Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought approval to launch public consultation on a draft Chatham World Heritage Planning Policy Document, which was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chatham World Heritage Planning Policy document had been drafted to provide a single-point framework for decision making to support the effective balance of heritage and regeneration within the potential World Heritage Site of Chatham Dockyard and its Defences, and its buffer zone.

The document consisted of three parts. The first provided an outline of existing planning policy guidance, drawing together the various existing policy documents which relate to the site.  It included reference to key management plans for significant components of the site, which contain detailed advice about how individual heritage assets or groups thereof will be managed. The second part described how some of the site’s principal heritage assets (known as attributes) were represented in key views and how these should be managed to ensure that the uniqueness of Chatham Dockyard is protected and enhanced. Part three of the document set out the methodology, in line with national guidance, that would be used to assess future development and regeneration proposals in the context of Chatham’s world class heritage and its bid for World Heritage Site status.

It was noted that the Chatham World Heritage Planning Policy Document had been prepared to have the status of, and the same planning weight as, a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). When the Core Strategy was adopted, it was the intention to upgrade the Planning Policy to full SPD status.

Cabinet was advised that the policy document had been produced in close consultation with members of the Chatham World Heritage Steering Group and following workshops and consultations on the developing draft. Details of a six-week public consultation exercise, planned in accordance with the Medway Statement of Community Involvement, were set out in the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening report was attached as Appendix 2 to the report. The conclusion of this was that a full Diversity Impact Assessment was not required. The assessment would be reviewed following the consultation process set out in the report.

Reasons:

An adopted Chatham World Heritage Planning Policy Document will provide a single-point framework for decision making to support the effective balance of heritage and regeneration within the potential World Heritage Site of Chatham Dockyard and its Defences, and its buffer zone. It will thereby demonstrate to government that this balance is at the heart of Medway Council’s decision-making, and thus assist in securing a nomination date for World Heritage Site status.