An independent garden centre could be knocked down and turned into new homes to help address an area’s chronic shortage of housing.

Plans have been submitted to demolish Dillywood Garden Centre, between Higham and Strood, and erect 12 four-bed detached houses in its place.

The business has been trading for a number of years on the 16,600 sq m plot off the A289 and features a cafe, plants and home and outdoor accessories.

However, the plans which have been put forward to Medway Council by Planning Insight, on behalf of Provectus Developments, propose to redevelop the site.

It comes just a year after Soaring High, a bird of prey centre based at the site, closed its doors – sparking concerns about footfall.

Should the centre close and be replaced with housing, all the existing buildings would be knocked down to make way for the homes.

Each house would be designed to be one-and-a-half storeys with “generous setbacks and large gardens”.

Developers had wanted to build 36 homes on-site but reduced the scale of the bid after taking pre-application advice.

They say the estate will be attractive with its own “unique architectural character and identity" and will help contribute to Medway's ongoing need for new housing.

Information released on the application's planning statement adds: "The continued use of the site as a garden centre is no longer viable.

"The comprehensive development proposal makes efficient and effective use of the existing under-utilised garden centre.

"The new houses would not result in significant harm to or the loss of public or private land that contributes positively to the local character of the area."

However, some believe it would be a shame to see the garden centre shut.

Elizabeth Turpin, who is ward councillor for Strood Rural, told KentOnline: "It would be a shame to lose a business and see the job losses that would create, so it would be sad if it had to go as we don't want to lose that facility in the area.

"Dillywood Lane is incredibly narrow, so more transport potentially there is concerning.

"With multiple cars per dwelling, it's likely to therefore cause problems as it's not a location where you can really live there without a car."

Frindsbury Extra Parish Council has objected to the plans due to similar concerns surrounding traffic.

Parish clerk Emma Johnson explained: "The objection is based upon the sites unsustainable location for a residential development being down a single-track road with limited passing places and the amount of houses would increase the traffic.

"There was also concerns for the development being on green belt land, and councillors also wished to question whether the old Medway Railway Tunnel runs through this site and if this had been investigated."

Vehicle access to the estate will continue to be from the existing access location at Dillywood Lane.

Meanwhile, initial proposals by developers proposed 36 units homes featuring a mix of two to five-bedroom properties.

Yet concerns were raised by Medway Council regarding issues such as highway safety, flooding and the development leading to future pressure to remove existing trees nearby.

If given the go-ahead, each home will have three car parking spaces, with a further 48 cycle parking spaces included across the whole estate.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

A decision is expected by May 20.

Dillywood Garden Centre has been approached for comment.