A garage running for 73 years could be knocked down to make way for homes.

South Court Garage in Great Mongeham near Deal was previously up for sale as its owners looked to retire after Covid lockdown.

But after struggling to attract a buyer in a turbulent property market, bosses are now trying to sell it to developers South East Housing Deal.

The firm is building 35 homes on the former Stalco Engineering site behind the garage.

Plans submitted by One Architecture show South East hopes to build five new homes on the plot as an extension to those already under construction.

If approved, the garage will be knocked down and the concrete forecourt removed to make way for three three-bedroom homes and two two-bedroom homes.

Documents say the building is “considered somewhat unattractive” and development could “visually enhance the street scene” of the conservation area.

Three objections have been sent to Dover District Council (DDC), but resident Robert Clery says he supports the plans as, he believes, five more homes will not make a difference to the village.

The 70-year-old said: “People need houses, I can understand people wanting to keep it as it is as it's a conservation area, but the garage not so.

“I think it would be better for the village to have five houses than a garage that is eventually going to close anyway and will be sat there as an eyesore.

“It will be a shame to see it go but youngsters need houses.

“I know the owner has tried to sell it as a business, but no one was interested so he has done all he can.”

However other neighbours would like to see another business take over, even if the garage has to close.

Alan King, 86, said: “I think these homes would be five too many, there is not the infrastructure to handle it.

“Every night an average of three or four blue lights go down this road, there is a lot of traffic along here.

“This road is an artery and there are no proper pavements along there, I think there are enough houses.

“I would prefer it to stay a garage or a shop, a business of some kind.”

Audrey Pitchford who has lived in the village for 42 years has objected to the plans saying knocking down the garage will be a huge loss to the community.

She is also concerned about more plans to build 23 homes on land west of St Edmunds Road, just behind her home.

More than 150 objections were made in just three weeks against controversial plans to build houses on the horse field.

“Great Mongeham is no longer going to be a village, the whole atmosphere is going to be ruined,” explained Mrs Pitchford.

“It is happening everywhere I know that, but it's desperately sad.

“This is an extremely busy road and when all those houses are finished the impact of at least two cars per house will be huge.

“The garage has been marvellous to the village, they have been so good at keeping our old cars going and we will miss them terribly.

“When I first moved here with my husband and children we had a dairy, a post office, a farm shop, a bakery and they have all gone now.”

Ron Moss, director of South East, the company that applied for planning permission, says the homes would be a huge improvement to the area.

“The owner has been trying to sell the business but he hasn't been able to so hopefully this will enable him to retire.

“It will generally improve the area and reduce a lot of the traffic and parking because there are a lot of vehicles going in and out of the garage.

“The garage has been there a long time but it will ultimately close anyway.

“It has an asbestos roof so that would need replacing and there would be significant costs to develop it so it wouldn't be a viable business anymore.

“This will improve the look of the area, the parking and reduce the traffic generally down the road.

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“The benefits offset any objections.”

In the meantime, South Court Garage will continue to trade as normal with no closure date yet confirmed.