A289 Four Elms Roundabout to Medway Tunnel Journey Time and Network Improvements

The aim of the scheme

To ensure a highway network between the M2 J1 and the Medway Tunnel which can deliver the desired housing growth and to alleviate current delays exiting Medway City Estate. The scheme involves improvements to the three roundabouts (Four Elms, Sans Pareil and Anthonys Way roundabouts) on the A289 corridor between Four Elms roundabout and the Medway Tunnel. The overall objective is to provide a highway network which is able to support the regeneration on the Hoo Peninsula and the Isle of Grain.

Location of the Scheme

The scheme consists of three roundabouts (Four Elms, Sans Pareil and Anthony’s Way) on the A289 corridor between M2 junction 1 and the Medway Tunnel. This corridor meets the corridor of the A228 from the Hoo Peninsula to Strood between the Four Elms and Sans Pareil. This area is on the western edge of the Medway built-up area with its population of approaching 250,000. This is shown in Figure 2. The peninsula is established as an area of growth, established in SEEDA’s vision for the Thames Gateway. Improvements have already been made on the A228 through third-party contribution.

Project update

A project update was considered by the Accountability Board on 14th February 2020. The Board were provided with an update on the ‘New Routes to Good Growth’ Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) application submitted to Central Government by Medway Council. The application was seeking £170m of capital funding to support the creation of a small rural town at Hoo St. Werburgh and the expansion of some neighbouring villages. In November 2019, Medway Council were informed that their HIF application had been successful, subject to a Grant Determination Agreement being signed.

The HIF funded works will enable the delivery of 10,600 new homes on the Hoo Peninsula by 2035, through delivery of essential enabling infrastructure including: highway improvements, rail investment and green infrastructure. The highway improvements outlined in the HIF application incorporate the proposed LGF funded improvements to the A289 within a wider package of works. The funding package outlined within the HIF application does not include the LGF funding allocation to the Project and therefore it was agreed with Medway Council, when the HIF application was submitted, that the unspent LGF funding would be returned to SELEP for reallocation if the HIF application was successful as this would eliminate the need for LGF funding for the project.

The Board agreed that the £9.279m unspent LGF funding should be returned to SELEP and reallocated through the LGF project pipeline. The Board also agreed that there was a compelling justification for SELEP not to recover the £1.821m LGF which has been spent on the project to date. This decision was taken on the basis that the proposed LGF works will progress to delivery as intended utilitising the HIF funding stream.

Further Update

The Accountability Board in September 2023 received a project update which advised that Homes England and DLUHC had made a decision to stop the HIF project and remove the funding allocated to the project. The Board agreed that the LGF could be retained against the project and asked that a further update be provided at the January 2024 Board meeting.

An update on the project was provided at the January 2024 Accountability Board meeting. Confirmation from Medway Council that the planned LGF works would be delivered assured the Board and as such it was agreed that the LGF funding could remain allocated to the project.

£579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock

In total the SELEP Growth Deal with Government has brought £579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock. Over the lifetime of the Growth Deal (2015-2021) we aim to deliver 78,000 jobs and 29,000 homes across the SELEP area, with the Deal set to attract a further £960m of investment into the South East over the six year period.

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