About the Rainham Conservation Area
The Rainham Conservation Area covers about 4.0 hectares and was designated by Medway Council in 1977. Inside the boundary are 12 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 11 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Margaret, Grade I. 2 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work. Part of the area lies in flood zone 3, so an extension may need a flood risk assessment.
What changes inside the conservation area
Conservation areas are “Article 2(3) land”. You keep most permitted development rights, but these are removed or tightened.
- Rear extensionElsewhere: 3 m · 6 m with PANo 6 m / 8 m prior approval
- Two-storey extensionElsewhere: 3 mNeeds planning permission
- Side extensionElsewhere: Half the widthNeeds planning permission
- Loft conversionElsewhere: 50 m³Needs planning permission
- Garden roomElsewhere: 2.5 m high by boundariesNot beside the house
- PorchElsewhere: 3 m²Same limits
- Solar panelsElsewhere: 0.2 m projectionSame limits
- Air source heat pumpElsewhere: 1 unitNot facing the road
- Fences, walls and gatesElsewhere: 2 m · 1 m by a roadSame limits
- External claddingElsewhere: Matching materialsNeeds planning permission
- Tree workElsewhere: No notice6 weeks’ notice to the council
- Demolition (over 115 m³)Elsewhere: AllowedNeeds planning permission
Limits for a semi-detached house under the GPDO 2015. An Article 4 direction can remove more.
Listed buildings in the conservation area
Any work affecting these needs listed building consent, inside or out. Each links to its entry on the National Heritage List.
- Church of St MargaretGrade I
- 174, High StreetGrade II
- Durland HouseGrade II
- Headstone of Children of Will Scott, Approximately 20 Metres South of Church of St MargaretGrade II
- Headstone of Thomas Lane, Approximately 15 Metres South of Church of St MargaretGrade II
- Oasthouses and TheatreGrade II
- Obelisk Tomb of John Chambers, Approximately 5 Metres South West of Church of St MargaretGrade II
- Pair of Chest Tombs Approximately 5 Metres South of Chancel, Church of St MargaretGrade II
- Rainham war memorialGrade II
- The Green Lion HotelGrade II
- The Old ParsonageGrade II
- Walls Surrounding Churchyard of Church of St MargaretGrade II
Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from Medway Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.