Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

Gravesham 10 . It seeks to make full use of previously developed land withinGravesend and Northfleet, locate development to maximise the economicregeneration potential offered by Ebbsfleet and protect the Green Belt.4.2.4 Development must be achieved in the most sustainable settlementswhere there is access to the greatest range of facilities and services, and themost frequent public transport services. The South East Plan established theGravesend/Northfleet/Ebbsfleet areas as being the most sustainable parts ofthe Borough through its identification within the Kent Thames GatewayGrowth and Regeneration Area. These parts of the Borough comprise themain urban area. The rest of the Borough comprises the rural area. Theboundaries of the urban and the rural areas are defined on the Policies Map(see Appendix 1 for changes to the Policies Map).4.2.5 An assessment has been carried out of the facilities and servicesavailable in the Borough's settlements to identify which are moresustainable 11 . The results are reflected in the settlement hierarchy below.Table 2: Settlement HierarchyFirst Tier Settlements:Second Tier Settlements:Third Tier Settlements:Fourth Tier Settlements:Other Settlements:Gravesend/ Northfleet/ Ebbsfleet, i.e.the urban areaIstead Rise, Hook Green Meopham,HighamCulverstone Green, Meopham Green,VigoCobham, Shorne, Sole StreetHarvel, Lower Higham, Luddesdown,Lower Shorne, Shorne Ridgeway,Three Crutches4.2.6 The extent of the Green Belt in Gravesham is defined on the PoliciesMap. Its local purpose is:10 As set out within the South East Plan and its supporting evidence base11 Settlement Hierarchy Technical Paper December 200942