Agenda item

Lordswood and Walderslade Ward

Application for approval of reserved matters being appearance, landscaping, layout and scale pursuant to outline planning permission MC/18/0556 (Outline application with some matters reserved (appearance, landscaping, layout, scale) for construction of up to 450 market and affordable dwellings with associated access, estate roads and residential open space (renewal of planning permission MC/14/2395) together with application to discharge conditions 27 (drainage) and 29 (air quality).

Discussion:

The Principal Planner outlined the application in detail for approval of reserved matters being appearance, landscaping, layout and scale pursuant to outline planning permission MC/18/0556 (Outline application with some matters reserved (appearance, landscaping, layout, scale) for construction of up to 450 market and affordable dwellings with associated access, estate roads and residential open space (renewal of planning permission MC/14/2395) together with application to discharge conditions 27 (drainage) and 29 (air quality)).

The Principal Planner brought Members’ attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which included amendments to Condition 1, the inclusion of an additional condition, and a new Air Quality section (Condition 29) to be inserted after the Flood and Drainage section. Members were also advised that an additional paragraph had been added under “Conclusions and Reasons for Approval”. In addition, the Principal Planner provided a verbal update advising that all drawings dated 30 June 2026 should be removed from the list of approved plans and that Drawing No. 104 Rev 4 be replaced with Drawing No. 104 Rev F received on 16 July 2026.

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Wildey and raised the following concerns:

• He advised that when this whole development was first submitted, it was only for 450 homes and was approved by the Secretary of State. This specific part of the development would be for 450 homes with a potential of up to 3,000 homes being constructed on the whole site.
• He requested that the application be deferred, stating that further information should be reported and considered before a decision was made.
• He highlighted the significance of public opposition, referring to 328 objections and a petition against the development, which was signed by over 10,000 people, being one of the largest petitions Medway had received. 
• Concerns were raised regarding the former landfill site in close proximity to the development, which he stated operated between the 1970s and 1990s. He questioned whether sufficient information had been provided about its location, contents and any potential risks. He suggested that prospective buyers should be made aware of the former landfill existence, history and potential risks.
• He raised concerns that some of the proposed dwellings did not meet expected space standards and considered this issue should be addressed before the application proceeded. 
• He expressed concern about the suitability of the development as a whole and urged the Committee to either refuse the application or defer it pending further investigation into the landfill site and other outstanding matters.

The Chief Planning Officer reminded Members that the application related to reserved matters only and that the principle of up to 450 dwellings on the site had already been approved by the Secretary of State.

The Committee discussed the application in detail and concerns were raised regarding the design and appearance of the development, including the differing house types proposed by Barratt Homes and Redrow Homes, which some felt appeared sub-standard, out of character and lacked a cohesive design approach.

The Chief Planning Officer advised that he would contact the owners of Elm Court Village to explore whether the pedestrian route could be opened to provide future residents with pedestrian access to Elm Court Village.

He also informed Members that discussions with Barratt Homes had confirmed agreement for relevant sport S106 contributions to be directed towards sports facilities in Lordswood in recognition of the increased local population arising from the development subject to the necessary variation to the Section 106 outside of this application.

The Chief Planning Officer confirmed that the landowners associated with the Lidsing development were the same parties selling land to Redrow and Barratt Homes and advised that the North Dane Way extension would require the provision of a roundabout.  

Decision:      

Approved with conditions 1 to 10 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report. Condition 1 being amended as set out in the supplementary agenda advice sheet and a verbal confirmation from the officer to remove all drawings dated 30 June 2026 and amend drawing number 104 Rev E to 104 Rev F received 16 July 2026.  An additional condition to be added:

Condition 11:

11       Notwithstanding the submitted materials plan, no development above slab level within a construction phase shall take place until details of the materials to be used on all of the residential units within that phase have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The details submitted should include the manufacturer and name of the material sample. The development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure that the appearance of the development is satisfactory and without prejudice to conditions of visual amenity in the locality, in accordance with Policy BNE1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.