A special celebration saw council representatives, developers and guests come together to mark five years of improvements led by Medway Development Company (MDC).

Launched by Medway Council in 2020, MDC was created to deliver high-quality residential developments around Medway, transforming brownfield sites into fresh new neighbourhoods and driving forward the council’s broader vision of regeneration.

By mid-2025, the initiative had brought 375 new homes to Medway, through schemes like Chatham Waterfront, and helped transform the town centre area nearby with the award-winning new gardens and social open space of The Paddock.

It made Chatham town centre the perfect spot for guests to gather today (Friday 10 October) for the fifth anniversary celebration, where they heard speeches by Medway Council Leader, Vince Maple; MDC Managing Director, Lewis Small; and MDC Board Chairman, David Gannicott, before presentations and tours of nearby sites.

There was a chance to look around the Chatham Waterfront development, including the latest show home apartment, Riverside Walk and new commercial units; and a behind-the-scenes look at progress being made at nearby Mountbatten House, which is being totally transformed into a high-quality residential development with 164 residential apartments.

The event was also a chance to look forward to the future, with proposals to build another 380 homes through delivering Mountbatten House, Strood Civic and Upper Mount schemes.

The MDC Business Plan 2025 – 2035 is fantastic news for Medway, with ambitious plans to regenerate and revitalise Medway, making it an even better place to live, work, learn, and visit. The plan will also be a boost for the economy and put money in the pockets of local workers, as MDC look to employ Medway residents on all their construction sites – and there are currently 60 Medway employees working on MDC sites.

Revitalising Medway

Medway Council leader Vince Maple said: “it’s great to see the transformation being led by MDC, with architects’ drawings now becoming reality, revitalising our towns and bringing brand new homes for Medway people. I want to thank everyone who’s been involved, from planners to construction workers and I can’t wait to see how Medway will flourish further through MDC’s efforts in the future.”

David Gannicott Board Chairman of Medway Development Company said:  “I’m immensely proud of everything achieved by MDC, and of the efforts put in by everyone involved. It’s fantastic to see how we’ve made a real difference to areas of Medway within just a few years, and that our projects are having a positive impact on both the Medway economy and of the lives of Medway people. I’d like to thank Medway Council for their support in our joint ambitions, and I’m sure the next few years will see more of our projects reach fruition as we build a brighter future for the area.”

Schemes delivered so far by MDC include:

• Chatham Waterfront

Mixed use development including five stylish apartment blocks with awe-inspiring views over the River Medway. Works on all 182 apartments was finished earlier this summer with a new show-home now open for viewings.

The development has a landscaped river walk, and will also include commercial units, including Budgens convenience store, a tanning salon and a restaurant, along with an on-site gym for residents. To-date, 80% of rentals that have been taken up at the development have come from existing Medway residents.

• Mountbatten House

This iconic building has dominated the Chatham skyline for nearly 50 years. As part of our ambitious Chatham regeneration programme, the building is being totally transformed into a high-quality residential development, with 164 residential apartments. A new building (situated next to Mountbatten) will deliver a further 56 apartments.  The first apartments are expected to go on the market in 2026.

• Garrison Point

A tranquil development of 115 one and two-bedroom apartments is situated at the top of Whiffens Avenue, offering both modern convenience and breathtaking views of the surrounding historic parks and woodland. Landscaping works were completed in spring 2026. All apartments are now occupied, with 65% of occupancies taken up by local Medway residents.

• The Paddock

We received funding from the government’s Future High Streets Fund to enable additional improvements to be made to Chatham town centre. Part of the fund was used to landscape and restructure The Paddock (the space between Chatham Waterfront Bus Station and the Pentagon Shopping Centre), creating a vibrant public space for residents and visitors to enjoy. The new green space opened last summer. Its award winning amphitheatre area reflects Chatham's heritage, while the area is now more accessible and easier to get around for both residents and visitors.

• Truro Manor

Our Truro Manor development will provide 44 apartments for affordable rent in Gillingham. The homes will be available for bidding by eligible households via Kent Home Choice. Across five storeys, there are 15x one-bed and 29x two-bed flats. The development is part of the HRA’s ongoing commitment to providing more affordable housing in Medway.

• White Road

20 affordable, energy efficient modular homes were created. Each home features low carbon technology.

Find out more about regeneration in Medway.