About forty minutes from Chatham on the M2 and A2. Wincheap's 18th-century terraces, the post-war rebuilding after 1942, Hales Place and the new streets at Howe Barracks: building in a World Heritage city.
Canterbury
The centre, Wincheap and Thanington sit on chalk, with Thanet sand at St Dunstan's, Northgate and Sturry Road, Harwich Formation at Hales Place and London Clay up by the university. Along the Great Stour there is soft alluvium over it.
The bigger factor is what is in the ground. The city centre is an Area of Archaeological Importance, and for any work that disturbs the ground there, the council asks to be told at least six weeks ahead, even when no planning permission is needed. For an extension that means footings and drains are planned around the notice period, not discovered on the day.
The housing runs from Wincheap's 18th and early 19th-century brick terraces, through the rebuilding after the 1942 raids destroyed 731 homes, to Hales Place, bought for council housing in 1953, and the new neighbourhoods at Howe Barracks, Sturry Road and Mountfield Park.
Permissions
Canterbury City Council
Canterbury is not in Medway. Canterbury City Council decides planning applications, and building control is provided by STG, the same partnership that serves Medway. The district has 97 conservation areas, and the Canterbury City conservation area alone holds over 700 listed building records. An Article 4 direction across the city means turning a house into a shared house of three to six people needs planning permission. Westgate Gardens, Barton Mill and Wincheap are in Flood Zone 3. Trades parking in permit areas needs a waiver, so settle who applies for it before the start date.
Services in Canterbury
Rear extensions on period and post-war houses, with the archaeological notice and conservation checks done first.
→Footings and drains planned around the six-week archaeological notice in the city centre.
→Matching old brick and flint in the conservation areas, laid in the right bond and mortar.
→Clay tile and slate re-roofs that respect the conservation areas around the walls.
→Sash windows, panelled doors and staircases made to match in listed and period houses.
→Loft conversions on the Wincheap terraces and post-war semis.
→Common projects
Canterbury is about forty minutes from Medway on the M2 and A2. Tell us what you would like done and we'll pass it to builders who cover the city.
Questions
Get quotes
A rough idea and a postcode is enough. We'll pass it to local builders who cover Canterbury, and they'll contact you directly.