Proposed Development

Land at Capstone Oaks

Chatham, ME5 8EH

Learn about our plans for an exciting new community in Chatham

Our reserved matters planning application for the first phase of homes at Capstone Oaks, Chatham, was approved by Medway Council in May 2024. 

The development site has outline planning permission for up to 800 homes (including affordable homes), a primary school, retail space, a community or nursery facility, a new link road between North Dane Way and Pear Tree Lane, off site junction improvements and open spaces and landscaping. 

In line with the approved outline planning permission, the development will be delivered over four phases. The first phase will provide 91 new homes, areas of open space and a new access road and roundabout off North Dane Way, to Medway Council.

We held a public exhibition in December 2022 prior to the submission of the reserved matters application. A copy of the exhibition boards displayed at the event can be downloaded here.

We currently anticipate that the first homes will be released for sale around May 2025.
 
If you have any questions about our development you can email [email protected].
Some images and tours are used for illustrative purposes only and may include optional upgrades, subject to availability and at additional cost. Development managed by Taylor Wimpey South East.

About the development

Masterplan

We want to create a thriving new community in Chatham. Our plans for the first phase of homes include up to 100 new homes, of which 25% will be affordable housing. 

Our plans for the first phase of the development also include areas of open space and a new access road and roundabout off North Dane Way.
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The site will be delivered on a phased basis, with four separate residential phases, an infrastructure phase and future primary school and retail phases.  The images below show the boundary of the whole site as well as the phase 1 application boundary, and the approved phasing plan for the development.

Street scenes

To create a characterful community, the proposed development will have distinct areas with a variety of house type designs and materials used. The following character areas are proposed.

  • Woodland Edge
  • Parkland
  • Green Street
 
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To create a characterful community, the proposed development will have distinct areas with a variety of house type designs and materials used. 

Character areas:

Six key character areas have been identified across the wider site, which were set out as part of the outline planning application:

Hale:

Sloped landscape, with a select cluster of detached homes in a prime leisure location, and semi-detached houses running along the contours to act as a backdrop.

Northern Edge:

The landscape remains dominant here, however significant buildings will define key arrival points. Buildings here will be more focal.

Rural Edge:

Leisure routes run the entire length of the site on the eastern boundary. This area will be characterised by more contemporary housing.

Hilltop:

A contemporary urban location with long views of terraces of townhouses and desirable flats within parkland and contemporary suburban spaces.

Urban Quarter:

A mixture of three storey contemporary townhouses and apartments centred around urban squares, shops and services.

Whites Wood (Phase 1):

Accessed from a new roundabout to the south of North Dane Way, an important edge to the main road and views over the parkland to the north.

The proposed appearance of the homes have a modern design, with carefully selected materials to create a more rural feel. Details include gable fronted units, floor to ceiling windows and 2.5 storey homes in key locations to assist with variety and interest in the street scene. Materials proposed include black weatherboarding and brown roof tiles.

Homes proposed

Our proposals include up to 100 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses to meet local housing needs.

The proposed mix of homes is approximately:
• 10% x 2 bed houses, 50% x 3 bed houses, 30% x 4 bed houses and 10% x 5 bed houses.

25% of the proposed new homes will be allocated as affordable housing, in accordance with the outline planning permission and the requirements of Medway Council.
 
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The layout has been carefully designed with the existing topography of the site. 

The main access road to this phase has been designed as a gateway into the scheme. This then splits into two smaller access roads, which separates the higher and lower parts of the site. These are split by a central hedgerow and tree belt which is currently present on site. These upper and lower levels are connected by a focal green space which allows for pedestrian and cycle connections between the two.

Homes to the western boundary comprise smaller semi-detached and terraced dwellings where the topography of the site is less steep. The larger detached properties are mainly confined to the steeper, eastern parts of the site.

Future phases

The development will be delivered in six phases.

Development of the 91 homes and open space at phase 1, that will be delivered by Taylor Wimpey, is currently underway.  

