Located on the border of Kent, London and Essex, Dartford is one of the most exciting and dynamic economic regions in the country. Its position within the M25, on the River Thames and with high speed rail offering potential for international rail services, makes Dartford a bustling economic hub for logistics in the south east.
Originally a Roman settlement, Dartford has been a proud market town for centuries with a rich industrial heritage.
Paper making and cement production were major industries in the area for centuries, and many technological advances in production were made by companies here in Dartford. You can find out more about Dartford’s engineering heritage by looking up at the mural at One Bell Corner on the High Street.
Dartford’s population is growing at some of the fastest rates in the country, and we’re proud to put community at the heart of this growth. We recognise the importance of celebrating our heritage and protecting sites for future generations. You can find out more about this in Corporate Plan.
The Council has a number of key policies that reflect how it works with partners to enable sustainable growth and maintain a thriving community.
We’re extremely proud of our parks and open spaces. We have marshland, heathland, parks and fields that form part of the Garden of England. To the south of the town lies a number of beautiful and ancient parishes, each of which has its own links with English history.
The borough is also attracting major economic development investment, with Amazon establishing a state-of-the-art distribution centre on the former Littlebrook Power Station site. At the same time, ambitious proposals are advancing next to Ebbsfleet International Station, where a large mixed-use scheme is set to deliver more than 2,000 new homes alongside up to 100,000sqm of business floorspace. Together, these projects are expected to create a high-quality urban hub, supported by significant new infrastructure and long-term investment in the area.
The Borough of Dartford comprises the town of Dartford and eight surrounding parishes:
- Stone
- Bean
- Darenth
- Longfield and New Barn
- Southfleet
- Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley
- Swanscombe and Greenhithe
- Wilmington