A huge student complex in Canterbury is set to become the city’s latest summer hotel.

Alma Court in Military Road, which opened in 2019, offers 196 beds to university students throughout the academic year.

But its owners want to utilise the prime location and offer accommodation to tourists and visitors between July and September.

EG Canterbury Ltd is currently prohibited from having non-students stay on the premises, so has submitted a bid to revise its planning conditions.

Unimpressed neighbours, however, are trying to block the proposals.

Resident Chris Godden said: “I am totally against any further permissions being given to this horrendous building.

“Canterbury City Council and the developers promised us that the students staying at the property would not bring cars with them, so there would be no impact on us, the residents.

“Since they have moved in they park in our resident-only parking spaces and have had fly-tipping outside our homes.

“This building should never have been allowed to be built. It is a terrible eyesore and a stain on this once beautiful city.”

Mr Godden’s thoughts are echoed by Penelope Steele, who says: “The student block was built with no parking provision, yet there is already increased pressure on local resident’s parking spaces.

“Where will the visitors park as there is no provision for them and Canterbury has one of the highest charges for parking in the country?”

Developers say students wishing to stay at their digs over the summer will still be able to do so, and will not have to give up their rooms.

“This building should never have been allowed to be built. It is a terrible eyesore and a stain on this once beautiful city...”

In their plans, they state: “The proposals are not speculative in nature and the applicant has already received a great deal of interest from prospective non-student occupiers.

“The current scheme is car-free, providing 68 cycle spaces for residents. Non-student occupiers will be afforded access to the cycle store, which in turn encourages more sustainable forms of transport to and within the immediate area.

“The site is exceptionally well-located in terms of proximity to the city centre and its abundance of services and facilities.”

Earlier this year, the 530-bed Palamon Court student site gained permission to become a summer hotel for city visitors.

Critics blasted the proposals for “undercutting” the city’s existing hotels, yet the bid was approved by the council.

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