Residents in an area of the Hoo Peninsula have overwhelmingly voted in support of new rules for planning applications.

The introduction of the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan received 92.8% of votes in the referendum on November 7.

A neighbourhood plan is a way of setting rules for developments, such as conditions around designs, the environment, and transportation in order to provide environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The plan aims to manage growth so the various villages maintain their unique identities, create employment opportunities which meet the needs of the locals, and preserve and enhance the historic and environmental assets of the area.

After being designed by a planning group set up by the Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council, undergoing public consultation and evaluation by an independent examiner, the plan went to the vote.

In total, 1,887 votes were cast by of a registered 8,956 residents in the 2,740 hectacre neighbourhood area - a 21.09% turnout.

There were 1,752 people who voted YES, supporting the introduction of the neighbourhood plan, while 133 voted NO, opposing it.

The introduction of the plan is therefore supported and will mean future planning applications within the area must follow additional rules.

Cllr Michael Pearce (IndGr), who led the YES campaign, said the support for the neighbourhood plan showed residents felt they had suffered over-development for years.

He said: “The result in Hoo & Chattenden saw more people taking part in the vote than in any other Neighbourhood Plan referendum in the Medway Council area to date, and the YES vote was by far the strongest achieved.

“I believe the level of support for the Neighbourhood Plan was a reflection of the fact that local people have for a long time been on the frontline of unfair and unsustainable levels of development.

“I strongly encourage every parish on the Hoo Peninsula to create a Neighbourhood Plan as this allows residents to take back control of their local communities, empower local people and enhance democracy.”

He also thanked the Hoo & Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group volunteers and all those who helped campaign in favour of the plan.

He added: “Once formally adopted by Medway Council, the Hoo & Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan will be an important legally binding tool for the local community and will provide future generations with an excellent foundation.”

The area covers from Chattenden to as far west as beyond the Kingsnorth Power Station and almost 14,000 people live within its boundaries.

The plan includes rules which mean new developments will be in keeping with the existing housing by limiting sizes to predominantly two and three-storey buildings and must have traditional boundary treatments, including low flint or brick walls and hedges.

It also sets out developments must encourage social spaces and include public walkways which are suitable for all users.

Historic landmarks are also part of the considerations of the plan, such as the 12th century, Grade-I listed, Church of St Werburgh and the 11 Grade-II listed second world war pillboxes.

Now approved by voters, it will affect all planning applications in the neighbourhood plan area until 2040.