Station Details

Westenhanger

Station NameWestenhanger
Station CodeWHA
Station OwnerSoutheastern
Developable Area106.61ha
Development Capacity3,198 homes (at 30dph)
Local Planning AuthorityFolkestone and Hythe
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Required1,624
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Delivered1,383
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Score85%
2021 Housing Delivery Test - ConsequenceAction plan
Network Rail RegionSouth East
Network Rail Sub-RegionKent
Passengers, 2020 - 202118,902
Passengers, 2019 - 202080,168
UK Station Passenger Rank (Use)1,791

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. Westenhanger station had 80,168 passengers enter or exit it during this period. That's roughly 220 people per day.

For a station with this number of passengers passing through it each year a density of 30 homes per hectare is reasonable, based on its proximity to major population centres and existing infrastructure.

Westenhanger 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 106.61ha.

Assuming an appropriate (but not prevailing) development density of 30 dwellings per hectare, this area has a development capacity of around 3,198 homes.

The station sits within Folkestone and Hythe planning authority, which in 2021 achieved a Housing Delivery Test Score of 85%, having delivered 1,383 homes from a target of 1,624. As a result of this score, the authority must produce an 'action plan' setting out how it intends to address this shortfall.

The total capacity of all Folkestone and Hythe's stations is 3,198 homes. That's 197% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.

Taking green belt into account, the capacity of Folkestone and Hythe's stations is 3,198 homes without building on protected land. That's 197% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.