Decision details

To seek cabinet approval for the adoption of the development brief for Rochester Riverside as supplementary planning guidance, the submission of an outline planning application and a detailed application for the site infrastructure works.

The Cabinet approved the responses to comments received on the development brief and the recommended amendments in Appendix 1 and agreed to adopt the development brief for Rochester Riverside as supplementary planning guidance

The Cabinet approved the indicative masterplan and key land uses, subject to SEEDA's similar agreement, as the basis of an outline planning application to be submitted by both parties.

The Cabinet approved, subject to SEEDA's agreement, the submission by both parties of a planning application for flood defence, ground remediation and land raising.

The Cabinet agreed that the Contract rules be waived to permit the Assistant Director of Legal and Contract Services to procure the services of external legal advisors to provide support on the Rochester Riverside project if required without a full tendering process providing that quotations are sought from at least 6 firms of solicitors with sufficient standing and experience in the required work areas.

The Cabinet agreed that officers examine ways to maximise parking availability within the indicative masterplan in line with the Council's policy and government guidelines on the level of parking provision for new developments.

The Cabinet agreed that a Community Centre be included in the list of facilities for the development.

The Local Plan requires the development of Rochester Riverside to comply with a development brief. Following consultation, Cabinet agreed the brief as supplementary planning guidance. It highlights issues that need to be considered at the planning application stage if development of this scale and complexity is to be successful and achieve high standards of quality and sustainability.The masterplan ensures that the development of the site will be co-ordinated and play its part in the development of the whole Medway Waterfront. It will inform SEEDA and Medway's disposal strategy for the site. An outline planning permission for the site will give confidence to the development industry and identify development contributions that the Council will seek. The site is contaminated and at risk of flooding. The remediation and flood defence works that will be the subject of a detailed planning application will ensure the site is suitable for residential and other development.Given the potential duration of the project there is a prospect of external legal fees exceeding the £100,000 threshold, which would trigger the need for a formal tendering exercise. Waiving contract rules will ensure that a technical breach of the rules will not occur in the future. The safeguards within the recommendation ensure that the Council will still have the degree of competition sufficient to ensure providers offer value for money.