Chatham Dockyard: Fate all but sealed as ministers choose not to intervene

The government has chose not to intervene on an application to redevelop Chatham Dockyard.

In May, the Medway Council approved plans to transform the last working docks in the area into a business hub.

A call in request was then made by former MP Kelly Tolhurst, meaning the secretary of state could decide the outcome, rather than the council.

However, it has now been confirmed to Greatest Hits Radio that ministers have decided to not call in the application from Peel Waters, allowing it to be determined by the local authority.

Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “The decision to approve the planning application to redevelop land at Chatham Docks Industrial Estate South Side was taken by the Planning Committee on 30 May.

"The application had already been delayed in order to take additional legal advice, which put the committee outside of the timeframe for making a decision.

"During this time, several interested parties requested that the government ‘call in’ this application. Whilst the Government considered whether or not to look at this, no action could be taken, despite the committee recommending the application was approved.

"With the Government’s decision today to not call in the application, we are reassured that the steps that Medway Council’s Planning Department and Quasi-Judicial Planning Committee took in determining whether or not this planning application was legally compliant were the correct ones.”

A spokesperson from the Ministry of housing, communities and Local Government said: “Ministers have decided not to call in a planning application for a new business and enterprise campus at Chatham Docks. The application remains with Medway Council to determine.”