Residents are furious after seeing controversial plans to build seven flats above a proposed cafe have now almost doubled.

Proposals to erect the eatery and new homes on the site of the former Wheatsheaf pub in Swanscombe High Street are under the spotlight once again.

It comes after developers submitted a new planning application for almost twice the number of properties.

Residents who had previously voiced their concerns over the plans due to the lack of allocated parking are furious at the amendment which would now see 12 properties incorporated into the proposed three-storey building, rather than the original seven.

Resident Annette Livie, who lives in neighbouring Stanhope Road, said: “It’s a bad idea.

“It will just cause more traffic problems due to the lack of parking.

“We are stretched as it is trying to find parking spaces where we live due to cars parked on the road getting damaged because of the extra traffic caused by the landslide.

“There is too much over-development in this area.”

High Street resident Richard Stone is also fiercely against the updated proposals.

“No provision for parking is in the plan,” he said. “It is submitted as a no-vehicle development, but they cannot stop tenants having a vehicle.

“So a potential 15 or more extra vehicles could be wanting to park on the already overcrowded side streets.”

He added: “I will be objecting to this application as the town cannot sustain residential buildings with no parking provision, due to the lack of parking provisions as it is.

“The original plan was potentially viable subject to parking provision, but to double the size of occupancy is unsustainable.”

Another objection from a resident to Dartford council, which will be tasked with determining the application, said: “There is no parking available for this development.

“We already have two other cafes within a few minutes walk, why is this being allowed?

“Please stop building in an area already struggling with transportation, medical facilities and parking. Enough is enough.”

The collapse and closure of nearby A226 Galley Hill Road has put increased pressure on the area, particularly when problems on the A2 force traffic to be diverted down the narrow residential streets.

The original plans for the flats and cafe were given the green light in December 2022 and involved erecting a three-storey building to provide a ground-floor café and seven flats with 31 car parking spaces and eight cycle spaces.

People opposed to the plans at the time were concerned about the pressure on schools and doctors' surgeries.

There were also issues raised over the use of the high street as a “rat-run" with Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council objecting on the basis it had "unsuitable parking" and the building was "out of character" with the area.

The town council will be discussing the latest proposal on July 10.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

Demolition of the former Wheatsheaf building started last December in preparation for building work to begin.

KentOnline previously reported how pub-goers could be left without a single watering hole along Swanscombe High Street.

An outline application to knock down the former Alma pub and convert it into a 13-bedroom house-share was approved in 2019.

Meanwhile, plans to convert The George and Dragon, the last remaining empty pub in the High Street into a pizza parlour have been rejected a number of times.

The former Victorian coaching inn was subject to two previous conversion bids with franchise chain Domino's Pizza wanting to take over.

In March, plans resurfaced yet again but are yet to be decided.