In the custodianship of an independent charitable trust, the Historic Dockyard is the most complete Georgian and Victorian former Royal Dockyard in Britain and is of world significance. Since the closure of the Royal Naval Dockyard in 1984 a programme of repairs and refurbishment has created a mixed-use site, which is a successful tourist destination in its own right. It now contains more than 100 small businesses and organisations and some 400 residents. Approximately 2000 people use the site daily equivalent to 700,000 per year. The last listed building in the complex, is being restored and will be used as a National Ship Museum.

The Historic Dockyard celebrates Medway Waterfront’s unique naval heritage, with its collection of storehouses, dry docks and covered slips. It was an area in which great innovation in building technology took place and should be a source of inspiration for innovative new design. This complex together with the defences is the core of the World Heritage Status bid.