A million-pound project to convert a former care home into flats for people trapped in temporary accommodation has been given the green light.

Quercus Housing, Sevenoaks council's trading arm for affordable housing, is currently in talks to purchase the former nursing home, Abbey Court in West Kingsdown.

It plans to convert the care facility in School Lane into self-contained flats to support the delivery of affordable housing in the district.

The authority says the lack of such properties and the failure of the housing market has contributed to a rise in homelessness locally.

It intends to use the property to provide suitable move on accommodation at affordable rent for 19 families currently placed in temporary housing.

But the district council said it would develop its local lettings plan in consultation with local councillors and the parish council to support residents with a local connection and housing need in West Kingsdown.

Abbey Court previously operated as a care home up until last year when it was rated 'inadequate' after an inspection found people could be at risk of harm.

It was placed into special measures and residents were moved out after it was deemed they were "not appropriately safeguarded".

If converted, the building would require refurbishment and alterations to support its use as shared accommodation and a change of use, permitted by planning, to a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

An offer of £700,000 has been submitted by Quercus Housing to the agent.

Its offer was not the highest, but a council report said it was considered the "most deliverable".

However, expected legal costs incurred to allow a change of use to a HMO, plus the cost of refurbishment, are expected to bring the total figure closer to £1 million.

Last week, the council, sitting at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks, approved a prudential borrowing loan for up to £1,050,000 to hand to Quercus to advance the purchase and refurbishment of Abbey Court.

A council report concluded: "Abbey Court presents a rare opportunity to meet a hard to fulfil housing need and presents as a great opportunity for Quercus Housing to deliver additional affordable rented accommodation in the district.

"The footprint of Abbey Court is substantial and with the agreed release of the covenant, would provide the council with a future asset."

Sevenoaks Council has subsidised similar works under what is known as section 106 contributions.

This includes its current project with the West Kent Housing Association to deliver seven new supported housing flats for rough sleepers.

It claims it could not have proceeded with such works without the "commuted sums" collected from housing developers where they have failed to deliver suitable provision on site other developments.

In these instances, developers must pay the council money to enable the equivalent affordable housing to be built or provided on another site.

In 2019, Quercus Housing purchased Gladedale House in Westerham for £3.771m, with £2.481m funded from Section 106 affordable housing contributions and the remainder of the cost paid for by Quercus.

It says five units conform to the new "genuinely affordable" definition in that they are within the local housing allowance rate and the remaining four units are "intermediate rent", in that they are 80% of market rent and offered to local essential workers.

Quercus has also recently completed the final contract stages with a developer at 11-13 High Street, Swanley to purchase the freehold for 15 flats for £3,600,000.