Plans have been put forward to turn a railway carriage into a home.

Dover District Council has received an application for this on private land off Shepherdswell Road, Eythorne.

The application is by the landowner, a Mrs Mears, and the carriage will be lived in by her son Josh, an employee of train operator Southeastern.

He sees the train carriage as a solution to leave home when high property prices would otherwise stop him having his own place.

A planning statement to the council from application agents Helix Planning Ltd, of Folkestone, says: "My client’s son at present is living with her along with other siblings.

"Josh has now reached a stage in his life where he would like to move out but the forever increasing house prices (renting or buying) it is just not possible.

"Josh has a great love of trains and through his work discovered you could buy carriage coaches that are no longer in use.

"He thought about converting one into liveable accommodation on his mother’s land, which would be a better alternative to buying a normal dwelling.

"He feels by doing this he will have his independence and be there for his mother if needed."

The carriage would be on about 6,530 sq m (70288 sq ft) of land, which includes the family home.

The grass there had been used for animals to graze but Mrs Mears will not have any more, therefore leaving the area unused.

The steel coach, which has 16 large windows, would be converted to include a kitchen, a living room, a dining room seating up to eight people and two bedrooms.

If planning permission is granted the coach would be towed in by lorry and placed on a track 22.86 metres (75ft) long with a concrete pad underneath.

Helix says there is a tourism bonus in that the Eythorne to Shepherdswell East Kent Railway line is nearby and passengers would see the carriage home and assume it is another of the area's attractions.

Dover District Council's next planning committee meeting is on January 20 but it is not yet known if this application will be heard then.

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