Residents say they are “physically sickened” at the sight of large family homes being bulldozed to make way for retirement flats.

The four neighbouring properties are currently being flattened in New Dover Road, Canterbury, after McCarthy Stone won planning permission on appeal to demolish them and build a three-storey block of 50 apartments in their place.

The developer convinced the owners of the homes to sell up, paying a staggering £1 million more than the estimated value for one of the houses.

Many people who objected to the plans are now dismayed to see heavy machinery bringing the existing properties down this week.

“I was physically sickened to see it when I walked past there the other day,” said David Kemsley, of the Oaten Hill and South Canterbury Association (OHSCA).

“It’s a tragedy, and progressively the demolition of so many lovely family homes to be replaced by anonymous blocks is causing New Dover Road to lose its distinctive character.”

The development is another chapter in the changing face of the tree-lined main road into Canterbury, where over the last 20 years numerous big, detached properties have been demolished to make way for flats and, more recently, blocks of student accommodation.

Fellow OHSCA member and vice-chairman Tim Carlyle, who is an architect, fears the McCarthy Stone development will now set a precedent for further huge schemes.

He too is also concerned the character of New Dover Road, which is known for its detached family homes, will continue to be eroded.

“It’s a conservation area and there are clear guidelines and strong direction against having a joined-up terrace-style of property,” he said.

“In reality, what we are getting is an overbearing wall of buildings up New Dover Road which will continue to erode the setting.”

The development will replace the properties at 35 to 41 and provide one and two-bedroom flats in a “retirement living plus” scheme which includes an on-site bistro and hair salon.

The owners of the existing homes are believed to have all accepted lucrative offers in excess of £1 million from McCarthy Stone.

Zoopla shows that number 41 sold for £1.73 million, despite having an estimated value as low as £733,000.

Number 37 - estimated to be worth as little as £661,000 - was snapped up for £1.1 million.

Plans for the scheme were originally submitted three years ago and were refused by the city council in 2019 on the grounds the proposed development was overbearing, but the decision was overturned on appeal.

In granting permission, the planning inspector said: “The homes to be demolished were built after the Second World War, and one was noted in 2006 as being a ‘building of particular significance’.

But he added: “While there would be a loss of four homes suitable for families, the proposed development would provide the scope for housing to be released back into the housing market as a result of people selling under-occupied larger properties to move into the proposed development.”

McCarthy Stone says the block will also meet a growing demand for specialist accommodation for older people.

It did not respond to a request for comment this week.

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