Medway - Kent Design Guide

Regeneration is the driving force behind Medway’s sustainable growth, alongside investment in its infrastructure. Medway benefits from a stunning landscape setting, rich heritage, high speed train links, universities and its well-connected strategic location in the Thames Gateway, offering diverse services and industries. Our ambition is to realise this potential, and to promote and enhance Medway as a place to be proud of by delivering high quality, fully integrated communities.

The scale of investment interest and growth Medway is experiencing offers challenges, leading to pressures on local people, services and the environment. However, this growth does not have to mean loss of character across the area, nor distinctiveness within its neighbourhoods. Medway’s history, countryside, river and urban morphologies provide the context for the design of future development to be inventive, distinctive and culturally embedded; forward looking without losing sight of the past.

Development should above all be designed to make a positive contribution, responding appropriately to strengthen the unique character and appearance of neighbourhoods while serving the needs and aspirations of existing communities.

Development should celebrate the River Medway while being respectful to the functions and qualities of natural and historic environments. By managing natural resources we can ensure that important wildlife and heritage assets are protected and opportunities are realised to enhance their condition and connectivity such that they can also be used to promote health and wellbeing.

New communities should be thoughtfully integrated with existing areas and should ensure that the benefits of development and investment are shared by everyone, so as to improve the quality of life for existing residents and create sustainable vibrant places.

Both the Kent Design Guide and Medway Council’s planning pages are well placed to assist all stakeholders to achieve these goals.