People get to have their say about the proposed redevelopment of Medway’s second oldest military site.

A public consultation is underway as developers J.G. Chatham Ltd are preparing an outline planning application to create 260 homes at Kitchener Barracks.

Plans were displayed at Fort Amherst on Tuesday where local residents said they were pleased the listed buildings were being retained but raised concerns about traffic and pressure on local services.

The barracks on Dock Road, Chatham have been in continuous military use since its construction in 1757 but were sold by the Defence after being listed as surplus to military requirement.

J.G. Chatham Ltd and architectural design company, Latis, have been working with Medway Council and English Heritage on the plans.

An English Heritage spokesman said: “We have been in initial discussions about plans for a major housing development at Kitchener Barracks at Chatham because the site is in a conservation area and also contains a number of grade II listed buildings.

"We are broadly content with the current proposals and have been advising the owners on a master plan. We expect to continue to be involved and to be consulted again when a planning application is submitted to Medway Council in the New Year.”

The main 1930s Khartoum building, or Sandhurst Block, will be converted into residential apartments and the 1950s extension will be replaced with three apartment blocks.

Krishan Pattni , creative director at Latis, said: “We’re very aware of the contribution the Khartoum building makes to the character of the site, and the landscape of the Towns.

“But it is a huge wall, and it’s very important to create views through the site so we’re breaking the 1950s block up.

“The site has been used by the military since 1757 which means it has been closed to the public but we’re flipping that over - the design is about openness and permeability.”

Two to four bedroom town and terraced houses are proposed for the remainder of site, with both front and back gardens and driveways.

Mr Pattni said they have carefully considered parking, creating ample parking for both residents and visitors. Underground parking will be provided for the apartment blocks.

The parade ground is to be converted into an open space for residents and the existing tree lines will be retained and enhanced.

The three listed buildings will be renovated to bring them back into use and Mr Pattni said the Ordnance Store will be a commercial building that will compliment the site. The listed walls will be retained.

Two new pedestrian routes into the development from Dock Road will be created, including opening the archway in the listed wall at the north corner of the site and a new public pedestrian/cycling link between Dock Road and Brompton Hill.

There will only be one vehicular access onto the site, using the existing entrance near Fort Amherst along Khartoum Road.

Mr Pattni said: “We want to create a connection between Dock Road and Brompton Hill, but we don’t want to create a rat-run through the site for cars.”

The roads through the site have been designed around the Dutch Home Zone idea. This causes people to driver slower as there are no road markings and pavements and roads are at the same level.

Access for rubbish collection vehicles has been taken into account, and all homes will have an area for storing waste.

The outline planning application will be submitted to Medway Council around December this year. If the plans are given the go ahead, building work could start by the end of 2015.

Inquiries should be directed to consultation@kitchenerbarracks.com.