Housing in Kent
Kent's older buildings include oast houses, weatherboarded cottages, Wealden timber-framed houses and Kentish ragstone walls. Medway towns have long rows of Victorian terraces, Margate and Ramsgate have Regency and Victorian seafronts, and Ashford, Maidstone and Dartford have seen large new estates alongside interwar and post-war housing.
Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions; weatherboarded and timber-framed buildings may need cladding repairs and lime work. Newer estate homes often take garage conversions, porches and landscaping.
Building traditions across Kent also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for home improvements in Chatham at the survey stage.
Planning and building rules for Chatham
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Chatham comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In England, planning applications go to your local council, and many smaller extensions, loft conversions and outdoor jobs are permitted development. Conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions remove some of those rights. Building Regulations approval comes from council building control or a registered building control approver, or through a competent person scheme for certain trades.
Common questions
Do you cover Rochester, Gillingham and Strood?
Yes. As well as Chatham, we cover Rochester, Gillingham and Strood and the rest of Kent. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Do I need planning permission in Chatham?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Chatham is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Which postcodes in Chatham do you cover?
We cover ME1, ME2, ME4 and ME5, along with the rest of Kent. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from your project, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
Can you combine your project with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan your project alongside other work on your Chatham home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.