Maidstone Borough Council 5


Employment and Economic Development


A strong local economy, with the opportunity for businesses to expand and develop, is important if we are to maintain and create jobs for Maidstone residents.


We want to create 14,400 jobs by 2031 by helping new start-ups and encouraging existing businesses to expand. We will attract new firms to the area as well as stimulating the town centre economy, and have allocated sites for employment within the Plan to help support the growing population.


Infrastructure


For certain major applications, developers are required to contribute to the cost of infrastructure improvements necessary to mitigate the impact of that particular development. These include:


Roads - KCC Highways and MBC are working on a joint Integrated Transport Strategy to improve roads, public transport and walking and cycling provision.


February 2016 Consultation


Nearly 3,000 people took part in our public consultations in 2014 and 2015 which focussed on getting the content of the plan right - from which sites should be allocated for development, to what the policies that guide planning applications should contain.


The next consultation - "Regulation 19" - is to check the draft plan meets the four tests required by government guidance:


 Have we planned for the borough's housing, employment and infrastructure needs?


 Is the plan based on sound evidence?  Can it be delivered by 2031?


 Is it consistent with national policy, and does it enable sustainable development?


This means the consultation will be checking that the plan is sound - rather than revisiting the site allocations or policies, which have been consulted on and agreed.


The consultation will run for six weeks from 5 February and is open to everyone - whether you've commented before or not. Visit www.maidstone.gov.uk/consultation to take part. You can also view the documents at the Gateway on King Street and at all libraries, and send comments to ldf@maidstone.gov.uk or to the Spatial Policy Team, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ.


Next Steps


The consultation responses will be considered by councillors in April and, if no major changes are needed, the Plan will be submitted for the Examination in Public. If the Planning Inspector agrees, after this process, that the Plan is sound and appropriate, it will be put before the Full Council of 55 Maidstone Borough Councillors for adoption.


Schools - we are working with Kent County Council to meet future demand, including making sure policies for particular sites include provision for new or extended schools.


Sewerage capacity - all new homes will need adequate water and sewerage capacity, and Southern Water has not objected to any of the sites in the draft plan to indicate that this wouldn't be possible. Separately to this process, we have been working with MPs, Southern Water and other agencies to find solutions to existing problems.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56