Plans are on the table to build a new railway station in Strood.

The proposal submitted to Medway Council by Network Rail would see the current station demolished to make way for a new building capable of coping with greater numbers of passengers.

The company says the current building is already not fit for purpose but that high speed services from Faversham and Maidstone running through Strood are likely to bring yet more passengers, as will potential new housing development in the area.

If given the go-ahead, work would commence in May 2016 and would take a year to complete.

The news comes as work continues on Rochester’s new railway station in Corporation Street, replacing the old venue in the High Street. That is due to open on December 13.

The Strood booking office currently has four ticket gates, which would be increased to five with potential space for a further one if needed.

A planning statement said: “Southeastern Railway, together with Network Rail and Medway Council have recognised the need to update and upgrade the station in order to deal with the increased passenger numbers and to provide improved customer facilities.”

The statement also says making alterations to the existing station would be difficult and costly, because the life of the building has “expired” and it contains asbestos - making demolition the best solution before building a brand new station.

The new building would include a larger booking hall, passenger waiting room, improved toilets, a larger area for shops, and improved facilities for staff and ticket sales.

The new larger booking hall would be a “light and airy space” with glazed entrance doors leading to the station front and platforms.

So far one letter of objection has been received, from the Kent Community Rail Partnership.

Vice-chairman of the partnership Chris Fribbins wrote to say he was “dismayed” at plan to build a new station without a bus interchange in front of the station, which he notes is some distance from the town centre.

He said the redevelopment was “welcome and much needed” but it was also a “one off opportunity to improve the interchange with local buses.”

Furthermore he suggests the plan is unsustainable under the current Planning Policy Framework and has asked for them to be amended and resubmitted.