The Medway towns are not sustainable and something has to be done about this. The Medway towns are undergoing massive and accelerating change. What kind of place do we want them to become? How will they shape up over the next 50 years? We have to think of what can be done. There are various numbers of solutions like Minimum Growth, Densification etc. I think the best idea to make the Medway towns more sustainable is Growth along Transport Links. The Policy To preserve the Medway towns and its surrounding area as much as it is today.
New residential development only allowed within walking distance of public transport to reduce environmental impact of private car travel. Additional buildings for employment within the Medway towns only permitted on ‘Brownfield’ sites near potential railway stations e. g. the Rochester Docks near the station.
Replacement or renewal of buildings allowed within the Medway towns (e. g. , conversion of houses into flats, or warehousing into offices, etc).
Requires improved public transport system e. g.Making more train stations or a new tram system like in Croydon. The policy involves increases of households along transport routes, which are balanced in all areas of the Medway towns. Employment continues to grow in the Medway towns due to existing permissions for development, big businesses that take a large area (i. e.
, warehousing and manufacturing) will be replaced by smaller space users (e. g. , high-tech business, private and public services) and development on Brownfield sites near potential railway stations.The Results Dwelling costs in the Medway towns increase somewhat due to restricted supply. Dwelling costs in other areas increase more evenly, like Maidstone. Population distribution by socio-economic group is reasonably balanced in all areas, although there are fewer residents from lower socio-economic group in the Medway towns itself. Production costs increase within the Medway towns and less so elsewhere.
Increased public transport reduces private car commuting although congestion remains high. Transport implications.Increased rail travel reduces car use. The majority of trips would still be by car, maintaining congestion but improving average speeds on certain roads.
Average distance of car trips increases The cost of living within the Medway towns would rise due to increased house prices and rentals, costs of goods, services and transport. Lower increases elsewhere. The cost of production in all areas would rise steadily and fairly evenly, following increased household and labour costs, floor space rentals and congestion. Evaluation Efficiency.Economic efficiency would be moderate, and unlikely to improve the competitiveness of the Medway towns. Export-oriented firms such as those in the high-tech sector would find it relatively demanding to compete with the rest of the world, thanks to transport links Medway City Estate would be a Ideal place for businesses. Equity Social equity would not be improved in the Medway towns because of restricted housing and rising household costs for all income groups.
Changes in Chatham, Strood and Rochester would be more balanced. Environment.Good protection of the environment in the Medway towns and the countryside generally. More intense utilisation of land in the transport corridors might slightly raise emissions and pollution locally, despite rail Links Overall I think that this would be the best way for the Medway towns because all the options would add to the cost of living and production in the Medway towns, owing to increased transport congestion and restrictions on land development. However the Transport links would help the area develop Brownfield sites like the marshes and the Rochester docks.
