Plans to build 168 homes on a former timber yard on the banks of the River Medway have been unanimously approved.

Morgan and Company applied to redevelop the Morgan Timber site in Knight Road in Strood as part of a wider development of 600 homes.

Councillors said the plans were a good use of a brownfield site and concerns which had been raised about access have been solved.

Specifically, there were worries about the suitability of an entry point under Walnut Tree Bridge, which is single lane.

But officers described how, as part of the development, a signal system had been agreed which would improve the safety of the road for both pedestrians and motorists.

Additionally, a larger “spine road” is to be constructed and the Walnut Tree Bridge road will not be the main access to the new development.

The development will consist of one-and two-bed flats and two-bed houses and for the 168 property site 324 parking spaces will be available.

Financial viability assessments, which were independently verified, have estimated the proposals would not be possible if the developers are required to provide both a percentage of affordable housing properties and S106 payments for the site.

This is attributed to the work required to demolish buildings and prepare the land, as it is a brownfield site, and increase the ground level to reduce the risk of flooding.

Therefore, council officers have agreed to forgo affordable housing on the site and agreed a £2.7 million package of S106 contributions - which is £172,000 less than the authority had originally requested.

However there was also a “clawback” clause, meaning if the developers’ profit for the houses on the site exceeds what is expected, the council could receive further S106 funding.

Cllr Phil Filmer (Con) said he supported the scheme and the benefit of redeveloping a brownfield site meant the council could accept the lack of affordable housing and some S106 contributions.

He said: “It’s an excellent scheme. The development, being a brownfield site, there was always going to have to be compromises, with the decontamination and things.

“But when this is done there’ll be a lovely view, a nice development, so I’m fully behind it.”

In total, £2.7 million was agreed in developer contributions, including £1.2 million for local education, £52,000 for sports facilities, and £705,000 for transport needs, such as bus services.

The outline planning application is part of a larger scheme first granted in 2009, with more than 600 homes in total.

There are two other phases further up the River Medway - with one completed and another still under construction.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

The original approval had elapsed, so a new application was necessary for the timber yard.

The yard, which opened in 1923, closed in September 2022 when directors Robert and Derek Morgan retired.

Councillors unanimously voted to approve the planning application at the meeting yesterday (January 15).