LATEST NEWS

The Prime Minister has urged the council to do more to try and save hundreds of jobs at risk at historic docks.

Rishi Sunak intervened after a question from Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst about a redevelopment project at Chatham Docks.

She told the PM that hundreds of jobs were at risk because the owners were “continuing in their pursuit to displace successful businesses.”

The Conservative MP also took aim at Medway Council’s Labour administration, saying it was failing to honour its commitment before the local election last year to protect the jobs.

A developer behind new plans to regenerate a dockside industrial estate which could create hundreds of jobs is asking for people's thoughts on them.

Businesses and residents are being consulted on proposals for an “employment and enterprise zone” at Chatham Docks.

Peel Waters, part of Peel L&P, presented an early masterplan for the land in December 2021 and a public exhibition of its initial designs was held in June last year.

The developer has now unveiled its project for a business campus called Basin 3.

Detailed plans have revealed the possible future for Chatham Docks.

P4 Planning, on behalf of Peel Waters, has submitted a planning application for a screening opinion about its proposal to redevelop the area, demolishing the current warehouses.

Drawings show the company wants to redesign the site, creating 19 units of varying sizes that it says will create a waterside business and enterprise campus.

The application, received on November 21, is a preliminary step where early proposals are evaluated to see if they are likely to have a significant environmental impact.

If successful, the plans will see the demolition of the existing warehouses and the construction of a set of 19 business units of various sizes, as well as a promenade and walking and cycle routes with green spaces. 

Peel say the development will create a "sustainable, versatile, and scalable" waterfront space which actively promotes job creation in creative, manufacturing and technology, life sciences, and IT and digital sectors.

Medway Council is looking at all possible sites for development in order to meet government housing targets, but is uncertain they will be able to meet them.

The authority must find space to build 28,339 houses by 2040 in order to meet national housing targets and are set to begin a consultation process on where to put them.

Catch up on the latest news on our campaign on the Politics South East Show. The story starts at 18.30 mins into the show. Click the button below now.

A bold new vision for an under-threat docks which would create more than 1,000 jobs has been unveiled.

Plans to retain Chatham Docks as a working site are an alternative to multi-million pound proposals for thousands of homes.

Campaigners have rubbished claims there are hundreds of fewer jobs at a closure-threatened industrial site than thought.

Landowner Peel L&P says its research shows between 350 and 370 people work at Chatham Docks.

The authority’s draft Local Plan, which was published in October before being withdrawn hours before councillors were due to debate it, indicated Medway's wish to re-designate the land from employment to mixed-use which could include 3,625 new homes.

ITV News investigates the businesses and jobs at risk from development plans for Chatham Docks.

Watch the full report here, including an interview with ArcelorMittal 's Phil Taylor.

Peel L&P has revealed its masterplan for the transformation of the Chatham Docks Industrial Estate in Kent.

Ambitious "early stage" plans to transform a dockside industrial estate have been proposed with developers flagging the site as a potential location for a new hospital.

A development of up to 3,625 homes and commercial space could feature on the land at Chatham Docks if efforts by landowners Peel L&P to close them by 2025 are successful.

Medway Council's draft Local Plan which was published last month indicated the authority's wish to re-designated the land from employment to mixed-use.

The plan is still being worked on after a decision was made not to go ahead with a vote to begin the public consultation process.

Riverside businesses threatened by closure due to redevelopment plans for the docks where they are based say they are "astonished" after a leading councillor suggested moving to a landlocked alternative.

The companies based at Chatham Docks – which is set to close in 2025 despite major opposition – have also been directed to a support package worth up to £500,000 while some firms say it will cost almost 40 times that much to move.

This was after it emerged the leadership might lack the votes required to reach the public consultation stage – and bosses decided more documents were required before the plan could be presented.

The draft Local Plan sets out sites for future development including new housing and opportunities for employment; it will form the blueprint on how the authority will try accommodate a target for 26,962 new homes up to 2037.

Having faced a rebellion from within his party, forced to pull a key vote, sacking a close ally, calls to resign and learning the City of Culture bid for Medway had failed, council leader Alan Jarrett has vowed he is not going anywhere.

Kent Tonight reports on our recent protest, including an interview MP Kelly Tolhurst

Demonstrators are still expected to gather tonight ahead of a council meeting despite the subject of their anger being pulled from the agenda.

Medway councillors were due to debate the local authority's draft Local Plan before voting on whether to send it out for public consultation.

But it is understood Conservative council leaders were set to face an embarrassing loss in the vote after a swathe of opposition from within the party and across the council chamber.

The row has already cost one cabinet member his job – yesterday Rupert Turpin was sacked over his opposition to the plan and allocation for redeveloping Chatham Docks.

Campaigners fear the Docks inclusion in the draft Local Plan could lead to the port's possible closure and the loss of hundreds of jobs in Medway.

KentOnline understands plans will be unveiled for 3,600 apartments as part of a mixed use development with the council looking to meet government housing targets.

Earlier this week, cabinet members agreed the publication of the draft and if approved by full council next Thursday, a residents' consultation will take place between October 29 and December 24.

The authority will then consider any changes which are needed before sending the document to the Planning Inspectorate in the spring for independent examination.

A government minister has hinted threats of closing a working port for redevelopment may not be approved if it is found the local ecomony will suffer.

The future of more than 800 jobs at Chatham Docks is at risk should it be allocated for redevelopment in Medway's new Local Plan.

Just click on the link below if you would like to watch the recent ITV Meridian News feature on the future of Chatham Docks

A series of new report have been issued by the Save Chatham Docks Campaign highlighting the opportunities for the future at Chatham Docks.  It heaps even more pressure onto landowners Peel L&P who want to turn Medway’s 400 year old commercial port into riverside flats.

The Campaign to Save Chatham Docks gained national attention this week with the Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, QC, MP voicing his support to protect nearly 1,500 highly skilled jobs located there and through local supply chains.

D-Day is looming for the future of thousands of jobs and whether "short-sighted" closure proposals of Chatham Docks can move forward.

The site has been earmarked for redevelopment and is set to shut in 2025 when the leases expire with landowners Peel L&P.

The segment on the  fight to save the docks can be 8 mins and 40 secs into the broadcast on the button below. See ArcellorMittal CEO and Local Councillors speaking out save jobs and a way of life.

Eight hundred jobs are at risk after the owners of Chatham Docks said it would be financially unsustainable to maintain it as a port beyond 2025.

Peel L&P said it was supporting other uses for the site, including "much needed housing on brownfield land".

Hundreds of jobs remain at risk after Conservative councillors refused to back calls to protect businesses at Chatham Docks.

Landowners Peel L&P intends to shut the port down in 2025 and the site has been earmarked by council officers as having redevelopment potential.

The man behind the Angel of the North has joined the fight to save Chatham Docks and with it 800 jobs.

Chatham Docks operator ArcelorMittal Kent Wire played a key role in the creation of Sir Antony Gormley’s latest exhibition currently showing at the Royal Academy until 3rdDecember 2019 showing yet again how steel can enable great art.

The fight to save Chatham Docks received a major boost as all three Labour parliamentary candidates for Medway joined the campaign to protect the 800 jobs located there. 

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst has slammed the decision to close a docks which employs hundreds of people.

Yesterday it was revealed owners Peel L&P plan to close Chatham Docks in 2025.

Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost after port owners confirmed they will close docks in 2025.

Some 800 people are currently employed at Chatham Docks in Medway - which is owned by Peel L&P