Station Details

Bekesbourne

Station NameBekesbourne
Station CodeBKS
Station OwnerSoutheastern
Developable Area129.69ha
Development Capacity1,945 homes (at 15dph)
Local Planning AuthorityCanterbury
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Required2,323
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Delivered1,509
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Score65%
2021 Housing Delivery Test - ConsequencePresumption
Network Rail RegionSouth East
Network Rail Sub-RegionKent
Passengers, 2020 - 202111,924
Passengers, 2019 - 202024,474
UK Station Passenger Rank (Use)1,970

Development Potential

England's busiest station (apart from those serving airports) had 4,170,558 passenger movements in the period 2019-2020. The station with the least was 68. Bekesbourne station had 24,474 passengers enter or exit it during this period. That's roughly 67 people per day.

For a station with this number of passengers passing through it each year a density of 15 homes per hectare is reasonable, based on its proximity to major population centres and existing infrastructure.

Bekesbourne is located within the South East railway region. The potential area for development around the station (excluding existing buildings, national parks, flood zones, public green space, protected habitats, areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites and surface water) is approximately 129.69ha.

Assuming an appropriate (but not prevailing) development density of 15 dwellings per hectare, this area has a development capacity of around 1,945 homes.

The station sits within Canterbury planning authority, which in 2021 achieved a Housing Delivery Test Score of 65%, having delivered 1,509 homes from a target of 2,323. As a result of this score, the authority is subject to a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development', according to the NPPF.

The total capacity of all Canterbury's stations is 6,971 homes. That's 300% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.

Taking green belt into account, the capacity of Canterbury's stations is 6,971 homes without building on protected land. That's 300% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.