A historic convent will be knocked down to make way for a huge three-storey care home if controversial new plans are approved.

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Rectory Road, Deal, has been taken over by Boutique Care Homes after being put on the market for £3 million last year.

Featuring almost four acres of land and just under 15,000 sq ft of existing accommodation, the prominent property was occupied by just four nuns when it went up for sale.

Now, in a bid submitted to Dover District Council (DDC), Boutique Care Homes is looking to transform the site into an 83-bed care home and eight age-restricted retirement bungalows.

Company bosses say the site represents a “fantastic opportunity” to create a “much-needed” and “high-quality” care home.

But concerned resident Jason Baker says the scheme is “absolutely awful” and “monstrous”.

“It’s wholly inappropriate to have something that size in the residential area,” he said.

“It will be overlooking residents of four surrounding roads; it’s disgusting. I only hope the council will see sense and reduce the plans to two storeys.”

If the scheme is approved, the former convent, which comprises a detached building constructed in the late 19th century with two single-storey extensions added in the late 20th century, will be flattened.

Bosses stress the main three-storey building “will not impact the character of the area of adjacent residents”.

Within the planning documents, Boutique Care Homes states: “The care home will be designed to a high standard and will provide a high quality of care for a variety of elderly conditions including dementia.

“The home will include various internal and external facilities for residents and their families to enjoy, all set within fully landscaped and maintained gardens.

The bungalows will be age-restricted retirement properties and it is felt that there is a gap in the market for this accommodation.

“The site will include a mix of two and three-bed detached and semi-detached properties.”

The former convent is situated to the north of Rectory Road in a predominantly residential area made up of mainly two-storey housing.

The grounds consist of grassed lawns and landscape gardens with mature shrubs and trees.

Boutique Care Homes, which purchased the building in 2023, says the former convent facilities are “no longer fit for purpose” and “do not meet market expectation”.

The site is 3.8 acres in total and 29 care home car parking spaces would be provided. The bungalows will each include a driveway and a garage.

Boutique Care Homes is a luxury care provider and winner of the ‘small care group of the year’ award at the 2023 National Care Awards.

Bosses state all buildings will meet current standards, providing “fit-for-purpose accommodation and facilities built to a high standard, meeting market expectations”.

It is estimated the development will provide approximately 70 full-time jobs and “numerous short-term opportunities” throughout the construction period.

The care home will include specialist dementia beds, in a “well-designed, energy-efficient, exceptional-quality building that will incorporate facilities and features for stand-out elderly care accommodation”.

The four nuns who previously occupied the property, which is not listed, have now moved out.

A decision on the application will be made by planning officers at DDC.