Huge 800-home development in Medway would be 'place to be proud of', developer says

Impression of the plans for the 800-home development near Wainscott
-Credit: (Image: Richborough Estates Ltd)


Residents are being asked for their views on a huge 800-home development near a Medway village. Proposals are to be submitted to planners next month, which will also include improvements to a busy roundabout which endures twice-daily traffic jams.

Richborough Estates Ltd is intending to submit a planning application to Medway Council for the homes and associated infrastructure close to Wainscott. But before it does so, it is seeking the opinions of people who live and work in the area to see what they think the proposals should include to meet their needs.

The current plans, viewable on the public consultation website, outline 800 homes, 30% of which will be affordable housing, along with a primary school, community centre, and open spaces. Richborough is giving local residents the chance to comment on the plans, describe what sort of housing they think would best suit the area, and even put forward how they think the open space should be used, such as making room for allotments or play parks.

READ MORE: Starbucks bid for working men’s club rejected as flats set to be built on site

READ MORE: Popular Kent wildlife visitor centre described as being in 'poor condition set for £2.1m transformation

It says all the feedback will be considered as the proposals are finalised ready for submission to the council’s planning department next month. The consultation runs until December 11 and people can read more about the plans and make their submissions at the website.

The land is just north of Wainscott and the A289 Hasted Road, totalling approximately 50 hectares of agricultural land, including fields, orchards, polytunnels and hedgerows. Richborough also says the development will bring other features, including accommodation for older residents in a central location with easy access to amenities.

It also says the development will bring road improvements to the Four Elms Roundabout, including an integrated left turn lane to ease congestion, a bus route to include Wainscott and Strood, and improved pedestrian and cycle links to both Strood and Higham railway stations.

The consultation page also mentions two listed buildings in the south-west corner of the site, the Grade II-listed Brickhouse Farmhouse and Stone House Farmhouse, which it says will be protected under the plans, and they will put in a development buffer zone to protect the environment of the nearby Grade II-listed Sole Street Farm.

Impression of the plans for the 800-home development near Wainscott
A developer is seeking residents' views on plans for an 800-home development near Wainscott -Credit:Richborough Estates Ltd

Richborough said: “Our vision aims to create a sustainable and self-sufficient community and a place to be proud of, made up of a variety of well-designed homes suitable for people at every stage of life. We are delivering the key infrastructure, including a new primary school, local centre and retirement living community, alongside the housing to address the concerns of local people and to ensure this new community is a self-sufficient and sustainable asset to the area.

“We are launching a consultation and will carefully consider the responses while committing to work collaboratively with the local community to ensure our proposals meet local needs and aspirations.”

Richborough Estates Ltd is a land promoter, meaning it identifies sites and creates plans for their development, seeing them through the planning process.