Communications & Engagement

HTA’s involvement in The Paddock went beyond design delivery to shaping the wider story of Chatham’s public realm transformation. From the outset, our team worked closely with Medway Council to articulate a compelling and fundable vision for a neglected space at the town’s core. This work laid the foundation for the successful Future High Streets Fund bid and supported alignment across political, cultural, and community priorities.

Our engagement strategy prioritised clarity, accessibility, and local relevance. Through early collaboration with council officers and civic stakeholders, we developed a narrative that reconnected The Paddock to Chatham’s layered history. A centrepiece of this approach is the engraved public artwork: a large-scale interpretation of an 18th-century military map that encourages visitors to engage with Chatham’s past through tactile, spatial exploration. Designed to be both educational and symbolic, the piece forms a civic landmark within the garden.

We also worked closely with neighbouring site teams and the council’s communications departments to ensure consistent public messaging, including material choices, wayfinding strategies, and long-term place identity. In addition, horticulturalist Noel Kingsbury led planting workshops with Medway’s Green Spaces and maintenance teams to ensure the planting was sustainable and maintainable