Controversial plans to turn a run-down former care home into a 47-bed HMO have been shelved.

In total, 793 letters were sent to Ashford Borough Council objecting to the proposed conversion of the empty Sevington Mill care home, in Willesborough, into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

One person said it would "absolutely destroy the whole area" while another claimed it would create a "slum".

The plans had shown the 47 en-suite rooms could be accompanied by two communal kitchens and just seven parking spaces.

And now officers at the authority have officially snubbed the scheme, citing issues with wastewater, noise and parking.

“By virtue of the high number of occupants in a single building, it could lead to significant increases in noise levels both inside and outside the property, particularly during nighttime hours, which could negatively impact the quality of life for residents of the surrounding area,” a report stated.

“The provision of seven parking spaces for 47 units would be grossly inadequate and could potentially lead to on-street parking issues that would obstruct larger vehicles and emergency services from accessing the area.

“The proposal has failed to demonstrate that wastewater from the proposed development would not add to current problems of increasing nitrogen and phosphorus levels at Stodmarsh Lakes.”

Prior to the decision, the proposals had been met with such vitriol that even the developer, Meir Goldberg, admitted the scheme was likely to be snubbed.

But he did say the HMO scheme was a back up option.

Before he even purchased the building in 2021, he submitted plans to change the use of the building from a retirement home for the elderly, so that it can instead be used to provide any type of care.

This was approved and received no objections.

It meant he could start work on the facility to house people with "light care needs" such as mental health disorders.

He says he then submitted the plans for the HMO as a back up, to open up the rooms to more people.

Mr Goldberg said: “It was something I knew stood little chance and was more of a plan B. We were expecting it.”

“We’ve got several options that we’re hoping to finalise in the coming weeks. The use of the property is still care.

“The NHS are due to come back to us with a decision so we’re waiting on that, if they want it they’ll get preference.”

The building has sat empty since 2019 following negative reports from the Care Quality Commission.

With talks between Mr Goldberg and the NHS already taking place, the London developer revealed the property could still potentially be used for housing - but for medical staff.

“They mentioned it could be used as a step-down facility or even proposed another idea we hadn’t thought of,” began Mr Goldberg.

“They told us in this part of Kent there’s difficulties in recruiting staff, one of the issues is accommodation.”

“So if it’s not suitable as a step-down facility it could be used as a way to attract staff by being able to offer employees accommodation.

“If the NHS go down that route, they’d take the lease and it would be up to them to sort planning out.

“It’s not something I’ve got in my head though, it’s something they mentioned to me when discussing the step-down.”

Highfield councillor Dawnie Nilsson previously raised fears of overcrowding as a result of the development.

She spoke of her pleasure at seeing the HMO scheme shelved, saying it was not suitable for Sevington Mill to be used in this way.

“I’m very pleased that it’s been refused, it’s something the community and I have worked very hard for,” the Green representative said.

“I’ve never seen this amount of people objecting to something before, it’s pretty unprecedented and shows quite a lot of strong feeling.”

“As far as the buildings concerned I didn’t think it was suitable for 47 people to be living so closely together especially as the possible demographic were likely to be those with mental health issues.

“I’m really keen for the property to be re-opened and to be used for more suitable purposes and we’ll continue to work with the relevant parties to ensure this happens.”