A derelict care home shut down days after a damning government inspection is set to be transformed into a gated residential complex.

Plans have been unveiled to convert Elliott House in Reculver Road, Herne Bay, into 27 flats, with three bungalows built in its picturesque grounds.

The Grade II-listed building has been empty since November 2021, when bosses decided to close down the 62-bed home four days after a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The shock decision left almost 50 elderly residents with as little as 24 hours to find somewhere else to live.

Elliot House was later put on the market for £1.5 million, with a local councillor saying it was “inevitable” the two-acre site would be snapped up for housing

Now, plans have been submitted by Grifo Developments to transform the Victorian property into rented accommodation.

In documents, the firm says: “The proposal will seek to retain all original features and restore the historical asset, which is currently falling into disrepair.

“You can walk to the shops within 10 minutes and get sustainable forms of transport, with the train station located within a 30-minute walk. This ‘walkability’ should help to discourage car ownership.

“The proposal would provide 30 much-needed rented units within the area, would retain much of the open space around the building and would result in less than substantial harm to the listed building.”

Built in 1901, Elliot House was originally used as a convalescent home for railway workers.

In more recent years it operated as a residential care home, but closed in 2021 after the CQC uncovered a catalogue of serious issues and months later rated it ‘Inadequate’ - the lowest possible grade.

Inspectors ruled the home was dirty, did not have enough competent staff and took on new employees without checking their Covid vaccine status, putting residents at risk.

When the site was put on the market in February last year, Beltinge councillor Ian Stockley was convinced it would be turned into housing.

He says he has mixed feelings about the proposed plans, but acknowledges the importance of protecting the listed building.

“I’m conscious of the fact this brings more development and more people moving into the area, which is a double-edged sword,” he said.

“I’m also conscious of the fact that if the property was demolished developers could get more on there, so retaining the building is a plus.

“From my side of things, it’s a lovely building and it needs to be preserved, but it’s unlikely anyone would want to preserve it in its current form.

“We’re concerned about the infrastructure but Beltinge is very lucky in that it has businesses doing well, and these businesses need footfall to keep them viable, which new residents will bring.

“And from what I’ve seen, it looks like there’s going to be a good quality, relatively low-density development.”

It is anticipated Canterbury City Council could make a decision on the plans by early July.