A council has began to formulate its vision for a major redevelopment of a rural area.

In November, it was announced Medway Council received £170 million from the government to regenerate housing and infrastructure on the Hoo Peninsula.

The council is now looking to develop its plans on how it will use the money, intending to transform the area by 2037.

It has published a brochure on its proposals which centre around making Hoo St Werburgh a rural town.

Under the plans – which will be developed in a more detailed way in support of council's Local Plan later this year ­– 12,000 homes would be developed in and around this town. There will also be a new rail link.

The other homes would be spread around Hoo St Werburgh, Chattenden, Deangate, High Halstow and Cockham Farm, with "green corridors" between them.

The brochure says there will be "walkable neighbourhoods clustered around the existing villages which will be well-connected through a comprehensive pedestrian-friendly green infrastructure network and improved public transport system.

"The built form of Hoo’s existing rural character will be preserved by a thoughtful density distribution, building height control and design."

As well as the new rail link, there would also be a new pedestrian bridge over the A228.

Ward councillor Ron Sands, who has opposed development of the peninsula for years, has called the document a "fairytale".

He said: "I don't know where it's coming from. They are talking about a new village in Cockham Farm – I have never heard of it.

"They talk about 12,000 houses but there's no detail of where they are going to go. None of this can happen.

"I have got lifetime residents of Hoo saying if this is happening, we are going to move.

"They are talking about a flyover that brings you out to Chattenden, but the rest of the peninsula still only has one road on and one road off.

"It would be nice if we had a decent road all the way up to Grain and Allhallows.

"We have had houses after houses and no infrastructure.

"We have got people who have moved into the village [of Hoo] and they have been in touch with me to say they can't get their children into local schools."

Cllr Sands also suggested the money could be spend on developing a healthy living centre and an ambulance station.

The council is holding two drop-in sessions to get people's views on the brochure.

They will both be held on Thursday, March 19. The first will be held at Chattenden Community Centre, Swinton Avenue, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, before moving on to Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, Pottery Road, between 6pm and 8.30pm.

A consultation form and instructions on how to contact the council can be found here.

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