Rated architects
4
Every architect we found in ME7, with Google's own ratings — collected by Google, not by us. The bar beside each name is their review count on one fixed scale, so the list can be read at a glance and a short list is a short district, not a hidden one.
Most trusted first
Review volume
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Most trusted first
82reviews
★ 4.8 average on Google
architect · Gillingham · in ME7
8reviews
★ 4.4 average on Google
architect · Gillingham · in ME7
17reviews
★ 3.3 average on Google
New listing · 2 reviews
Based in neighbouring districts, covering ME7 — each card shows where they're actually based.
Gillingham sits at a curious crossroads — the Medway Towns stretch of terraced Victorian and Edwardian stock meets postwar estates and newer developments pushing out toward the Hoo Peninsula. An architect here needs to navigate Medway Council's planning quirks, understand the flood risk zones near the river, and know which streets still have ancient restrictive covenants from the old naval dockyard land sales.
Gillingham's housing mix runs from compact railway cottages in the conservation area around Gillingham Green through to sprawling 1960s and 70s estates in Wigmore and Parkwood, plus pockets of newer Barrett and Persimmon builds near Capstone Valley. Most architectural work centres on side-returns and rear extensions to squeeze extra space from modest Victorian plots, loft conversions on the ubiquitous two-up-two-downs, and garage conversions now that off-street parking rules have relaxed slightly. Listed building work is relatively rare — the area lacks Bath or Canterbury's heritage density — but you'll find scattered Grade II properties around the High Street and Grange Road that need careful handling. Medway's planning department can be sticky about materials matching existing streetscapes, and they're increasingly focused on flood resilience for anything near the Medway or its tributaries. The ME7 and ME8 postcodes see steadier demand than the outer ME2 areas, where larger plots sometimes allow permitted development without full drawings. Architects here often work across all five Medway Towns, so expect them to know Chatham's terraces and Rochester's conservation zones just as well.
Budget £2,500–£5,000 for a straightforward single-storey rear extension design including planning drawings, closer to £6,000–£10,000 if building regs and structural calculations are included, and £12,000+ for new builds or complex listed work. Most architects will visit site, measure up, produce feasibility sketches, then move to detailed planning drawings once you've agreed the design. Medway Council's planning portal turnaround officially runs eight weeks for householder applications, but in practice expect ten to twelve weeks, longer if you're in a conservation area or near a flood zone. Always ask if your architect has recent Medway planning experience — local officers have pet peeves about dormer proportions and boundary treatments that aren't written down anywhere. RIBA-chartered architects carry professional indemnity insurance as standard; for smaller jobs you might use an architectural technician (CIAT-qualified), who'll be cheaper but won't have the design flair for unusual sites. Don't pay the full fee upfront — typical splits are 25% on instruction, 25% on planning submission, 25% on approval, 25% on building regs completion.
Medway Council merged five towns' planning policies, so you'll occasionally hit odd inconsistencies — some streets in ME7 still follow old Gillingham Borough rules on front boundary walls, for instance. Conservation areas around Gillingham Green and parts of Brompton restrict materials and window styles; officers will reject UPVC and insist on timber or 'heritage' aluminium. Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas near the river require flood risk assessments even for extensions, adding £500–£1,200 to costs and several weeks to approval. If your property was ever naval married quarters or built on old Admiralty land, check the deeds for restrictive covenants — some still prohibit commercial use or require Duchy of Cornwall consent for alterations. Parking is a hot topic: Medway now asks for two spaces per dwelling on new builds, which can kill tight infill schemes. For loft conversions, ME postcode fire regs follow Kent Fire and Rescue's slightly stricter approach to escape windows compared to London boroughs.
Expect £2,500–£5,000 for a single-storey extension or loft conversion (planning drawings only), £6,000–£10,000 if building regs and structural input are included, and £12,000–£25,000 for new builds or substantial remodelling. Some architects charge hourly (£75–£150), others a percentage of build cost (8–15%), but fixed fees are increasingly common for standard resi work in Medway.
Not legally — you can submit your own drawings or use a technician — but an architect adds value if your plot is awkward, you're in a conservation area, or you want something more interesting than a flat-roof box. Medway planning officers sometimes push back on poorly drawn submissions, and an experienced architect knows which battles to fight.
Householder applications officially take eight weeks, but Medway Council often runs ten to twelve weeks in practice. Conservation area applications add another three weeks for statutory consultation. If you're near a flood zone or need a bat survey, tack on an extra month.
Possibly, under permitted development — single-storey rear extensions up to 6m deep (8m for detached houses) don't need full planning if you notify neighbours and the council doesn't object. But if you're in the Gillingham Green conservation area or your house is listed, you'll need permission for almost anything. Always check with Medway planning or get your architect to confirm.
Most do — the Medway conurbation is small enough that architects in Gillingham regularly handle jobs in Chatham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. Some even cover Gravesham and Maidstone. Ask about their patch during the initial call; you want someone who knows Medway's planning officers personally.
Properties near the Medway, especially in ME7 near the river or around Gillingham Reach, sit in Flood Zone 2 or 3. Any new build or extension here needs a flood risk assessment (£500–£1,200), and you may need to raise floor levels or install flood-resistant materials. Medway planning will reject applications that ignore this, so flag it early with your architect.
Yes, and many Gillingham terraces and semis are perfect candidates — you'll typically gain a bedroom and bathroom. Planning permission is usually not required if you stay within permitted development rules (no balcony, dormer faces rear, volume limits respected). You will need building regs approval for structure, fire escape, insulation and stairs; your architect or technician should handle that alongside the drawings.
For anything non-standard — side extensions, two-storey rear, new builds — yes. Medway charges around £150 for householder pre-apps, and it's worth it to find out early if planning officers will object to your design, materials or boundary treatment. Your architect should attend the meeting with you; written feedback isn't always clear without the verbal context.
Look for RIBA chartered membership (ARB-registered architects only) or CIAT for architectural technicians. Both carry professional indemnity insurance. Check they have recent Medway project photos and ask for a planning approval or two you can look up on Medway's portal — it's public record, so you'll see exactly what they've achieved.
Only if your property is actually listed (Grade I, II* or II). Gillingham has far fewer listed buildings than Rochester, but there are pockets around the High Street, Grange Road and Brompton. Even internal alterations need consent if the building is listed, and Medway's conservation officer will want heritage-appropriate materials and minimal impact on historic fabric. Your architect should know the drill; botching listed work can land you with enforcement and costly reversals.
About this guide
Compiled from held data
This guide is assembled by Domifyr from the data we hold: Google ratings and review counts (collected by Google, not by us), UK statutory register requirements, and typical price ranges for the area. No individual author is credited because no individual wrote it — and we would rather tell you that than invent someone.