A proposal to convert a four-bedroom family home in Allington into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) to take 10 residents has been condemned by neighbours.

The application submitted to Maidstone council by the owners, Yalding-based RND Estates Ltd, was only published a few weeks ago, but has already attracted 36 letters of objection.

Two ward councillors - Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green) and Cllr Tom Cannon (Con) - have asked for the application to be "called in" - that is to say it must be determined by the council's planning committee rather than given the nod by planning officers.

The scheme is for the house at 2 Trapham Road, Maidstone, on the corner with Vicary Way.

The 10 tenants would have their own lockable rooms, six with ensuite facilities, but would share a kitchen, lounge and laundry facilities.

The owners do not plan to increase the number of parking spaces. There are currently four.

Existing residents say that an HMO would change the nature of the area, as well as adding to parking problems.

Cllr Canon agreed, saying: "This proposal is clearly not in keeping with the area, would have a detrimental effect on the amenity of the local residents, and does not comply with planning policies."

Natasha Schiffer of Hazlit Drive said: "All of the houses in the area are family homes and many residents have lived here for a long time or moved to the area because of the family/community vibe of the area.

"We already experience long wait times for doctors, dentist and other services in the area so allowing any properties to change to HMOs will exacerbate the problem."

Dr Susan Plummer of Vicary Way told Maidstone council: "The change to a HMO is wholly unacceptable.

"The estate was never built for the purpose of houses of multiple occupancy - it was built for detached houses where people can live their lives in peace surrounded by trees and served with good facilities.

She said: "The estate already has houses at the end of Hazlitt Drive that have been built in the grounds of a house and garden. There was objection to this but it was ignored.

"These houses have proved residents' objections in that the number of cars driving up and down Vicary Way and into Hazlitt Drive increased exponentially.

"There has to be a point where those responsible have to say 'enough'"

Gemma Batters, of Hazlitt Drive, said: "This is an area for families, especially young families whose children play out together down our road.

"A 10-bedroom house is not going to be a property for a family and therefore we worry about who will be living there.

Mrs Batters said: "It is likely to be individuals who could cause more noise disturbance with people coming and going at inappropriate hours."

She added: "We already have an issue with parking around here, so where would the people living in this property park?"

Another Hazlitt Drive resident, who asked not to be named, described the application as "very worrying."

She said: "Significant work is already being undertaken on this property, despite the application not yet being determined.

She said: "This is quite clearly a commercial enterprise, focused only on the maximisation of profits, to the painful detriment of the current community and demographic, which quite frankly I can only envisage being destroyed by this greedy commercial venture."

There will be a public meeting to discuss the issue at St Nicolas Church Hall in Poplar Grove, Maidstone, on Monday, February 6, at 7pm. All welcome.

The applicants already own a 10-bedroom HMO in London Road, Maidstone, and a six-bedroom HMO in Loose Road. They said they would screen all potential tenants carefully and said that there would be no external changes to the property other than some changes to the windows and the addition of solar panels.

The application can be viewed on the MBC website here.

Application number 23/500212 refers.