Housing Infrastructure Bid

If more homes are built on the Hoo Peninsula there will need to be improvements to roads, transport and environment to support this.

It is essential that the necessary road, rail and environmental infrastructure in and around the Hoo peninsula is put in place for residents.

This will be funded by the £170 million Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) programme.

There is potential for the area to grow by 12,000 homes over the next twenty years.

HIF is awarded by the government to enable local councils to put in place infrastructure required to support new housing.

Medway’s bid focused on significantly improving the Hoo Peninsula’s transport connections and the environmental infrastructure, and having them all delivered and in use by 2024.

This fund allows for upfront infrastructure improvements, supporting housing growth over the next 20 years.

Improvements to Roads

£86 million of this fund will be used to make road improvements to support new housing on the Hoo Peninsula.

This will increase capacity at peak times and reduce local congestion and help to improve air quality.

A new road is proposed to connect Main Road to the Wainscott bypass via a flyover.

Improvements are also planned to improve the roundabouts at Four Elms, Bells Lane and Ropers Lane.

All of these schemes will be in use before 2024.

New Rail Connections

£63 million will be used for rail improvements to support new housing on the Hoo Peninsula.

There will be a new rail station at Sharnal Street, just off the A228 and a new passenger service connecting the Peninsula to a London terminal (possibly London Victoria) and other Medway stations.

The service will also enable people to change at Gravesend to join the HS1 to London St Pancras. All will be in use by 2024.

The station will be accessible by road and new cycle ways.

The new passenger service will operate alongside the existing freight activities.

Environment

£14.35 million will be used for protecting wildlife and ecology.

The Hoo Peninsula’s marshes and woodlands are important for biodiversity.

By March 2024, significant investment will have been made to create a network of wildlife-rich open spaces. All with extensive walking and cycling routes, new habitats and a green ‘living bridge’ over the Peninsula Way and new wetlands by the estuary.

In addition Rangers will be employed to help look after the area and to help visitors enjoy the area.