylesham (DO1)Manston Park :Thanet (EP4) Eurokent Business Park:Thanet (EP4)Westwood (TH1)Westwood town centre (TH1) Ashford Central Area (AS1)Area of search: South of Ashford (AS1)Ashford South East Sector (EP4) Ashford Eureka Science Park (EP4) Central Maidstone (MA1) Folkestone Harbour and Seafront (SH1)Hawkinge (SH1)Shearway Business Park : Folkestone (EP4)Kings Hill (TM1,EP4)Holborough Quarry (TM1)Leybourne Grange (TM1)Peters Pit (TM1)

Strategic Development Locations (relevant policies)

Transport Schemes

1) Kent Thames Gateway:

A. Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes(Table TP4):1 Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Phase 2)2 Thameslink 2000 to Dartford3 A249 Iwade to Queenborough including second

Swale crossing 4 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement5 A2 Bean-Cobham Phase 26 M25 (Junctions 1b – 3) (see also 45)7 Fastrack Phase 1( Dartford town centre – Darenth Park-

Bluewater – Greenhithe -A226- Gravesend town centre)8 A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane9 Sittingbourne Northern Distributor Road

(Ridham Avenue - East Hall Farm)

B. Strategic Rail Schemes (Table TP5):10 Domestic passenger services via the CTRL from/to

North Kent towns 11 Thameslink 2000 : extension to Gravesend12 Crossrail : extension of services to Ebbsfleet and

Medway13 Integration of Ebbsfleet mainline, Ebbsfleet North Kent

line platforms, possible Crossrail station and Northfleet Station

14 North Kent Line (Dartford – Gillingham) (Dartford – Slade Green and Rochester Bridge junction) rail capacity improvements

15 Sheerness Docks : Rail Freight Capability Improvements16 Thamesport – London Rail Freight Capability Improvements

C. Existing or predicted problems on the motorway& trunk road network requiring integrated transportsolutions (Table TP6):17 A2 Bean Interchange18 A282 Dartford Crossing19 M2 Junction 5, Stockbury

D. Other Strategic Transport Schemes to be promoted through Local Transport Plans (Table TP8)20 A228 Ropers Lane to Grain

21 Kent Thameside: Fastrack Future Phases (including North Dartford, Stone, Eastern Quarry, Northfleet Riverside,Ebbsfleet, Swanscombe Peninsula,Thames Way)

22 Kent Thameside: London Road/ St. Clements Way Junction

23 Kent Thameside: Denton Relief Road : Gravesend24 Transport for Medway (Integrated Network

Development and provision of substantial public transport capacity)

25 Queenborough: Rushenden Link to A24926 Improved public transport linkages Hempstead –

Walderslade27 Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road

(East Hall Farm - A2)

2) Ashford Growth Area

A. Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes (Table TP4):28 Thameslink 2000 to Ashford29 M20 Junction 10 Improvement30 M20 New Junction 10a


Ashford 32 South Coast rail corridor capacity improvements –

Ashford – Hastings

D. Other Strategic Transport Schemes to bepromoted through Local Transport Plans (Table TP8)33 Ashford: Smartlink bus priority schemes34 Ashford A28 Western Spine Road35 Ashford: Major ring road modifications36 Ashford : Park and Ride Sites

3) Priority Areas for Economic Regeneration in East Kent

A. Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes (Table TP4):37 A256 East Kent Access Phase 1 ( Sandwich –

Ebbsfleet Lane


East Kent towns as far as Thanet and Dover39 Rail Access to Manston Airport40 Dover Western Docks Rail Freight Link

C. Existing or predicted problems on the motorway& trunk road network requiring integrated transportsolutions (Table TP6):41 A2 Lydden – Dover42 A20 Town Wall Street Dover

D. Other Strategic Transport Schemes to bepromoted through Local Transport Plans (Table TP8)43 East Kent Access Phase 244 A260 Hawkinge Bypass (completion)

4) Rest of Kent

A. Programmed Strategic Transport Schemes (Table TP4):45 M25 (Junctions 1b – 3) (see also 6)46 M25 (Junctions 5 – 7)47 A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Bypass Improvement48 A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst49 A228 Leybourne & West Malling Corridor Improvement

(including M20 Junction 4)50 Thameslink 2000 to Sevenoaks

B. Strategic rail Schemes (Table TP5):51 Domestic passenger services via the CTRL to/

from Canterbury52 Thameslink 2000 : extension to Maidstone

C. Existing or predicted problems on the motorway &trunk road network requiring integrated transportsolutions (Table TP6):53 A21 Lamberhurst – Flimwell/Robertsbridge54 M25 Junction 5 Improvement Sevenoaks55 M20 Junctions 3 – 556 M20 Junctions 7 – 857 M25 Junction 3-558 M20 Wrotham Hill59 M2/A2/A299 Brenley Corner Junction 60 A2 Canterbury Bypass Junctions

D. Other Strategic Transport Schemes to bepromoted through Local Transport Plans (Table TP8):61 A228 Colts Hill Strategic Link62 B2163/A274 Leeds/Langley Bypass63 A228 East Bank of the Medway/Snodland Bypass

Dualling64 A228/A26 Kings Hill – Seven Mile Lane65 A229 Maidstone : Upper Stone Street Improvements

and All Saints Link Road

12

13

10

11

14

15

16

17

18

19

20


Key Diagram