The Proposals

A New Landscape-Led Neighbourhood

The vision for Norwood Lane is to create a sensitively designed, landscape-led development that integrates with Meopham’s existing character, while providing much-needed new homes and delivering significant community and environmental benefits.

The 7.41-hectare site is well contained and directly adjoins existing residential areas. Its careful design allows for the delivery of new housing while retaining important features of the local landscape.

Site Location Plan (click to enlarge).

Enhancing the Landscape

Protecting and enhancing the landscape has been central to the design:

  • Churchway Wood will be retained and protected with a minimum 15-metre buffer, ensuring biodiversity is safeguarded.

  • Over 1.6 hectares of public open space will be provided, including play areas, landscaped green corridors and walking routes.

  • New native tree planting, hedgerows, and wildflower grassland will support local wildlife.

  • The proposals will deliver at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, contributing to Kent’s wider nature recovery ambitions.

  • A long-range view corridor has been included to maintain views towards St Mildred’s Church and the National Landscape.

Access, Movement and Sustainable Travel

The site is well connected and designed to encourage walking, cycling, and public transport use:

A new main vehicle access from Green Lane.

An emergency access and pedestrian/cycle link onto Norwood Lane.

New and improved footpath and cycle connections linking the development to local schools, services, public transport, and Camer Park Country Park.

New pedestrian crossings on Green Lane to improve safety and access.

Parking provision will meet local policy, including visitor spaces and electric vehicle charging.

Land use and access parameters plan (click to enlarge)

Sustainability and Drainage

The site sits within Flood Zone 1 and is at low risk of flooding. The drainage strategy includes:

  • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), including attenuation basins and swales, to capture and manage surface water on-site.

  • No built development is proposed in areas at flood risk.

  • Low-carbon design principles, modern building regulations, and energy-efficient homes

Respecting the Setting and Heritage

The design has been shaped to minimise visual and heritage impacts:

  • Setbacks, deep gardens and landscape buffers to protect neighbouring homes.

  • Sensitive layouts to reduce the impact on views from the Kent Downs National Landscape.

  • Careful consideration of nearby listed buildings, ensuring new development sits comfortably within its historic context.

Supporting the Local Community

The development will bring a range of social and economic benefits to Meopham, including:

Delivery of much-needed housing, with 50% affordable housing.

Contributions to local services and infrastructure.

Creation of public open spaces, play areas, and improved pedestrian links.

Economic activity, jobs, and local spending during both construction and occupation.

Planning Context

Although the site lies within the Green Belt, detailed assessments, including the Green Belt Appraisal and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), show that it makes only a weak contribution to three of the five purposes of Green Belt, as set out in paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

In particular, the site makes a limited contribution to:

  • Preventing the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas (Purpose a)

  • Preventing neighbouring towns from merging (Purpose b)

  • Preserving the setting and special character of historic towns (Purpose d)

The site is well-contained, surrounded by existing development to the west and north-west and roads to the east and south, and has no significant environmental or heritage constraints.

In accordance with paragraphs 155–157 of the NPPF, the proposed development represents an appropriate and sustainable form of growth, helping to meet local housing needs where land supply is constrained.

Key benefits include:

  • A sustainable location within easy walking distance of schools, shops, community facilities, bus stops and Meopham railway station.

  • 50% affordable housing, meeting the NPPF “Golden Rules” for Green Belt release and exceeding the local policy requirement of 35%.

The potential impact of development on local infrastructure will be carefully considered through the planning process. Where appropriate, Taylor Wimpey will make financial contributions towards local infrastructure improvements through a Section 106 Agreement, in accordance with planning policy and discussions with the local authority.

Overall, the proposals represent a well-considered, sustainable opportunity to deliver much-needed housing in Gravesham, while respecting local character and landscape features.

Illustrative masterplan (click to enlarge)