The remaining phases of the site at East Hill are jointly owned by Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Homes. Taylor Wimpey and Vistry are working closely on the plans for the remaining phases and have appointed a single consultant team to progress the plans through the planning process.

The remaining phases will be accessed by a new link road with new roundabouts on North Dane Way and Capstone Road, which were approved as part of the outline planning permission. Various meetings have taken place with Medway Council about the proposals for the future phases which are informed by the parameters set out by the approved outline planning permission.  

The proposals will be for 709 homes of a wide range of sizes (1 bedroom flats to 5 bedroom houses), and include 25% affordable housing, the new link road, a site for a primary school and significant open space including allotments and 150 square metres of retail space.  It is anticipated that the next reserved matters applications for the remaining phases will be submitted to Medway Council in Quarter 1, 2025. 
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Development Map Category features

Connectivity

We understand that a new development will have an impact on the existing community and we will carefully consider this as we develop our proposals. Connectivity between the application site and its surrounding context is at the heart of our proposals. Legible connections within and through the development will mean that existing and future residents have ample access to surrounding facilities, including Capstone Country Park.

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Our proposals for the first phase of homes includes a new access road and roundabout off North Dane Way which will serve the homes on this phase, as approved by the outline planning permission. The existing Public Right of Way (PROW route RC9), will be maintained and incorporated into the proposals on its current alignment.

In line with the approved outline planning permission, a new link road between North Dane Way and Capstone Road will be delivered to provide access to the remaining phases of development. However, the delivery of the homes proposed for the first phase of development is served by its own new access.

Drainage

We will carefully consider our plans to ensure a sufficient drainage strategy is put in place. Surface water will be drained via infiltration, by a combination of measures likely to include permeable paving, deep bore soakaways and swales and attenuation ponds that will be designed to be attractive features that enhance biodiversity and encourage natural habitat to amenity spaces. These measures will ensure surface water is disposed of sustainably and that run off rates are no more than the existing.
 
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Environment and Ecology

Preserving and enhancing local wildlife is a key consideration when we plan and build new developments.The development has been designed to retain as much suitable habitat as possible, and additional suitable habitat is created to enhance the ecological value of the site. In accordance with the Outline permission, the proposals will deliver at least 20% Biodiversity Net Gain.
 
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Heritage

Archaeology is to be investigated across the entire site. An initial non-intrusive archaeological investigation has beencompleted that will be followed by a series of trenches that will be dug across the site on a phased basis. Any finds from these trenched will be considered and any further work agreed.
 
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Our approach features

Previous use

The whole development site covers an area of 49.47 hectares and is currently greenfield land. Our first phase is 8.3 hectares, including a considerable proportion of open space.
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Previous planning applications

An outline planning application was submitted to Medway Council in March 2019 and was granted at appeal in February 2022.

The outline consent is for up to 800 new homes (including affordable homes), a primary school, retail space, a community or nursery facility, a new link road between North Dane Way and Pear Tree Lane, off site junction improvements and open spaces and landscaping.
 
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Previous consultations and feedback

The outline planning application was guided by extensive public consultation and was granted at appeal in February 2022. 
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History of the site features

Economic benefits

We want to deliver new homes and facilities that positively integrate with and enhance the local community.
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Open space

Ensuring our residents and the local community have access to beautiful green open spaces is a key consideration. The Public Right of Way (RC9) that crosses our first phase will be improved and set within open space as a key site feature. This provides access through to Capstone Country Park.
 
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Footpaths and cycleways will be provided as part of the scheme and through the open space in the northern part of our first phase to create sustainable connections with the play area, proposed primary school and future phases of development. The open space will be designed to be of benefit to wildlife and to ensure that the development integrates with the wider landscape.

Amenities and facilities

We aim to support the communities in which we build. One way in which we do this is by providing new facilities that local people will benefit from.
 
Our proposals for the first phase of development at East Hill include a range of homes to meet housing needs, including 25% affordable housing, significant areas of open space, a play area as well as a new access off North Dane Way.
 
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Community benefits features