Engagement
We are committed to ensuring local communities are kept informed about MedwayOne as it progresses through the planning stages. The pre-application consultation is closed, and the outline planning application was submitted to Medway Council in March 2021. However, the project team are still available to listen to your comments and answer any questions you may have. You can get in touch by visiting our contact page.
If you would like to view the documents submitted with our application or if you would like to make any comments, please visit the Council’s planning website www.publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications and enter reference number: MC/21/0979. We anticipate a decision on our application from Medway Council in September 2022.
Public Consultation (Feb ’21)
Pre-application public consultation – February 2021
As part of bringing forward proposals for MedwayOne, Uniper consulted the local community and stakeholders on their proposals to regenerate and redevelop the former Kingsnorth power station site in February 2021. Over 4,800 local households and business addresses neighbouring the site were invited to attend a virtual public exhibition and live question and answer sessions, to give local residents the opportunity to ask questions and provide their feedback.
Feedback
We had 200 responses to our questions and you shared your ideas, suggestions and concerns with us and told us…
You welcomed…
- Future good use of a redundant brownfield site
- Sustainable forms of energy generation
- New HGV layover facilities
- The potential new employment opportunities for local people
- The new business opportunities for the area
- No residential housing development on the site
- The support for local trades and businesses in the area
You were concerned about…
- Existing insufficient road capacity, local infrastructure, increased traffic and poor public transport
- The potential environmental impact of development
- The scale of the development
- The management and size of the layover facilities
- The potential impact on Hoo St Werburgh
- The employment opportunities for local people
- The Energy Hub – confusion over use (by another applicant for an incinerator for clinical waste)
Questions we asked you…
Q1. To what extent do you agree that the proposals for this site are a good use of this disused and vacant brownfield site?
- 40% of responses to this question agreed the proposals were a good re-use of this vacant brownfield site with 42% disagreeing.
- 12% of people who answered this question didn’t express a preference and 6% chose not to answer.
Q2. To what extent do you agree that MedwayOne is a positive opportunity for creating new employment opportunities for local people?
- 43% of respondents agreed that MedwayOne could be a positive employment opportunity for local people with 36% disagreeing.
- 16% of the responses to this question had no preference.
Q3. To what extent do you agree that the redevelopment of the site will stimulate the local economy?
- 40% of respondents agreed and 40% disagreed that MedwayOne could help to stimulate the local economy.
- 5% of the overall responses we received chose not to answer this question with 15% remaining undecided.
Q4. Do you agree that any proposals for MedwayOne should include sustainable forms of energy generation to help Medway and the UK achieve its climate change objectives?
Sustainable forms of energy are clearly important to you with 65% agreeing that the proposals for MedwayOne could help to achieve UK climate change objectives.
Issues that you were concerned about
The potential environmental impact of the proposed development
Uniper has undertaken several ecological surveys over a three-year period in and around the MedwayOne site, to understand the potential environmental impacts linked to the development. These are included as part of our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted alongside our outline planning application to Medway Council, setting out how any potential environmental impacts will be mitigated.
When planning for the future development of the site, careful consideration has been given to the local wildlife and, it is intended that the development would improve biodiversity through focusing development on areas of minimal ecological interest (e.g. hard standing on the footprint of the former power station), implementing habitat and native planting enhancements, and creating new habitat corridors across the site.
Through the development we would also seek to improve the site’s current facilities, such as drainage. We are also working closely with the Environment Agency to establish an appropriate flood defence strategy for the long-term protection of the site. Any future development at MedwayOne would be in line with government legislation, including Net Zero 2050 for greenhouse gas emissions.
Managing the existing road capacity
We are working with Medway Council and Highways England to understand the potential impact the MedwayOne development could have on the local road network.
The number, type and timing of traffic movements will depend on the individual businesses that choose to locate to MedwayOne in the future. However, included in our outline planning application is an assessment that determines the likely maximum traffic movements the development may attract at peak hours.
Workplaces such as warehousing, tend to have shift patterns which generally avoid peak periods. However we have identified that junctions such as the Four Elms Roundabout could experience some additional delays. Any improvement works to the public highway which may be required as a result of this development would be determined by Medway Council.
Potential impact on the character and amenities in Hoo St Werburgh
The following proposals included as part of the planning submission would help to protect the character, amenity and services in Hoo St Werburgh.
Management of the proposed HGV layover area – The proposals for MedwayOne include the potential for part of the site to be offered as a HGV layover area with facilities such as a canteen, showers, and toilets for drivers to use, as well as overnight parking for hauliers serving both MedwayOne and businesses located on the Hoo Peninsula. We are aware that the management of these facilities is an important factor, and separate discussions will take place on the provision of this service. We will consult with future commercial operators, and Medway Council to find the best solution which discourages HGV drivers from parking in local roads and impacting on the community.
Compulsory route for HGVs accessing and leaving the site – A Servicing and Management Plan would be developed to manage the routes that the largest of vehicles would take to access the Strategic Road Network. This would ensure HGVs use the A289 corridor towards Junction 1 of the M2.
Provision of cycle links to enable travel by bicycle
The outline planning application includes a Framework Travel Plan, detailing how future occupiers may use sustainable forms of transport to travel to MedwayOne. Future employers who occupy the site would be encouraged to use car share schemes amongst staff, provide cycle parking facilities and staff shuttle services to key areas. We propose a cycle link on Eshcol Road, connecting to the existing cycle network to make it easier for people to travel by bike when coming to work at the site.