Medway is effectively two sites in one: chalk upland around Chatham's hilltops, parts of Gillingham and the Hoo peninsula drains freely and suits shallow, permeable patio and path build-ups with simple sub-bases, while river alluvium along the Medway valley floor through Rochester, Strood and lower Gillingham has poor bearing capacity and a high water table. Valley-floor patios need a raised threshold above the property DPC, a thicker MOT Type 1 sub-base and piped drainage rather than relying on infiltration; we confirm which zone your property sits in before finalising any landscaping spec.

Standard Class E Permitted Development rules apply across most of Medway — outbuildings under 2.5m eaves within 2m of a boundary, covering less than 50% of the garden and behind the principal elevation are generally permitted. Raised decking over 300mm is never PD. The main restriction is the conservation areas around Rochester Cathedral and Castle precinct and parts of historic Chatham, where Article 4 directions remove PD rights and a planning application to Medway Council is required. Valley-floor properties in flood zones 2 and 3 also face more scrutiny over any works that change ground levels or drainage patterns. We check the conservation-area map and EA flood-zone position at survey stage.

Medway's main conservation areas are Rochester Castle and Cathedral precinct, Chatham Historic Dockyard and its buffer area, and High Street Chatham. Within these areas Article 4 directions restrict works ranging from boundary walls over 1m to outbuilding alterations, raised terracing and material changes. The Dockyard buffer in particular requires that visible external works use materials in keeping with the historic character. Outside designated areas, Medway Council's planning pre-application service can provide informal confirmation of PD status, useful for larger or more unusual garden schemes in the Hoo Peninsula villages.