Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke is withdrawing her bid to convert a garage into a new house following her controversial defection to Labour, KentOnline can reveal.

The planning application for the site in a prime coastal location had already faced several delays due to concerns raised over its potential impact on road safety.

But now the former Tory is pulling the proposals for a two-bed cottage on the plot in St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover - with the intention of reapplying after she stands down at the general election.

Ms Elphicke has come under intense scrutiny ever since dramatically ditching the Conservatives moments before Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday, including over her planning application.

At the weekend, she told the Telegraph that her recent switch of party allegiance was not in any way connected to her bid to convert the garage, which she says is being withdrawn to avoid the application being unfairly politicised.

Labour took control of Dover District Council (DDC) - and its planning committee - last year.

Residents have raised concerns Ms Elphicke’s proposal for the new house “harms safety for the wider public” due to its location on a hairpin bend - despite no accidents being recorded there for many years.

The parish council also objected to the scheme planned for Bay Hill - a narrow winding road, with average property prices of £970,000, which leads down to the beach.

But last night Ms Elphicke told KentOnline: “From the outset of my planning application I have been crystal clear that I wish my application to be treated on the same basis as everyone else.

“This is a run-down garage. It is exactly the sort of brownfield site that people say should be used for housing.

“It’s deeply disappointing that throughout the process some people have sought to conflate my application as a private citizen with my public service role.

“As I am due to stand down at the general election in a few months, I am now withdrawing the application.

“I will reapply once I have stopped being the Member of Parliament so this application can be considered purely on its merits and no one will be able to suggest otherwise.”

Ms Elphicke, who is reportedly set to be given an unpaid role advising Labour on housing policy, submitted a planning application to DDC on Christmas Eve 2022 for the site.

It was previously used as the garage for cliffside house The Edge, just around the corner, where she lived with her ex-husband Charlie before they divorced. The four-bed detached house was sold for £1.525 million in March 2021.

But the plans for the garage have been held up by a back-and-forth between Kent County Council’s (KCC) Highways department and Ms Elphicke’s planning consultants over the road safety concerns.

DDC originally set a deadline for a decision of February 19, 2023, but 15 months later, no ruling had been made.

The plan for the 151 sq m site, called The Ledge, was to knock down the existing garage and replace it with a “small, unassuming dwelling”, keeping the two parking spaces and adding two cycle ones.

In KCC Highways’ first response to the application, its officers wrote: “While it is noted that sight lines are considerably below that required for a new access, it must be noted that this historic access has been in constant use serving more than one property for many years without a crash record.

“Vehicle speeds on the approach to the hairpin bend are unlikely to exceed 10mph and users of the access are acutely aware of the limited visibility and thus take extra care.”

However, KCC Highways was concerned that the property was set to have “tandem parking” measures - where a space can host two cars, but one is effectively boxed in by the other.

The authority says the space for both cars needs to be 11 metres in total, but the plans did not show this.

The highways officer wrote: “Additionally, having visited the site, concern remains regarding the manoeuvre of construction vehicles entering and egressing from the site due to the constrained turning area and the wider road network.

“I would advise that should the local authority grant this application, a road closure will be required for larger deliveries such as concrete and skip lorries.”

But Markides Associates, transport planning consultants working on behalf of Mrs Elphicke, argues there is nothing wrong with the bid from a road safety point of view.

“The proposals do not result in a detriment to highway safety for users of Bay Hill,” they argue.

“Adequate parking is provided on-site, in accordance with KCC’s guidance, and turning is provided allowing vehicles to exit in a forward movement.”

The proposal has also received about 30 comments from members of the public opposing it.

“The lack of available alternative parking in the area makes it highly likely that visitors will use the turning circle to park when none is available at the proposed dwelling,” wrote Jenny Whitaker.

“This would be a constant irritation to the neighbours who share the turning circle and access.”

She and other residents also raise concerns about the new cottage overlooking a nearby property.

“This proposal harms safety for the wider public and destroys the privacy of the family residing at Villa Gris Nez, solely for financial gain,” writes Ms Whitaker.

St Margaret’s Parish Council has also objected to the proposal, saying it would be “inappropriate development on a very cramped site”.

"Why would people object to a small house? It's not a supermarket. Give the woman a break…”

The authority says the development would “cause overlooking” and is “located close to a dangerous hairpin bend”.

Others have written in support of Ms Elphicke's application.

Resident Marie McMonagle said on the planning portal: "It would be an asset and would not take up any more room.

"Why would people object to a small house? It's not a supermarket. Give the woman a break."

Asked about the delays, a DDC spokesperson told KentOnline that further highways information had recently been submitted by Ms Elphicke and was being considered by KCC.

At the weekend, DDC had told the Telegraph the decision over the planning application would be taken without any political bias.

Ms Elphicke succeeded her then-husband Charlie as Conservative MP for Dover in 2019 - before switching to Labour last week.

He was given a two-year jail sentence in 2020, after being convicted of sexual assault.