Plans to knock down a former chapel and build a pair of four-bed homes in its place have been branded “intimidating and invasive”.

The scheme is being proposed for the redundant Cyprus Road Gospel Hall in Faversham, which has been bought by a developer after attempts to market it for continuing community use failed to attract any interest.

But both Faversham Town Council and the Faversham Society are objecting to the application, along with neighbours.

One resident, who asked not to be named, believes the development “would invade the privacy” of nearby properties.

“I feel that the proposal is invasive and intimidating,” she said.

“It is understandable to say that the proposal of three-storey properties would invade the privacy of both houses on the western and eastern side of Cyprus road.

“They would have clear views of western property gardens and into the eastern properties living areas.

“There is a risk of the eastern properties feeling ‘inferior’.”

Others have raised concerns about foul and surface water flooding and the impact the new properties would have on neighbours’ homes by overshadowing them.

The Society says the proposed homes are “too dominant”, out of keeping with the rest of the area and would harm the conservation area.

The town council agrees, adding that the design of the four-bed homes is “inappropriate” and the houses too tall.

Members are also concerned about pedestrian access as there are no footpaths nearby and encroachment over a Southern Water easement zone, which the company will require access to the storage tank.

But agents for the applicant stress the hall had been unused since the outbreak of the pandemic and there is no prospect of it being a community worship facility again.

They argue there are other churches in the town and that replacing the hall with homes is a “sustainable” use of the site.

Their statement adds: “The existing building is a brick structure with a corrugated steel roof and lacks any real architectural or historical merit.

“Its loss would not be significant to the area and the construction of two traditional two-storey dwellings with room in the roof homes would be more in character.”