Plans for 45 flats have been proposed for a residential area with just 12 parking spaces.

Those already living on Malvern Road in Dover have raised concerns that the building could add around 80 cars to an already busy area.

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The development is planned for an empty parcel of overgrown land on an estate already filled with parked cars.

Residents find that there is barely any space left in the evenings when most people are back home from work.

But developers claim new residents would have little need for cars as the site is close to the town centre and public transport

Christina Stephens, who lives around the corner in Clarendon Street, told KentOnline: "When I've had to drive home late at night I have had to park in Folkestone Road and walk through an unlit area.

"There are already too few spaces around here."

Hailey Drake, who lives a few minutes walk away in Clarendon Place, told KentOnline: "I don't have a car but my mother, who is also on this estate, does so I know that parking here is already horrendous.

"Apart from that the new flats would tower over people's homes.

"I don't think there should be flats there at all. It would be better to turn that piece of land into a children's play park."

Sian Crossland, of Malvern Road, is one of those who registered an objection on Dover District Council's planning portal.

She told KentOnline: "If the flats will have space for 12 cars drivers of probably 33 cars will have to find somewhere else.

"Yet people already come and leave their cars here to catch a train to London."

In the portal she has said that she had a five-month old child and needed to park near her house to bring him in his car seat and then bring the buggy in.

Another resident on the portal said:"These flats are totally impractical: 45 flats and 12 parking spaces doesn't help the local residents in this area with parking and will only add to further issues.

"If 45 flats have two occupants each with a car, that could be 88 more vehicles parked in the local area."

The plan includes room for 48 bicycle spaces but the resident said: "Dover isn't a university town full of students and I can't see locals buying a flat and moving in with just their bike.

He added: "The artist's impression makes it look like a hospital at best, detention facility at worst and definitely not in keeping with the Victorian housing in the area."

The outline application is for seven-storeys of homes on waste ground close to the junction with Clarendon Street. There would also be 48 bicycle spaces.

The civic group the Dover Society accepts that the brownfield site needs to be redeveloped and that the proposed accommodation is of good quality but is against the scale of the development.

Graham Margery, acting planning committee chairman, wrote: "This we regard as wholly unacceptable as it is an incongruous structure, out of keeping with the very much smaller houses in the area.

"It has a dominating effect in the neighbourhood as well as obstructing the light of the adjacent properties. The limiting provision of car parking for 45 dwellings is also totally inadequate."

The development would be over three blocks and consist of 13 one bedroomed flats, 25 two bedroomed ones, five three bedroomed ones and one four and five bedroomed flat each.

Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group estimates that 108 people would live in the new development, an average 2.4 per flat.

There is already limited parking on Malvern Road due to some yellow lines and junctions. Adjoining Clarendon Street and Clarendon Place are also regularly lined with vehicles.

The application is by David Andrew of Leyton, east London.

A report by his consultants THaT (Transport, Highways and Traffic) Consultancy said that the area is so close to the town centre and public transport that the new residents would have little need for cars.

The literature states: "The site is in one of the most accessible locations, in transport terms, in Dover. It has easy access by non-car based travel to a wide range of school and education, healthcare, retail, leisure, employment and other services and facilities.

"Most of the residents’ day-to-day needs can be met within a 15-20 minute walk or five to seven minute cycle.

"The site is located within just a few metres of a high quality bus route and Dover’s railway station."

It added that this application was to provide a low carbon development and the flats' few car spaces would be exclusively for fully electric cars.

A planning statement also on behalf of Mr Andrew said that the flats would be placed to ensure there was no effect on light for surrounding houses and set back enough not to overlook homes at nearby Folkestone Road.

It also says that the land has been left derelict for 20 to 25 years, has blighted the area and now become overgrown.

The report said: "Its poor state adversely affects the character and appearance of Malvern Road and lives of its inhabitants."

Highways England said the scheme would not affect the wider road network even during construction.

Network Rail had no objection and Kent County Council's rights of way department said it did not need to comment.

For full details of the application click here.