A historic police station is set to be developed into five houses - despite residents’ fears of over-development and congestion.

The 1889-built former police station on London Road, in Deal, was put up for sale in 2021, after several years of not being used in its full capacity - with officers covering Deal mainly working from Dover instead.

Now, developers, Arrested Developments, based in Menzies Road, Whitfield, want to turn the main part of the building into three terraced homes, while two four-bedroomed semi-detached houses would then be built to the rear.

But the plans have attracted the ire of nearby residents, with 17 writing in to planning authority Dover District Council (DDC) to object.

In an objection, Deal Town Council said the site would be “over-developed”, and raised concerns about access for emergency service vehicles, parking, and a lack of green space.

Jon Tuttlebury, fire inspector for Kent Fire & Rescue Service, wrote to DDC to tell them “this driveway would not be suitable for a fire appliance and would result in extended hose lay distances from a parked fire appliance on London Road.

He added: “In my opinion, the emergency access requirements for Kent Fire & Rescue Service have not been met.”

In a letter to DDC’s planning department, resident Nigel Lewis also raised concerns.

He wrote: “Squeezing into a small space as many residential properties as possible is easy but to do so without any consideration for the adjoining neighbours is quite unacceptable

“The conversion of the old London Road police station into three houses seems, on the surface, a good idea providing the elevation to the street is not spoilt and is in keeping with surrounding properties.

“It also means it will be saved from the demolisher's axe and not replaced by some hideous modern monstrosity.”

But Mr Lewis said it would be “ludicrous” to build additional houses in the car park at the rear, adding: “What would be far more sensible would be to give each of the new houses at the front decent gardens and build two garages for each at the back.”

Neighbour Paul Copley also wrote in to the council: “This is an over-development of the site which does not require three-storey town houses over-looking all the single storey bungalows.

“It will cut out all my view, leaving me looking at a monstrous brick wall overshadowing my property, cutting out the sunlight to the garden and light into my home."

Norma Reid wrote of the road being “too dangerous for more traffic as this is on a blind corner”.

Neighbour Valerie Lewis echoed concerns about safety, arguing: “The proposed access to these properties is on an already dangerous part of London Road, being on a corner.

“Serious accidents are waiting to happen please reconsider."

And at last night's meeting of DDC's planning committee, some councillors echoed residents’ traffic fears.

Cllr David Cronk (Lab) told the committee: “This area is a very busy area, with school buses, cars, and vehicles going into the petrol station next door.”

Referring to the driveway he said: “If a fire truck can’t get up there I can’t see a dust truck getting up there.

“That is a stink of a corner, you got a HGV truck trying to get in there or an 18-tonner trying to get in there, you’re going to cause problems, it’ll block that road completely.

“You’re waiting for an accident to happen on that corner, and I’d hate for it to be a tanker.

“I’m a HGV driver, and I know you’re going to have serious problems there.”

Deal councillor Trevor Bond, shared these concerns, arguing “to reverse out on that road is waiting for a pedestrian to be run over”.

However, a council planning officer assured them that vehicles wouldn’t reverse onto the road via the driveway, as this is already prohibited by the highway code.

The council did receive two letters supporting the scheme, citing the need for more housing, and praising the development’s keeping with the style of the original building.

Brett Thomas said in his letter of support: “The police station played a key role in Deal’s history, regeneration into usable accommodation will ensure its future place within that history, whilst also providing much needed living space within the town.”

The development was approved with nine votes in favour and one against.