Policy information sourced from the Medway Local Plan 2003

R11 Town Centre Uses and the Sequential Approach

Business employment (Class B1(a)), leisure and entertainment uses, cultural and educational facilities will be expected to be located in the main centres of Chatham, Strood, Gillingham and Rainham or in the event of no suitable sites being available, on the edges of these centres. Proposals elsewhere for these uses, unless otherwise allocated in the local plan, will only be permitted if:

  1. it is clearly demonstrated that no suitable centre or edge of centre site exists; and
  2. the site is easily accessible by a choice of transport modes, including public transport; and
  3. the uses proposed would not undermine the vitality and viability of the main centres listed.

For more information please see the Medway Local Plan 2003