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Infrastructure Communities Business

Environment

Swale's environment is one of its major assets, and the high quality of its countryside, its long and varied coastline, together with its architectural and historic legacy, enriches those able to enjoy it and helps to attract new investment. In the face of considerable development pressures, Local Plan proposals have reconciled the potentially conflicting environmental constraints present in the Borough by a major emphasis on urban regeneration on previously-developed land. Local Plan policies protect the fabric and appearance of the natural and built environments, including the intrinsic quality of the Borough's towns, villages and the countryside. At the same time levels of protection to the environmental quality of the countryside and its settlements have been increased.
 
A large part of the Queenborough & Rushenden site has been or is still used for industrial processing and chemical works. Therefore a thorough programme of investigation will be carried out before any decision is made on where different parts of the development will be situated. There will be an extensive clean-up operation on land that has been contaminated over many years due to industrial use including:

• rejuvenation of swales, ditches and creeks
• habitat translocation, creation and protection
• public open space and landscape strategy
• protection and enhancement of international ecological designation

The island is surrounded at the front and at each side by an "apron" of flat land, mainly marsh, much of which is below sea level. A detailed flood risk assessment will be carried out by the Environment Agency to consider the impact of any development on groundwater levels and storm flows. The potential risk from tidal flooding will also be examined as part of the Masterplanning process.

The Isle of Sheppey is home to many visiting and resident water birds and there is a Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) site at Elmley Marshes.

Contact the RSPB at Elmley Nature Reserve on 01795 665969/01273 775333 or www.rspb.org.uk, for more details about the birds found in the area.

SUSTAINABILITY   ISLE OF SHEPPEY TOURISM

SUSTAINABILITY   ISLE OF SHEPPEY TOURISM