A new and improved Kidbrooke railway station has been opened for business by Southeastern after investment to upgrade the site to support new homes in the area.

The new site aims to support the nearly 5,000 new homes in construction next to the station in Berkeley's Kidbrooke Village development who say they want to offer a "gateway" into the new, regenerated community.

Southeastern Railway say the new ticket office building will "greatly improve" passenger experience, allowing Delivery of the new station at Kidbrooke was a collaboration between Berkeley, Network Rail and Southeastern, with the objective being to deliver a new flagship station building as part of the Kidbrooke Village development.

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

Delivery of the new station at Kidbrooke was a collaboration between Berkeley, Network Rail and Southeastern, with the objective being to deliver a new flagship station building as part of the Kidbrooke Village development.

David Wornham, Passenger Services Director for Southeastern, said: “We’re always wanting to do more for our passengers, and rail passengers in Kidbrooke now have a station built back better of which they can be proud.

"Regeneration has seen the area around Kidbrooke station transformed in the last ten years, to become a vibrant and modern place to live and work."

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

Paul Harwood, Network Rail’s Investment Director for the Southern Region, said the new station was a "great example" of collaboration to "massively improve an existing station," and achieved during the challenging pandemic period.

“The station was funded by Berkeley as part of their new Kidbrooke Village development and the delivery was very much a collaboration between Network Rail, Berkeley Homes and Southeastern trains.

"It was clear that local stakeholders wanted an easily accessible station, linked to local bus services, and which will deliver a better experience for the residents and businesses of Kidbrooke Village, so we are so pleased to be able to provide this.”

Offering residents what the developers call "an inviting and sustainable modern community in one of London's most desirable borough," when complete Kidbrooke will contain 4,966 homes of mixed tenure, 25% of which are affordable.

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

The area is described as one of London's most significant new neighbourhoods, with £1 billion being invested to create a place filled with new homes and a vibrant community.

The project is a partnership between Greenwich Council and the Greater London Authority, with the pair also working with Berkeley to bring in the London Wildlife Trust.

Homes at Kidbrooke Village are set among 136 acres of parkland and open space, featuring meadows and wetlands rich in plant and wildlife.

Karl Whiteman, Divisional Managing Director for Berkeley East Thames, said: “Ensuring that the homes we build are well-connected is key to our regeneration vision for Kidbrooke Village.

"We’ve invested over £5 million in local transport facilities in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and this new station is a much welcome addition to the local area.

“The station sits right next to the development’s village centre, providing a sustainable form of transport connecting residents and local people to London Bridge and Waterloo East in under 20 minutes.

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

"This means that Kidbrooke Village really does offer the best of both worlds – set within 136 acres of parkland, wetlands and open space with a range of amenities on the doorstep, yet still within easy reach of central London.”

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

New Kidbrooke station in Greenwich opens to passengers. Picture: Andy Jones/Southeastern

Milestones in the housing development so far include 1,800 new homes, 170 specially designed senior living homes, and the area is also home to the first Urban Houses.

The area will also benefit from new parks, village squares and retail space, and the regeneration has reportedly created over 15,000 jobs.

Kidbrooke Station is one of the original stations on the Bexleyheath Line, opening in 1895, and today serves the same line running to Barnehurst, Lewisham and central London, plus the Dartford to London Victoria Line.