A proposal to turn a suburban family house into a children’s home for four hasn’t gone down well with neighbours.

The project would see a five-bedroom semi-detached home welcome multiple youngsters aged between five and 17.

The applicant says the children, who would be on medium to long-term placements, would be looked after by adult carers, working on a shift basis, so there was always an adult in residence at the property in Grace Avenue, Allington, at all times.

But, the plan has upset people currently in the street who fear the youngsters will bring disruptive behaviour to the area.

One resident said: “I strongly object. This is a quiet residential street, full of young families. With these children's homes, there are usually issues with petty crime, anti-social behaviour, loud music, intimidation of existing residents and numerous call outs to the police.”

Another said: “How can such a use fit in a residential street where a large proportion of the owners are either elderly or families with young children?”

While a third commented: “I have major concerns around noise and anti-social behaviour, youths congregating, foul language, verbal abuse, physical abuse and general intimidation.

“My partner and I have experienced this kind of change of use at previous homes which has driven both of us to move house for all of the above reasons.”

KentOnline spoke to several people in the street who had lived there between nine and 52 years.

All were worried about future intimidation from the home’s residents, and were angry that the proposal had been done “underhandedly” without any sort of consultation.

One person, who wanted to remain anonymous like the others, said: “We’re worried for the safety of our own children and for those who use the road. Grace Avenue is a walk-through for pupils going to Brunswick House, Palace Wood and Allington Primary Schools, and to Maplesden Noakes and MGGS secondaries.”

The key issue for Maidstone council to decide will not be the residents’ views, but the technical question of whether the proposed change of use represents a “material change” to the property.

The applicants have submitted examples of cases elsewhere in the county where a planning inspector has ruled that it was not reasonable to suppose that the occupation of a house by four children and a couple of carers would be any different to that of a large family living in the same home.

But neighbours disagreed, saying one difference was that the care home would be a business and was a commercial use.

Ravi Sharma, who is a director of applicant My Tribe Homes Ltd., said: “There will be no change to the layout or external structure of the property.”

“There will be a minimum of two adults at the home at all times.”

Children in care are simply children who have a rough start to life

He said: “Staff will follow a typical shift pattern of 8am to 11pm, with two staff members sleeping over and handing over the next morning to a new team at around 8am.

“They are in the home for 24 hours to provide continuity of care. They will do two to three such shifts per week.”

He continued: “There is ample off-street parking at the house to accommodate the needs of all adults.

“Our adults provide care according to a therapeutic model of parenting which emphasises the forming of long-term nurturing bonds.”

“They fulfil all the normal roles one would expect of an attuned and dedicated parent.

“Their fundamental job is to form secure attachments and loving relationships with the children to enable the children to feel loved and to increase their self-concept and self-worth so that they are able to pursue a life of happiness and growth.

“The staff’s typical duties include cooking meals, spending time doing activities and playing, helping with education and homework, making school drop-offs and pickups, celebrating key festivals, birthdays and achievements and helping the children to integrate past experiences and create plans for a full and joyful life.”

He said: “Children in care are simply children who have a rough start to life.

“Like many children, they can experience difficult times, However like all sentient beings, with consistent love and nurture they respond well.”

“The whole ethos of our homes is to create a living environment that mirrors as closely as possible a normal, joyful family environment.”

The company, which was founded in 2021 and employs 26 staff, already operates two similar homes in Maidstone.

One at Charles Street and one at Florence Road.

In both cases, Maidstone council granted the lawful development certificate change of use as requested.

That has given no comfort to the Grace Avenue residents who say it is the experience related to them by the neighbours to the other properties that has got them worried.

Around 50 residents attended a meeting at St Nicolas Church last week called by ward councillor Stuart Jeffery (Green) to discuss the issue.

“I was keen to hear residents’ views,” said.

“I am not opposed to there being a children's home on Grace Avenue, Indeed from the children's perspective, Grace Avenue will be a great place to grow up, which is what kids need.

“That said, I do not like care home such as this to be run by private companies for profit. That is simply the wrong motive and skews their priorities. This is my chief concern.

“Grace Avenue is a cohesive and close-knit community and the best case scenario, should the plan go through, would be to welcome a safe, nurturing and well-staffed home, one that has little impact upon local residents.”

Cllr Jeffery continued: “I am in contact with the company and wiill maintain a dialogue to help ensure that any potential problems are resolved quickly.”

Cllr Tom Cannon (Con), the other councillor for Bridge Ward, was also at the meeting. He said: “My Tribe Homes had been invited to attend to alleviate some of the residents’ concerns – unfortunately they didn’t turn up.

“MyTribe should as a priority let residents know about their approach to placements at this address and how they would deal with problems if they arose.

“Immediate neighbours have children themselves and have concerns that I would hope MyTribe could possibly mitigate.

If this goes through and problems arose, I would be totally on the case

“Fundamentally, Grace Avenue is a welcoming and friendly place, residents are very sympathetic to the needs of children in care and that was very clear at the meeting, but MyTribe need to also be a good neighbour.

“We of course hope there won't be any issues, but by not engaging now, there are legitimate concerns that My Tribe Homes may not deal with any problems that could arise.”

“I made clear to residents that if this goes through and problems arose I would be totally on the case.

“There are plenty of levers to pull from reports to Ofsted, social services, MBC enforcement or the police if necessary.

“Most of the very worst fears could only arise from poor management that would also be endangering the children in the property which should be acted upon immediately.

“It may not be possible to stop the change of use, but there is certainly plenty that can be done if problems arose.”

However, the residents have one ace up their sleeve which they hope may yet make a difference.

Sheila Ryan said: “When these houses were built in 1929, the landowner, who was the Earl Of Romney, imposed a covenant on all the properties that they could only be used for normal residential use and nothing should be developed that imposed on the peace of neighbours. That covenant is still in place on all our deeds.”

Unfortunately, the covenant must be enforced by the Earl of Romney or his descendants in title.

On its website, My Tribe Homes says it “provides a loving home to children who may present with emotional and behavioural difficulties such as autism spectrum, mild learning disabilities, social communication disorders, missing episodes, low to medium level physical aggression, criminal behaviours, sexualised behaviours, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, PTSD, oppositional defiant disorder, trauma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

For details of the My Tribe Homes proposal, visit the council website here.

Look for application number 23/505260.

So far the application has attracted 34 letters of objection.