Hundreds of flats approved in Dartford

Bellways plan for 280 flats in Dartford have moved forward after plans on the former Tesco site saw the green light. In total 556 flats will be built near the town centre.

The site has seen little movement since 2001 except buildings closed and decline setting in as Tesco set out to build a new store then cancelled plans after years of waiting.

Now at last there is some prospect of building on a large amount of brownfield land which will bring life to Dartford which has struggled ever since Bluewater opened in 1999, with the Dartford crossing also regularly choking the town.

There will be 268 car parking spaces included in this development.

Dartford has been lucky to enjoy London bus services despite being outside the capital – though with TfL’s financial problems in part due to a £700 million annual government cut, the organisation are looking to reduce services for those beyond its boundary.

TfL are considering curtailing the 428 at Crayford on the border of London and Kent while the 492 will stop at Dartford instead of running to Bluewater. The 96 will remain.

There appears to be no response from Southeastern railway or Network Rail to this plan despite passenger numbers rising at Dartford station from 3.02 million to 4.16 million over the past five years:

Many developments in other parts of London often have TfL responses to highlight transport issues, but given rail is under a private franchise this is not the case in south east London and north west Kent commuter towns on Metro routes.

Elsewhere in Dartford

A number of other schemes are underway in Dartford town centre that will hopefully bring more life to the High Street, including:

Westgate from Muse Developments where a cinema and hotel are planned alongside 140 homes. The site was formerly a Co-op.

Meyer Homes have plans for 548 homes:

Langley Square just north of the station sees hundred more: