High Street Regeneration in Chatham

We’re working on several projects in and around Chatham, including a mixed-use scheme at 74 High Street and the Leaning House at St Margaret’s Banks.

Both projects hope to benefit from the £1.6million High Street Heritage Action Zone funding from Historic England via Medway Council.

This fund aims to help the area become a cultural and creative hub with a rich mix of artists, creatives and makers occupying under-used historic buildings that are currently in need of refurbishment and conversion.

Chatham High Street Heritage Action Zone

74 High Street Chatham and the Leaning House at St Margaret’s Banks are within the Chatham Intra High Street Action Zone and the Sun Pier to Star Hill Conservation Area and the Leaning House is Grade II listed.

The grant covers 80% of consultant fees and of construction cost for remedial works to the external fabric of the historic elements of the properties only. The grant also covers 50% of the cost of bringing vacant space back into use.

For most grant-funded works, the applicant must employ an Architect with conservation accreditation, or a Chartered Building Surveyor or Chartered Architectural Technologist with similar specialist accreditation.

Work on a historic building often involves detailed research, investigation, and consultation to find the correct solution. In the same way, the process of applying for a grant offer can be detailed, depending on the nature of the project.

In other words, the grant submission is complex, but the result can be an award that can significantly reduce a client’s financial outlay while preserving our built heritage. Both 74 High Street Chatham and the Leaning House at St Margaret’s Banks have been granted informal and formal offers at different stages.

If you think your property may be eligible for grant funding to restore it or bring it back into use, then get in touch.

More about our two projects with grant funding

The Leaning House at St Margaret’s Banks is on the southern side of Rochester High Street, which runs on from High Street Chatham. It was built as an ‘outshut’, or side extension, to the neighbouring Nags Head Pub in the 18th Century and contained a shop and a flat upstairs. It was listed in 1970. The front elevation leans due to structural issues dating back more than a decade. It is hoped that the grant will help fund repair and restoration to the historic structure.

Historic image of 294 St Margaret's Banks

74 High Street Chatham is a mixed-use development including commercial space and six apartments. This late 19th Century mid-terrace building with late Victorian and Art Deco features has, at various times in its history, been a gas showroom, a theatre and a restaurant. Our plans include internal alterations and a roof top extension to create six apartments. The ground floor is currently an independent bakery.