A bid to transform a tiny riverside cottage into a two-storey Champagne café has been branded “a form of vandalism” by neighbours.

The plans to develop the property in St Peter’s Place, Canterbury, into an upmarket tearoom serving alcohol have been unveiled by restaurant owner Mehmet Dari.

The businessman, who runs Turkish chain A La Turka, believes the venture next to Westgate Gardens will improve the beauty spot, which he says has “nothing” similar nearby.

But residents have written to the city council urging it to snub the “ludicrous” scheme.

Neighbour Barbara Janiszewska argued: “I am the nearest resident to this planning application and I do not support this at all.

“It is a ludicrous idea and some might say a form of vandalism.

“I see that this will also be subject to an extension.

“I don’t understand why that beautiful historic little building is destined for this.”

Volunteer litter picker Simon Wright also believes the project will bring “more litter and noise” to the area, while adding “an ugly extension to a very old building”.

Another local questions the proposal’s impact on parking nearby, adding the city already “has a vast diversity of restaurants, cafés, and tearooms”.

Papers lodged with the local authority show Mr Dari wants to almost quadruple the building’s floor space from 20 m sq to 80 m sq.

“It will improve the area,” he told KentOnline.

“That garden doesn’t have anywhere to get coffee or a drink or something to enjoy.

“There’s nothing in that park; if you want to go with the kids and walk around, there’s nothing to grab.

“There was an application to convert it to a café before we bought it and it was granted, so I don’t know why it wouldn’t be approved again now.”

A similar development of the site - called Ivy Cottage - was given the green light by the city council in 2014.

While the building is not listed, it is in a Canterbury conservation area.

Mr Dari insists he will maintain the cottage’s character.

“We will keep it the old design,” he continued.

“I’m going to try to keep it looking like the same style, but a bit bigger.

“I would be grateful if we can get permission to extend it.”

The detached flint and brick building – containing one ground-level room and a ceiling hatch to reach the first floor – used to be owned by Canterbury City Council, which used it as a store.

Mr Dari snapped it up earlier this year, in the wake of it going under the hammer with a guide price of £100,000.

After getting the planning permission approved for the extension and change of use, Mr Dari would also have to apply for a licence to serve alcohol on the premises.

But he says that if that is rejected, he would consider alternative uses for the space.

“We might use it as an office, or an Airbnb, or a cottage for myself,” he added.

A La Turka has four locations in east Kent spread across Canterbury, Ramsgate and Herne Bay. Mr Dari also plans to open a fifth branch in Whitstable.

This week it was revealed he faces enforcement action over a glass enclosure erected outside his Herne Bay restaurant without planning permission.

Mr Dari also has plans for a £4 million boutique hotel in Herne Bay and a new fish restaurant close to the town’s pier.