One of Kent's best-preserved country parks will be harmed if developers gain permission to build an 80-bed care home at the site, it is feared.

Critics of the plan for Syndale Park in Faversham believe "priority habitat with significant conservation value" will be ruined should the three-storey building be green-lit.

A number of concerned residents and countryside groups have voiced their opposition to the scheme, but applicant Bluefield Estates believes the care home will address the "unmet need" for additional beds for elderly people.

The firm is aiming to install a cinema on the ground floor, and the new-build is expected to create about 80 jobs.

It is planned to go on the Syndale complex, where there is already the Judd's Folly Hotel, a children's nursery, country retreat and leisure club.

The parkland, accessed off the A2 London Road, dates back to the late 17th century, when the former Syndale House mansion was built for Daniel Judd.

The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1961 and redeveloped into the existing hotel, which the care home is proposed to sit beside.

As part of the development - which will be decided by Swale Borough Council (SBC) - several trees are earmarked to be removed.

Kent Gardens Trust, The Countryside Charity and Kent Wildlife Trust have raised concerns.

They say the undulating parkland characterises Faversham's rich history, and fears over the impact on biodiversity and wildlife habitats are cited as reasons behind their objections.

In lodging its objection, Ospringe Parish Council said: "The parkland is regarded as a valuable local virtual asset, and protecting it and avoiding damage to its setting have been cited as justification by SBC for refusing permission for nearby development, including in the area around the A2/Bysing Wood Road roundabout."

The Kent Gardens Trust says the scheme will have a "significant effect on the Syndale Conservation Area" and states how the removal of trees will "create harm".

Planning documents do not specify how many trees will be removed, and an ecological impact assessment has yet to be submitted.

The applicant is, however, confident that the "new care home has been carefully designed to respect the character of the site and surrounding area".

"The site’s proximity to local commercial centres and transport links would provide employment to the local community and similarly provide potential residents with access to various facilities and services," it states.

"This will strengthen the economy of Ospringe and the borough as a whole."

Proposals for a 60-bed care home at the site were approved in 2008, yet legal agreements were never signed and the project was dropped.