Thameslink effect? Decision due on 258 homes near sleepy Kent station
Plans for 258 homes near Stone Crossing station are due to be decided by Dartford Council.
The authority deferred a decision which planners have recommended for approval. This plot’s location is beside a sleepy stations which previously only saw a 30 minute service until Thameslink doubled frequencies last year. Now trains run every 15 minutes.
UPDATE: The plan was approved in December 2020.
Despite these transport links, one reason for deferral was Dartford’s Planning Committee seeking more parking spaces. I’m not sure Dartford needs more traffic – and the plans already had substantial levels of parking.
The town of Stone itself is in line for many more homes in coming years. The former sleepy station could be a bustling hub in years to come – unless Dartford Council interfere.
Plans can be viewed here.
Honestly if I lived in Stone Crossing I certainly wouldn’t use the needlessly slow, all stations Thameslink service to commute on, it’s completely unattractive as a service, I imagine most would simply get the fast Sidcup train
Depends on destination. Thameslink to Abbey Wood/Woolwich for east London via DLR now and Crossrail in 2022 (perhaps…).
Or even day or night out in Greenwich. Just today the ice rink opens. Stuff like that will appeal in years to come.
Though I do agree Thameslink is very slow. Despite skipping stations it is slower than an all stopping SE service. Timetable is padded.
The area had been cleared for about a year now… slow trains, traffic is awful near Dartford crossing and Bluewater, monstrous Amazon warehouse coming to nearby Littlebrook and possibility of flooding… perhaps distant future Crossrail extension to Ebbsfleet might be the area USP
We’ll all be dead before Crossrail gets to Ebbsfleet. And some of us will be before it starts running from Abbey Wood.