258 homes planned east of Dartford at Stone
Bellway Homes have submitted an application for 258 homes at a site near Stone Crossing station to the east of Dartford.
The area around sleepy Stone Crossing station has seen a few homes built in recent years but this would be a sizeable increase.
Precedent has been set for housing on site with a 2016 outline approval for 152 homes. Whether an increase to 258 will be deemed acceptable remains to be seen.
The location of the site beside a rail station will result in appeal to workers in London. New data out this month shows passenger numbers at Stone Crossing station were up 21 per cent last year owing, in part, to Thameslink adding to existing Southeastern passenger services. Stone Crossing saw a doubling last year from two to four trains towards London every hour yet is still unstaffed for most of each day.
Dartford station passenger numbers were also up 11 per cent in a year.
New homes will of course have a knock on for passengers further down the line at places such as Kidbrooke and Lewisham where mass housing growth is underway.
Another short term extension to Southeastern services is expected soon. If it once again includes no additional rolling stock, overcrowding will inevitably increase.
Click here to view plans.
