Plans for a seven-bed HMO in the middle of a terraced street have riled long-standing residents who claim it’s more in keeping in size and scale with a “mini-hotel”.

More than 60 people living in and around Selbourne Road in Gillingham have signed a petition opposing the proposed redevelopment of the mid-terrace two-storey house.

A planning application was lodged with Medway Council on October 23 for the house in multiple occupancy (HMO), with plans including a loft conversion, the insertion of dormer windows, and other external works.

But Allan Galvin, who has lived on the road for 49 years, claims “it’s going to be a real eye-sore” and, alongside many other long-term neighbours, is opposing the development on the grounds it will negatively impact parking, noise and privacy.

Developers A&E Property Ltd state on their website they specialise in “high-end” HMOs that offer “luxurious living spaces” to tenants.

They dispute the residents’ claims, stating the property is for professionals such as doctors, nurses and care workers, and say it will be “sound proofed” to mitigate any potential disturbance.

The existing building has four bedrooms, but if the new application is turned down the fallback position would be to convert it to a 6-bed HMO instead under permitted development legislation.

This allows householders to improve and extend homes without the need to apply for planning permission where that would be out of proportion with the impact of works carried out.

Each proposed development would have its own bathroom and the agent states “future occupants will largely walk, use public transport or bicycles for travel” and as such, bike storage is provided.

But Marion Cruse, who has lived opposite the property for 39 years, says there is no guarantee the future tenants won’t have cars.

The retired civil servant adds: “It’s all very well saying we’ve put bicycle racks in there, but you can’t force people to use a bike and most people have a car these days.”

The developers say they have consulted the highways authority who it says “does not foresee any parking issues”.

However, married couple Tony and Julie Crowcroft are concerned because they say there are no restrictions on how many permits each house can apply for.

Tony, an 80-year-old retired prison governor, said: “The roads are always full around here, so it becomes quite a major problem for another person like me, who is elderly, or has a pram and has children, so it becomes quite a nightmare.”

And although the application does not state the property is specifically for students, most residents express concerns about it being offered to them as they report seeing an increase in student life on the road.

Brian Green, of Selbourne Road, said: “Nothing against students but they do have parties and they are not the tidiest of people.”

Brian and his wife Denice have lived on the road for 37 years and also share concerns about cleanliness and rubbish.

She said: “This is going to bring the area down greatly and it’s going to decrease the value of our house.

“These are little Victorian houses, they are not meant for accommodation like that, they are not flats.”

In learning the property could still become a six-bed HMO, Brian, 71, said: “I wouldn’t be happy about a six-bed HMO either because it’s another six cars and six bins, six bikes, six stereos, six tellies.”

Meanwhile, Marion has also expressed concerns for her privacy due to the proposed windows in the roof potentially overlooking in her bedroom.

She said: “It’s changing a house into more or less like a mini-hotel in a way.

“If it hadn’t been for this seventh room, nobody would have been any the wiser but once it’s done once it sets the precedent.”

Allan and Carol Galvin, who have lived on Selbourne Road for nearly 50 years, say a seven-bed HMO is a concern for their security as their homes back onto a secure gated-alleyway.

Because the access to the bike shed would be via this back alley, Allan says there are concerns that seven bikes coming in and out would lead to unfettered access to a part of their property previously restricted.

The retired electrician said: “It’s going to be an eyesore and will change the street completely.

“It would just destroy what would normally be classed as a terraced family housing street.”

All of the residents are objecting to the planning application.

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

In response, the landlords told KentOnline they “understand” the concerns submitted to the council from residents but that they had pre-application discussions with the council before submitting the bid which received “positive feedback”.

They also said the tenants go through a “vigorous process” for referencing to ensure they are the right fit for the house and community.

A&E Property Ltd added: “Neighbours always have concerns at the start of a project when we convert a property, but we always attempt to integrate with the community and provide them with our phone numbers in case of any issues they can report it directly to us.

“The property will be sound proofed and well insulated to minimise any noise disturbance which the property currently does not have if.

“In respect with the concern about parking this property is in a sustainable location, it’s close to the train station and other transport links and typically we find that 1 in 5 tenants will have a car.

“Highways have been consulted and they do not foresee any parking issues.

“There are lots of poorly managed HMOs and terrible accommodation and we aim to improve the quality and expectation of housing in the area.”