Timber yard site housing plan given approval

Plans to build 168 homes on a former timber yard on the banks of the River Medway have been unanimously approved.

Morgan and Company applied to redevelop the Morgan Timber site in Knight Road in Strood as part of a wider development of 600 homes.

Councillors said the plans were a good use of a brownfield site and concerns which had been raised about access have been solved.

The scheme was approved by Medway Council's planning committee on Wednesday, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Those concerns included the suitability of an entry point under Walnut Tree Bridge, which is single lane.

But officers described how, as part of the development, a signal system had been agreed which would improve the safety of the road for both pedestrians and motorists.

Additionally, a larger "spine road" is to be constructed and the Walnut Tree Bridge road will not be the main access to the new development.

The development will consist of one-and two-bed flats and two-bed houses and for the 168 property site 324 parking spaces will be available.

The council has agreed to forgo an affordable housing quota because of the cost of preparing the brownfield site, and work to prevent flooding.

However there was also a "clawback" clause, meaning if the developers' profit for the houses on the site exceeds what is expected, the council could receive further funding.

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