Regulation 18 Stage 2 Consultation GRAVESHAM INFRASTRUCTURE Background paper OCTOBER 2020 Delivering a Gravesham to be proud of CONTENTS NATIONAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................ 4 National Planning Policy Framework ................................................................. 4 National Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2016-21 ................................................... 4 National Planning Practice Guidance ................................................................ 5 Digital Economy Act 2017 ................................................................................. 5 GRAVESHAM CONTEXT ........................................................................................ 6 Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy (2014) .................................................... 6 Gravesham Corporate Plan 2019-23................................................................. 6 Gravesham Vision ...................................................................................................... 6 Gravesham Vision: Objectives ................................................................................... 7 TRANSPORT .......................................................................................................... 8 Roads ............................................................................................................... 9 Lower Thames Crossing ............................................................................................ 9 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junctions ............................................................................. 10 Electric Vehicle Charging Points .............................................................................. 10 Railways ......................................................................................................... 12 Buses .............................................................................................................. 13 Ports/Wharves ................................................................................................ 14 Footpaths/Cycling ........................................................................................... 15 EDUCATION ......................................................................................................... 17 Early Years, Childcare and Children’s Centres ................................................. 1 Primary Education ............................................................................................. 2 Secondary Education ........................................................................................ 4 Gravesham and Longfield Non-Selective Planning Group Area ................................. 4 Gravesham and Longfield Selective Planning Group Area ......................................... 5 Post-16 Capacity............................................................................................... 6 Further Education ............................................................................................. 6 Adult Education ................................................................................................. 7 HEALTH .................................................................................................................. 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 9 General Practitioners ...................................................................................... 14 Community Services, Clinics and Hospitals .................................................... 17 Healthy New Town Project – Ebbsfleet Garden City ....................................... 17 Mental Health Care ......................................................................................... 18 Learning Disability Services ............................................................................ 19 Dentists ........................................................................................................... 20 Opticians ......................................................................................................... 21 Pharmacists .................................................................................................... 21 SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................... 25 Supported Accommodation ............................................................................. 25 2 Older Person Households ........................................................................................ 25 Groups with Specific Support Needs ........................................................................ 25 Social and Community Facilities ..................................................................... 26 Adult Social Services ...................................................................................... 26 Youth Services ................................................................................................ 27 Post Offices .................................................................................................... 28 PUBLIC SERVICES .............................................................................................. 30 Waste Management and Disposal .................................................................. 30 Libraries .......................................................................................................... 30 Crematoriums and Cemeteries ....................................................................... 31 Emergency Services ....................................................................................... 31 Police ....................................................................................................................... 31 Fire and Rescue Service .......................................................................................... 32 Ambulance Service .................................................................................................. 33 Emergency Planning ....................................................................................... 33 Places of Worship ........................................................................................... 34 Prisons ............................................................................................................ 34 Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centres .............................................................. 35 Law Courts...................................................................................................... 35 Museums ........................................................................................................ 36 Theatres, Cinemas and Arts Centres .............................................................. 36 UTILITY SERVICES .............................................................................................. 37 Gas Supply ..................................................................................................... 37 Electricity Supply............................................................................................. 37 Water Supply .................................................................................................. 38 Wastewater Treatment .................................................................................... 40 Telecommunications ....................................................................................... 41 FLOOD DEFENCES .............................................................................................. 44 SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 45 3 NATIONAL CONTEXT National Planning Policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (Feb. 2019) (NPPF) includes a number of references to infrastructure.1 However, the NPPF does not contain specific policies for nationally significant infrastructure projects. These are determined in accordance with the decision- making framework in the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) and relevant national policy statements for major infrastructure. The NPPF is clear in that Local Plans should make sufficient provision for infrastructure, including for educational facilities, health infrastructure, transport, telecommunications including digital connectivity, security, waste management, water supply, wastewater, flood risk, coastal change management, the provision of minerals and energy (including heat), and the provision of community facilities (such as health, education and cultural infrastructure). In respect of waste management and the provision of minerals, these matters are dealt with by Kent County Council through the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013 - 2030 (KMWLP). National Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2016-21 The National Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2016-21 brought together the Government’s plans for economic infrastructure over a five year period with other plans to support delivery of housing and social infrastructure.2 The Delivery Plan offers advice on how to minimise carbon emissions through the use of planning, stating that the best way to cut bills and carbon emissions is to reduce energy use. The plan calls on all local authorities to be supportive of planning applications which will result in improved digital connectivity in their area, requests from infrastructure providers to use Local Government infrastructure