About conservation areas

Conservation areas are designated for their special historic and architectural character.

There are some additional planning considerations for properties and trees within a conservation area.

Find out more about:

How we designate conservation areas

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 gives us the legal power to designate conservation areas through advertisement in the London Gazette.

We assess each conservation area to identify what makes it special. We publish conservation area appraisals and management plans to explain their significance and how they should be managed.

A conservation area can include more than buildings. It may also include open spaces, lanes, trees and other features that contribute to its character. Not every feature within a conservation area will be of special interest, but the designation helps protect the area's overall character.

Conservation area locations

There are 24 different conservation areas in Medway, demonstrating a wide range of heritage themes.

View a conservation area map for:

Check if a building is in a conservation area on our interactive map.