Furious residents have hit out at proposals to build an “ugly” four-storey retirement block on an abandoned railway station car park.

Some living near Station Road West in Canterbury claim the 56 new flats will dominate the area and bring traffic chaos, unwanted noise, and cast shadows over homes.

Churchill Retirement Living hopes to purchase the land from Canterbury City Council on the basis that planning chiefs approve the divisive scheme.

The site, which is just metres from the railway line, is the nearby station's former overflow car park, which was closed and put up for sale in March 2022.

The city council earmarked the parcel of land for housing in about 2006, triggering anger among some living close by.

So far, Churchill’s bid has attracted 30 comments, of which 26 are objections.

Complaints centre on fears the apartments will bring disruption on the roads, increase noise levels and block sunlight to properties.

Many neighbours particularly object to the height of the proposed building, such as Maggie Smith, who said: “The height of the building and its design imposes a higher and an out-of-local-character unpleasantly dominating roofline.

“Why does it have to be so utilitarian and ugly?

“The roofline needs to blend in and not be higher than surrounding buildings.”

Fateh Shaban, 42, who lives opposite the site, said: “I really think it will ruin the view.

“My kids play there sometimes or we’ll walk through there together.

“I think there are plenty of places further out of the city they could build and it would be better if they turned this area into a park.”

The planning department shares residents' concerns about the height of the building and recommended in pre-planning advice that the plans be amended to a three-storey block.

In February it was revealed that council bosses were in advanced negotiations with potential buyers for three Canterbury car parks, having received considerable interest in the plots.

Then, a week before the proposals were lodged in October, a council spokesperson confirmed the terms of the sale.

Speaking on behalf of the authority at the time, Robert Davies said: “The sale of the three car parks is progressing but at the moment we have not completed on any of them.

"We have agreed a sale for Station Road West, which is why people may have seen a sold sign, but completion is subject to planning permission and this has not been achieved yet.

"We are in negotiations on the other two sites but are not yet in contract.

"As a result, while recognising the public interest in these sites, we are not in a position to provide any more details at the current time."

Located so close to the railway line, the former car park is also adjacent to the Grade II-listed historic overhead signal box.

The construction of the Churchill Retirement Living complex would block views of the landmark signal box from nearby properties and the street.

Amanda Sparkes, secretary for the Canterbury Heritage Design Forum, added: “At four storeys plus roof it is somewhat shoe-horned in between the road and the railway.

“This is a large block styled to look like other warehouse blocks further to the east.

“The design seems not unattractive, but the site planning is so, so disappointing - the block just plonked down on the site, leaving space left over after planning all around it.

“The site planning is not appropriate to the urban setting - the development opposite shows how it should be done with the buildings there pulled forward to the edge of the pavement to contain and form the space.

“The site planning needs a complete rethink.”

Over the long period the site has sat unused it has become a makeshift skatepark, complete with home made ramps.

In documents submitted to the planning department, Churchill Retirement Living, lays out its vision, and stresses the development is necessary to meet the requirements of an ageing population.

It says: “The vision is to create a high quality development that responds to the specific site conditions, physical context, surrounding character, constraints and opportunities,

“With a design which responds to the local vernacular, embraces sustainable design and delivers much needed specialised housing for local older people in a safe and enjoyable environment.”

Some neighbours agree that the plans will provide much needed accommodation for older people and argue that whatever is built will be better than what exists currently.

Josephine Walsh, who lives close by, said: “I fully support the proposed development. The style is very much in keeping with the surrounding properties and makes good use of a currently empty and neglected space.

“As someone who recently moved to the area, it took a long time to find an available property suitable for a family, so I fully support any development that can enable long-term residents to remain in Canterbury, whilst freeing up existing housing stock for growing families.”

Dr Stephen Banfield added: “This will be a good use of a currently unused space, though I shall miss the wonderful blackberry bushes, which no-one seems to have mentioned.

“I picked over 3kg this year, 4.5kg last year, and many others pick them too.”