Is Hildenborough a “well-connected station”? New information from Sevenoaks District Council
Hildenborough Parish Council has received information from Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) about how it has assessed railway stations against the “well-connected station” definition in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 17 August 2026. We are sharing it so that residents can see it for themselves.
Why this matters
The NPPF’s definition of a well-connected station affects where development can be directed, including on grey belt land. Whether Hildenborough station counts as “well connected” therefore matters to our community.
What the NPPF says
A well-connected station must be in a top 80 Travel to Work Area by Gross Value Added. On a normal weekday, throughout the daytime and not just at peak times, it must also be served (or have a reasonable prospect of being served) by at least four trains an hour overall, or at least two trains an hour in any one direction.
What Sevenoaks District Council found
SDC prepared a chart for an internal Members’ memo in August 2026, assessing the stations in and around its District. Hildenborough is included, although it lies outside the District. SDC’s chart shows:
- Hildenborough has 6 trains an hour at peak times, but only 2 trains an hour overall across a normal weekday daytime.
- That is below the four trains an hour overall, or two in any one direction, that the definition requires.
- On that basis, SDC does not treat Hildenborough as meeting the “well-connected station” test.
Why the Parish Council is sharing this
SDC has not treated Hildenborough as a well-connected station. We understand that TMBC’s approach to the village differs, and that this has contributed to the significant number of homes allocated to Hildenborough.
Read the document
The document was supplied by SDC in response to an information request made by Cllr Ioannis Sklavenitis as an individual and passed the information to the parish council.
The chart was not previously published by SDC.
