Medway’s long-awaited masterplan to shape the Towns’ development over the next 20 years will be unveiled today.

The proposed local plan includes where 30,000 new homes will go plus land earmarked for job creation, roads, shopping and community facilities.

The blueprint will be revealed to the media today, Wednesday, at the council headquarters in Gun Wharf with the public consultation beginning mid January.

Senior councillors will set out their vision of how they want to shape the Towns.

It will be eagerly awaited by developers who will see it as a green light for big building projects, although there will still be fierce local battles from residents aiming to protect sensitive areas and demanding that services and infrastructure keep up with the pace of development.

Planners are still waiting for the decision of a public inquiry in October for 450 homes at Capstone Valley. The plans for Gibraltar Farm in Ham Lane were turned down by the council before being referred to the planning inspector.

A decision had been expected in November but now the planning inspectorate has confirmed that the outcome will be released on or before March 8.