A request to reconsider the approval of a planning application by Peel Waters at Chatham Docks has been refused by Angela Rayner.

Sky News reports a letter has been sent by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) to Medway Council which says it will not act on the request for a call-in on the decision made by the authority’s planning committee.

In May, the council’s planning committee voted to approve plans which would allow a business campus called Basin3 to be built on the Chatham Docks industrial estate.

The proposals, submitted in January, were controversial because they would mean the demolition of the existing warehouses in favour of workspaces of various sizes and the creation of a waterside walkway and cycling route.

Businesses currently on the site say they would be effectively be forced to leave - but Peel Waters say the new development would triple the number of jobs.

It also says the application being considered for that section of the Chatham Docks site was just an area of employment use still being for employment use, not changing for housing.

However, opponents from the Save Chatham Docks campaign say it is the first step of turning much of the dock into housing.

After the application was given approval on May 30, then MP for Rochester and Strood Kelly Tolhurst (Con) wrote to Michael Gove, who was Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asking him to intervene.

She requested he consider calling in the decision by Medway Council, and this meant an Article 31 direction was applied, halting the progression of the plans, while Mr Gove considered them.

A further delay was added when Rishi Sunak called an election and no decision could be made until after July 4.

Following Labour’s win, the verdict was in the hands of Angela Rayner and the MHCLG.

Sky News reports Rushanara Ali, parliamentary under-secretary, wrote on behalf of Rayner saying she did not wish to call in the decision and “is content that it should be determined by the local planning authority”.

Ms Tolhurst called the decision “disappointing” and said she was surprised the application had not been called in.

She also criticised Labour, in Medway and nationally, saying they were going against previous promises they had made.

She said: “I am very disappointed and local people and people who work at the docks will keep the fight going because there’s no economic case for allowing this.

“I was very surprised that she has made this decision because so many people’s lives, their jobs, rely on Chatham Docks and I thought a decision like this needs more consideration.

“I think people will be very upset because this goes against the rhetoric we have had from Labour about growing the economy and investing in Britain - a huge part of Medway’s economy is the businesses at Chatham Docks.

“We do not build infrastructure like this anymore, so it’s absolutely mad that this is being done.”

Current MP for Rochester and Strood, Lauren Edwards (Lab), who defeated Tolhurst at the election, said she had supported the request to ask for a call-in and she knew the decision would disappoint residents.

She said: “I supported the decision to ask the Secretary of State to review outline planning approval for Basin3 and made representations to ensure all relevant factors were considered.

“I know that some residents and workers will be disappointed that the Secretary of State has today decided not to call-in the decision made by Medway Council’s planning committee.

“Since becoming the local MP, I have met with Arcelor Mittal and the Save Chatham Docks group and will continue to work with them to find a long-term solution for their business that preserves as many high-skilled local jobs as possible.

“I will also meet with Peel Waters, the company behind Basin3, to ensure the site is a success and delivers on the employment and growth potential outlined in the planning application.”

Peel Waters said the decision was great news, but would wait to provide a full statement until Medway Council had formally confirmed the planning decision - which is expected to happen early next week.

Phil Taylor, former chief exec at ArcelorMittal Kent Wire said: “It’s a sad day for Kent Wire and a sad day for Medway.

“I’m disappointed, I’m saddened, and I’m shocked. We were hearing that it was likely to be called in and reviewed independently - but it does not mean the fight has finished.

“I don’t want to give away what our strategy is, but we’re not going anywhere.

“It’s illogical to destroy Chatham Docks, a high value employer. It’s illogical and has been from the start.

“So if Vince and his team think he’s got an easy ride getting his Local Plan through, he hasn’t - we’ll be there fighting for the docks.

Ms Rayner’s decision not to call in the approval means the Article 31 direction has been lifted and Medway Council can proceed with the approval process of the application which councillors voted for in May.

Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “The decision to approve the planning application to redevelop land at Chatham Docks Industrial Estate South Side was taken by the Planning Committee on May 30.

“The application had already been delayed in order to take additional legal advice, which put the committee outside of the timeframe for making a decision.

“During this time, several interested parties requested that the government ‘call in’ this application.

“Whilst the Government considered whether or not to look at this, no action could be taken, despite the committee recommending the application was approved.

“With the Government’s decision today to not call in the application, we are reassured that the steps that Medway Council’s Planning Department and Quasi-Judicial Planning Committee took in determining whether or not this planning application was legally compliant were the correct ones.”